Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/27/2001 01:37 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 76-NEW FACILITIES FOR API
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced HB 76 to be up for consideration.
MS. JANET SEITZ, staff to Representative Rokeberg, said:
HB 76 provides replacement for Alaska Psychiatric
Institution (API) to go forward with a mixture of funds
including already appropriated money, proceeds from
certificates of participation to be issued by the state
bond committees, money from the Alaska Mental Health
Trust Authority and estimated interest income. In
addition, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority has
granted land for the project and it's anticipated that
funds for the demolition of the old API may come through
some federal road funds.
She said that documents in their packets set forth the memorandum
of understanding, signed April 2001, by the Alaska Mental Health
Trust Authority, DHSS, the University of Alaska (UA) and Providence
Alaska Medical Center. It sets forth the framework for the land
exchanges and other commitments that will facilitate the
replacement of API. She said that basically the bill sets out the
funding structure.
SENATOR DAVIS said she was glad to see this bill.
SENATOR WILKEN said they had this before them a few months ago and
the discussion revolved around the design itself, which wasn't
really "Alaskan," and that the facility cost $40 million and would
be over capacity as soon as it opened the doors. The question was
should they step back from the design that is six or seven years
old and look at something that was a better use of the money and
build a facility that has some room to grow. He remembered 50
standard beds and 16 or 18 others. He asked if that had been
discussed in the memorandum of agreement.
MS. SEITZ pointed out that a document called "A Shared Vision"
shows that there is a design change on the last page. She said that
the contract was a design/build contract.
MR. RANDALL BURNS, CEO, Alaska Psychiatric Institute, said the
facility project is now going to be design/build and has a much
smaller footprint. "It will be constructed for 72 beds, which I
believe will be sufficient. Generally, the highest we ever are is
somewhere around 74 beds. By the time this building is constructed,
Providence Hospital has entered into an agreement to provide the
single point of entry services that will eliminate some of the bed
capacity that we currently use. As a result, that will take some of
the census pressure off of us and make the 72 beds very practical."
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked if a single point of entry is the same as
designated evaluation and treatment (DET).
MR. BURNS explained that the single point of entry is part of the
community implementation project the department has been developing
with Providence Alaska Medical Center. It will be a place where law
enforcement, family members or any other individual can bring a
person experiencing a mental health crisis. It's attached to the
emergency room at Providence as a triage center for decisions
regarding the appropriate referral for that person. It will be a
24-hour facility.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked if API would be doing initial intake.
MR. BURNS replied no, that Providence would do that. API would be
the facility of referral. He said that 12 beds will be supplanted
by Providence.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked if this would also be augmented by the DET.
MR. BURNS said that is correct. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital has a
number of DET beds, which helps reduce the pressure on API.
SENATOR WILKEN said it went from ranch style to dormitory style.
MR. BURNS said that is correct.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if they had done a growth analysis to where
they think 72 beds will be adequate for the next 20 years.
MR. BURNS responded that a number of studies were done in the late
'90s taking population into account and estimated if all the
community services that are being developed right now were
completed that API could work with 54 - 72 beds. "That has not
changed and that is still the plan we are functioning under."
SENATOR WILKEN asked for the graphs they had before when this gets
to Finance. He expressed concern about spending $50 million to
build a building that could be full the first day it opens. He
asked if $9 million for demolition of the old building was passed
to the state and is shed from this proposal's budget.
MR. BURNS replied that the demolition funds were removed entirely
from the bill. The intent, which is mentioned in both the
legislation and the agreement, is to approach the Congressional
delegation for federal funds for the demolition, which has already
been done. He explained that a road is planned on the site of the
old building and they would seek demolition funds that way. The
building is the state's responsibility until it is torn down.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked if there is going to be a public hearing on
the proposal for that road.
MR. BURNS replied that they are only plans. The entire area would
have to go through municipal planning and zoning, platting and all
of those processes.
MR. KURT PARKAN, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities (DOTPF), said regarding the road, the whole
AMHTA process would have to be followed before it's approved. That
includes conformance with the long-range transportation plan, AMHTA
policy, and borough and municipal concurrence.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN commented that this could happen in 2010 or 2020.
She asked if the level of participation by the AMHTA had undergone
any changes that she hasn't noticed.
MR. JEFF JESSE, Executive Director, Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority, replied that beginning July 1 income from $2 million of
the Trust fund will be allocated to the project; and in July of
2002, another $1 million. The income from those funds will now be
dedicated to projects increasing their participation.
MS. SUZANNE PRICE, Executive Director, Fairbanks Community Mental
Health Center, supported HB 76. She said that if community services
are funded appropriately, a larger structure won't be needed. Many
in Fairbanks don't want a large hospital in Anchorage; they want
people treated in the community. But everyone knows API's
expertise and services are needed.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to pass CSSSHB 76(FIN) and fiscal notes from
committee with individual recommendations. There were no objections
and it was so ordered.
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