Legislature(2007 - 2008)BELTZ 211
05/10/2007 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB151 | |
| HB132 | |
| HB159 | |
| HB75 | |
| HB184 | |
| SB151 | |
| HB184 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 171 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 151 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 132 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 159 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 75 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 184 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 151 - NEW DRIVER'S LIC./PERMIT:CPR/FIRST AID
9:04:45 AM
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced consideration of SB 151.
SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, bill
sponsor, introduced SB 151 to the committee. The bill would
require first-time driver's license applicants to complete
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training
before obtaining their license.
9:06:44 AM
SENATOR FRENCH asked how the requirement would work.
KATE HERRING, Staff to Senator Ellis, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, said the requirement is designed to be applied to first
time license applicants for gradual growth. A person coming into
the state with an out-of-state license would not be required to
complete the training. The American Heart Association (AHA)
hopes this requirement will stimulate more free sessions
statewide so training costs will be minimal. The Division of
Motor Vehicles (DMV) would develop regulations to document
training and assess whether the training was adequate. On-line
training is also available to further offset costs and time
constraints to applicants. Studies show a small amount of time
spent on this type of training can save lives.
9:09:19 AM
SENATOR ELLIS said this concept has been before the legislature
before. He and Senator Cowdery co-sponsored a bill from the last
legislature that would have required school districts to offer
CPR/first aid training as part of the curriculum. School
districts across the state resisted the idea. The current bill
is a simplified approach that has gained support.
SENATOR FRENCH asked how he would he find such a class today and
how much it would cost.
MS. HERRING said there are courses offered by the Red Cross, the
AHA, and other organizations. When training time is donated, the
cost of supplies is about $5. Other training programs can run
from $20 to $40.
SENATOR FRENCH asked how much time it takes to complete the
training.
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the off-net line was jammed so some
individuals are not available to testify.
9:10:59 AM
SHAD ENGKILTERRA, Southeast Service Center Director, American
Red Cross of Alaska, Juneau, Alaska, said an adult CPR/AED
(automated external defibrillator) class from the Red Cross is
four and half hours long. With first aid training it becomes a
six-hour class in total. The Red Cross classes also provide
instruction in how to react in an emergency.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if a student in the class receives hands on
experience.
MR. ENGKILTERRA answered yes, it is important to practice the
skills.
SENATOR FRENCH asked about fees for the classes.
MR. ENGKILTERRA said he charges $42 per person. With first aid
training added the total is $62.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if training is offered statewide.
MR. ENGKILTERRA answered training is offered where there are
instructors. He is unsure of training opportunities outside of
Southeast Alaska.
9:13:37 AM
CHAIR MCGUIRE said her understanding is that the bill is crafted
so that a person could complete a Red Cross course or an online
course to satisfy the training requirement.
MR. ENGKILTERRA said that was his understanding as well.
CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if Mr. Engkilterra thought a person could
reasonably understand CPR from an online course.
MR. ENGKILTERRA answered he did not know what the studies say
but from his experience people forget what they learn within six
months. He believes the training must be practiced to retain it,
but some training is better than nothing.
9:15:36 AM
CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if CPR/first aid instruction would be
incorporated into the training manual that people are given
prior to licensing.
DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department
of Administration, Anchorage, said the training manual would
include notification of the requirement rather than first aid
information.
CHAIR MCGUIRE asked when proof of CPR/first aid training would
be given.
MR. BANNOCK answered he envisions two scenarios. Certification
could be either by an affidavit section on the learner's permit
application that would be signed by the parent, or a standard
affidavit form that an instructor could sign. Forms could be
available in offices or on the division website.
9:17:50 AM
CHAIR MCGUIRE said she was assured liability issues would not be
a factor because of Good Samaritan laws. She asked what kind of
disclaimer the division had considered.
MR. BANNOCK said provisional drivers provide an affidavit
stating they have completed forty hours of driver training. He
said this system has been successful and he anticipates the same
for a CPR/first aid training requirement.
CHAIR MCGUIRE agreed and said she thinks parental involvement
will be the key to success.
9:20:04 AM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if this is an unusual requirement and if
there are other non-driving related requirements that the DMV
deals with.
MR. BANNOCK answered that organ and tissue donation is one
example. He said the DMV is also responsible for "a lot of
elections."
SENATOR STEVENS asked if other states are doing anything like
this. He noted that a person is not denied a license if they
decline to donate their organs.
MR. BANNOCK said he does not know if other states have the same
requirement proposed by the bill.
SENATOR STEVENS said he is concerned about going too far with
this kind of requirement when a person is simply trying to get a
driver's license.
9:22:55 AM
SENATOR FRENCH asked the cost for a sixteen-year-old getting a
driver's license.
MR. BANNOCK said the license costs $20 and road exam $15. Road
exams are also available from private vendors for a variety of
prices.
9:23:44 AM
CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on SB 151.
