Legislature(2007 - 2008)BUTROVICH 205
02/25/2008 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB267 | |
| SB243 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 267 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 243 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 243-COMMISSION ON AGING
CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SB 243.
2:53:38 PM
TOM OBERMEYER, Staff to Senator Davis, introduced the committee
substitute for SB 243, version C. He said this is an act
relating to duties and powers of the Alaska Commission on Aging
in the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). He
directed the committee's attention to a new fiscal note attached
to the bill and explained that the CS contained clarification on
the duties of the executive director who would take the lead
role in formulating and submitting a statewide plan to the
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS).
He described this as a "cleanup bill" to align the mission and
activities of the Alaska Commission on Aging with state statutes
and bring into line the grant duties and responsibilities
previously given to DHSS when the Commission on Aging and
Division of Senior Services became part of the department. Any
fiscal impact from these changes was already realized and
assimilated into the grant process.
MR. OBERMEYER said the bill assigns authority for establishing
state policy related to older Americans, Act federal programs
and state programs for older Alaskans, to the Department of
Health and Social Services (DHSS) as the state unit on aging. It
transfers grant authority related to senior service grants,
adult daycare, and family respite care grants from the Alaska
Commission on Aging to the Department of Health and Social
Services (DHSS). The department assigned these administrative
duties to Senior and Disability Services.
MR. OBERMEYER explained that the Alaska Commission on Aging is
responsible for planning the advocacy and community education
activities related to the health and welfare of older Alaskans.
It has relationships with state departments and agencies across
the state including the Governor's office, Alaska Mental Health
Trust Authority, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, and non-
governmental organizations. According to the state plan for
senior services for fiscal years 2008-2011, Alaska has the
largest proportion of baby boomers (32 percent) in the nation,
and the senior population is growing faster than almost any
other state. Projections indicate that by 2030, seniors 60 plus
will comprise 17 percent of Alaska's population and the number
of those over 65 will have doubled. This CS was designed to help
clarify state duties and responsibilities in this regard.
2:56:31 PM
JOANNE GIBBONS, Health Program Manager, Division of Senior and
Disability Services, Department of Health and Social Services
(DHSS), stated support for SB 243. She said the bill codified
what had been in place and working well since 2003 in terms of
the organizational structure, the commission and the department.
Executive order 108 issued by Governor Murkowski, moved the
Alaska Commission on Aging from the Department of Administration
to the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). As part
of that, responsibility for grants was also moved from the
commission to the department. The impetus for this bill was, in
part, a legislative audit performed as part of a sunset review
for the commission, which advised the law be brought in line
with the existing structure.
DENISE DANIELLO, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Aging,
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), stated support
for SB 243. She submitted written testimony outlining the
history of events; the intent of this legislation as it was
presented by Joanne Gibbons; the partnership between the
commission on aging with Senior and Disability Services, and the
Department of Health and Social Services. The commission on
aging, along with the Department of Health and Social Services
partnered to assist the Department of Health and Social Services
to carry out its state unit on aging responsibilities:
administration of grant funds from the Older Americans Act to
community senior provider agencies, providing services for older
Alaskans, and planning for senior services. The commission
developed a state plan for senior services, a planning document
required by the US Administration on Aging to present the
state's plan on how Older Americans Act funds will be used. The
plan was completed in July of 2007 in collaboration with about
20 agencies. The commission is required by statute to provide
recommendations to the Governor and the legislature regarding
regulations, policies and appropriations that benefit older
Alaskans. It is also required to provide recommendations to the
Department of Health and Social Services and the Mental Health
Trust Authority regarding provisions of funds from the Mental
Health Trust Settlement Act to provide services for older
Alaskans affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia,
mental health and behavioral health conditions.
MS. DANIELLO added that the commission provides community
education in a variety of ways including public comment at each
of its quarterly meetings, rural outreach visits, visits with
senior provider agencies during those meetings, a quarterly
newsletter and a bi-weekly legislative teleconference during
sessions.
3:02:11 PM
SENATOR ELTON said he understood that they were bringing the
statute into compliance with what was already happening, but
felt he needed to better understand the role of the executive
director. He directed Ms. Daniello's attention to page 4,
section 3 and ventured that the executive director would
formulate and submit a comprehensive statewide plan to the
department, but would no longer administer those programs.
MS. DANIELLO replied that he was correct; the agency would be
responsible for administration.
3:04:10 PM
SENATOR ELTON moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute
(CS) for SB 243, version /C and asked for unanimous consent.
There being no objection, version \C was adopted.
CHAIR DAVIS expressed her desire to move this legislation out of
committee to Finance, unless there were other issues to be
addressed.
SENATOR ELTON moved to report committee substitute to SB 243,
version /C, from committee with individual recommendations,
attached zero fiscal note(s) and unanimous consent. There being
no objection, CSSB 243(HES) moved from committee.
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