Legislature(1999 - 2000)
02/02/2000 01:35 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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SB 204-EXTEND ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING
MS. JANE DEMMERT, Executive Director of the Older Alaskans
Commission (OAC), said the OAC is very involved in bringing
together the interests of many organizations that represent seniors
across the State. The State demographer recently projected a
population of 80,000 elderly people within the next 15-18 years in
Alaska.
Over 180 communities in Alaska are affected by the funding given to
local non-profit organizations by OAC that provide direct services
to older Alaskans. OAC programs are available to all people age 60
and over, with the exception of the Senior Employment Program which
is available to people aged 55 and older. OAC administers four
grant programs.
OAC will be working with organizations to provide community support
in whatever area is necessary. The only increase in funding that
OAC has received over the past few years is through the Alaska
Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA). State agencies have
coordinated services to meet the needs of both seniors and people
of all ages who are disabled, transportation being a prime example.
OAC works in partnership with the AMHTA and AHFC to meet the
transportation and housing needs of seniors and disabled people.
Anything legislators can do to help AHFC maintain its capacity to
meet seniors' needs in a consistent manner is very important to
prevent a crisis 15 years from now.
MS. DEMMERT commented that the Long Term Care Task Force has been
very instrumental in moving forward much needed legislation, and it
has also provided an opportunity for agencies to come together and
see how many issues are integrated. She thanked task force members
for their efforts and noted that people were most appreciative at
the Common Ground Conference.
MS. DEMMERT said she provided an update to the committee on the
work the OAC has done since last session in regard to the long-term
care ombudsman position. The OAC has restructured its by-laws and
its committees to accommodate the steps necessary to enable the
ombudsman function to be robustly supported within the OAC. The
OAC is about to begin recruitment for a new long term care
ombudsman. Ms. Demmert thanked the Legislature for all the support
it has given to the OAC.
Number 2316
SENATOR WILKEN noted that one recommendation in the Legislative
Budget and Audit (LBA) report is to separate the long term care
ombudsman position from the Department of Administration. He asked
if that is being done.
MS. DEMMERT said that as the OAC went through this process, it
drew material from four entities that fit the criteria: the Alaska
Legal Services and the Disability Law Center, and the State
ombudsman's office and the AMTHA. The OAC concluded that the long
term care ombudsman position should be retained within a State
agency. The OAC felt that having the ombudsman function in a legal
setting would not be as conducive to the progress that needs to be
made, and that placing it within government would have more impact
than placing it in a non-profit setting.
The OAC had extensive discussions with the state ombudsman and the
AMHTA. The state ombudsman did a review of options and concluded
that key points of divergence between the state ombudsman and long
term care ombudsman offices would make those offices incompatible
and that combining the two would not be beneficial to either
function. The AMHTA remains interested, but it is premature for
them to make a decision. AMHTA is promulgating regulations to
create a redress mechanism for beneficiaries of the trust. AMHTA
has acknowledged that the work of the trust and the work of the
long term care ombudsman are quite compatible so it is open to
discussion about a future relationship. Two representatives of the
AMHTA have agreed to be on the search committee for the long term
care ombudsman. A new OAC standing committee will have oversight
of that position and the committee will report to the full OAC.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if the committee will establish the "arms-
length" relationship that LBA thought was missing.
MS. DEMMERT replied that is correct.
SENATOR WILKEN asked about the other LBA recommendations.
MS. DEMMERT said some of the accounting recommendations were
addressed when OAC made new grant awards. The new awards provide
for some of the notification that had been omitted in the past.
Second, OAC sped up its process of notifying grantees of the
proportion or amount of grantee funds that are federal so that they
will be notified on a timely basis if they come under federal audit
requirements. A third recommendation regarding a cost allocation
plan issue is in the process of being finalized by OAC.
Number 2245
SENATOR WILKEN noted the LBA recommended that the OAC be extended
to 2004. He also noted the committee is awaiting a fiscal note.
MS. DEMMERT affirmed that the fiscal note was delivered.
SENATOR ELTON thanked Ms. Demmert for her discussion about the long
term care ombudsman, and pointed out that one can make an argument
that the long term care ombudsman is an advocate as well as an
ombudsman so it differs from the state ombudsman.
SENATOR WILKEN asked whether anyone is opposed to the extension of
the OAC.
MS. DEMMERT said she is not aware of any opposition.
MARIE DARLIN, representing the Capital City Task Force of AARP,
made the following comments. AARP supports the extension of the
OAC because it is vital to the concerns of AARP members. AARP will
be watching long term care issues this year, particularly the
assisted living home issue.
There being no further testimony on SB 204, SENATOR WILKEN
announced it will be held until the next meeting.
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