SENATOR FRENCH said though he thinks the training requirement is
a good idea, he shares Senator Steven's concerns about the
impositions of the bill.
CHAIR MCGUIRE asked how long the on-line class takes.
MS. HERRING answered that speakers not accessible at the moment
would be able to answer this and other questions.
CHAIR MCGUIRE said SB 151 will be set aside for further
discussion until on-line participants are available for
testimony.
SB 151 - NEW DRIVER'S LIC./PERMIT:CPR/FIRST AID
10:26:07 AM
CHAIR MCGUIRE brought SB 141 [151] back before the committee.
SENATOR ELLIS said he listened carefully to the concerns of
committee members and appreciates their comments. He knows of no
opposition to the idea that young people and the state as a
whole would benefit from citizens receiving CPR/first aid
training. The mechanism for making it happen is the difficulty.
There was a great deal of opposition to requiring CPR/first aid
training in the public schools. He understands that the training
is available for free on line and there are free or nominal fee
on-line and community courses. Course availability would also
depend on where a person is located. He is confident that there
is good access to inexpensive or free training courses to any
young person in the state.
10:28:08 AM
SUZANNE MEUNIER, Director of Advocacy, American Heart
Association, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 151.
She said every year in America sudden cardiac arrest kills
325,000 people before they can reach a hospital. Nearly eighty
percent of heart attacks occur at home witnessed by a family
member. Less than seven percent of cardiac arrest victims
survive. Providing CPR immediately after a heart attack can
double a victim's chance for survival. Passage of this bill will
significantly increase the number of Alaskans prepared to
respond to life threatening emergencies.
10:31:32 AM
SENATOR BUNDE said he read that Seattle was labeled the best
city in America to have a heart attack because a large part of
the population has learned CPR. He asked if that information was
accurate.
MS. MEUNIER said yes, Seattle is considered the standard and a
victim's survival rate there is in excess of thirty or forty
percent.
SENATOR STEVENS said he also remembers reading they have
excellent ambulance service by CPR trained personnel. He was not
sure civilians were so well trained.
SENATOR BUNDE said he read it was civilians.
10:33:05 AM
SENATOR ELLIS asked if Ms. Meunier had any comments about the
committee members' concerns related to the appropriateness of
attaching CPR/first aid training to receiving a driver's license
and the costs and inconveniences of getting the training. He
also asked for her thoughts about weighing those concerns
against the possible education gains of the bill.
MS. MEUNIER said a new generation of Alaskans trained to deal
with emergencies will increase the number of lives saved.
Evidence supports the fact that people learn differently and on-
line training can be more effective for some learners. This bill
targets an age group that spends much of their time on-line.
Currently available online courses take up to two hours and the
person has access to the course for up to six months. The AHA is
ready to partner with DMV to ensure regulation language is
adequate to meet the requirements of the bill. The January 2008
effective date gives them plenty of time to ensure that
opportunities are easily accessible and low cost.
10:36:25 AM
SENATOR ELLIS asked if class availability would increase if the
bill passes.
MS. MEUNIER said the AHA is always looking for ways to train
more people.
SENATOR STEVENS said it is should not be assumed that everyone
has access to the internet and classes will be taught statewide
given the small communities scattered around the state.
MS. MEUNIER said she read Alaska is one of the top states in the
country for technology access, including schools and libraries.
She believes the AHA would be able to deliver the information,
through technology, particularly in the smaller communities in
rural Alaska. Additionally, there are low cost print materials
available from the AHA.
10:38:55 AM
UVE KALENKA, representing himself, said the bill is important to
him personally and thanked Senator Ellis for introducing it on
his behalf. Approximately four years ago his son Eric was
murdered. Eric's life might have been saved had someone on the
scene known how to apply a tourniquet to his wound. He said if
one life is saved it is worth it and urged passage of the bill.
10:40:51 AM
CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on SB 151.
SENATOR STEVENS said he appreciates the comments he has heard,
but has serious misgivings about the bill. He does not see the
direct connection between obtaining a driver's license and
learning CPR and is concerned how training will be available to
everyone in the state. He believes the place for this kind of
education is in the schools. Requiring CPR training before
issuing a driver's license seems an unnecessary burden on young
people.
SENATOR BUNDE commented that though this may not be the perfect
mechanism, he would like Alaska to emulate Seattle and have
people trained in CPR. He added that it may be more important in
Alaska when a person may be miles from any road and immediate
medical care.
10:44:24 AM
SENATOR BUNDE moved to report SB 151 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note.
SENATOR STEVENS objected.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion of passing SB 151 out
of committee. Senators Bunde, French, and McGuire voted in favor
and Senators Stevens and Green voted against. Therefore CSSB
151(HES) passed from committee with individual recommendations
and attached fiscal note(s).
10:45:21 AM
CHAIR MCGUIRE recessed the meeting to the call of the chair.
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