Legislature(1995 - 1996)
01/16/1996 01:07 PM House CRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS
STANDING COMMITTEE
January 16, 1996
1:07 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Ivan Ivan, Co-Chair
Representative Alan Austerman, Co-Chair
Representative Kim Elton
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Pete Kott
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jerry Mackie
Representative Irene Nicholia
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
* HOUSE BILL NO. 392
"An Act relating to the affirmative vote necessary to amend the
articles of incorporation of Native village corporations to
authorize the classification of directors."
- PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE
* HOUSE BILL NO. 383
"An Act relating to reimbursement by the state to municipalities
and certain established villages for services provided to
individuals incapacitated by alcohol; and providing for an
effective date."
- HEARD AND HELD
(* First public hearing)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 392
SHORT TITLE: NATIVE CORP DIRECTOR CLASSIFICATION
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) IVAN
JRN-DATE JRN-DATE ACTION
01/05/96 2369 (H) PREFILE RELEASED
01/08/96 2369 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
01/08/96 2369 (H) CRA, JUDICIARY, FINANCE
01/16/96 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 383
SHORT TITLE: REIMBURSE FOR LOCAL SERVICE TO INEBRIATES
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) IVAN
JRN-DATE JRN-DATE ACTION
12/29/95 2366 (H) PREFILE RELEASED
01/08/96 2366 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
01/08/96 2366 (H) CRA, STATE AFFAIRS, FINANCE
01/16/96 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
TOM WRIGHT, Legislative Assistant
to Representative Ivan Ivan
Alaska State Legislature
State Capitol Building, Room 503
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-4942
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented sponsor statements for HB 392 and HB
383.
GLEN PRICE, Representative
Napaskiak Incorporated and Swan Lake Corporation
Foster Pepper & Shefelman
601 West Fifth, Suite 500
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Telephone: (907) 276-4411
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information on HB 392.
CRISTY TILDEN, Program Director
Drug and Alcohol Services
Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation; and
Board Member, Advisory Board on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
P.O. Box 130
Dillingham, Alaska 99576
Telephone: (907) 842-5266
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383, with additional suggestions.
JAN McCARTNEY, Patient Accounts Manager
Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation
P.O. Box 130
Dillingham, Alaska 99576
Telephone: (907) 842-5201
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383.
GEORGE YOUNG, Fire Chief
City of Bethel
P.O. Box 388
Bethel, Alaska 99559
Telephone: (907) 543-2131
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383.
CHRIS LIU, Police Chief
City of Bethel
P.O. Box 500
Bethel, Alaska 99559
Telephone: (907) 543-3781
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383.
DAVE TRANTHAM
P.O. Box 759
Bethel, Alaska 99559
Telephone: (907) 543-2772
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383.
ANASTASIA COOK
Association of Village Council Presidents
Receiving Home
P.O. Box 219
Bethel, Alaska 99559
Telephone: (907) 543-2019
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383.
BOB CHARLES, Vice President of Operations
Association of Village Council Presidents
P.O. Box 219
Bethel, Alaska 99559
Telephone: (907) 543-3521
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383, with suggested amendment.
EDMON MYERS, Administrator
Kodiak Island Hospital/Care Center
1915 East Rezanof
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Telephone: (907) 486-3218
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383.
DENNIS OAKLAND, Chief of Police
Police Department
City of Homer
4060 Heath Street
Homer, Alaska 99603
Telephone: (907) 235-3150
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383.
WILLIAM WALTERS, Judicial Services Officer
Police Department
City of Homer
4060 Heath Street
Homer, Alaska 99603
Telephone: (907) 235-3150
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383, with proposed amendments.
GARY GRANDY, Administrator
Petersburg Medical Center; and
Council Member, Petersburg City Council
P.O. Box 589
Petersburg, Alaska 99833
Telephone: (907) 772-3059
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383, with suggestions about
funding.
GREG PORTER, Administrator
Cordova Medical Center
P.O. Box 160
Cordova, Alaska 99574
Telephone: (907) 424-8000
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383.
MIKE HOLSMAN, Planning Officer
Department of Health and Human Services
Municipality of Anchorage
825 L Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Telephone: (907) 343-4619
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383, with additional suggestions.
CHRIS HLADICK, Manager
City of Dillingham
P.O. Box 869
Dillingham, Alaska 99576
Telephone: (907) 842-5211
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383, with additional suggestions.
MARY PAVIL, Representative
Orutsaramuit Native Council; and
Council Member, City of Bethel
P.O. Box 37
Bethel, Alaska 99559
Telephone: (907) 543-2608
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383.
KIMBERLY METCALFE-HELMAR, Special Assistant
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Community and Regional Affairs
P.O. Box 112100
Juneau, Alaska 99811-2100
Telephone: (907) 465-4898
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 383.
LOREN JONES, Director
Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Department of Health and Social Services
P.O. Box 110607
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0607
Telephone: (907) 465-2071
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 383.
HARLAN KNUDSON, President/CEO
Alaska State Hospital & Nursing Home Association
319 Seward, #11
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 586-1790
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 383.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 96-1, SIDE A
Number 001
CO-CHAIR IVAN IVAN called the House Community and Regional Affairs
Committee meeting to order at 1:07 p.m. Members present at the
call to order were Representatives Ivan, Austerman, Elton and Kott.
Members absent were Representatives Vezey, Mackie and Nicholia.
Co-Chair Ivan noted that Representative Nicholia was en route to
Juneau. He then introduced committee staff and reviewed the
committee guidelines.
HB 392 - NATIVE CORP DIRECTOR CLASSIFICATION
Number 429
CO-CHAIR IVAN noted the bill packets contained a copy of HB 392;
the sponsor statement; two zero fiscal notes, one from the
Department of Community and Regional Affairs and one from the
Department of Commerce and Economic Development; a letter from Glen
Price of Foster Pepper & Shefelman explaining the intent of the
bill; and resolutions in support from Napaskiak Incorporated and
Swan Lake Corporation. As sponsor of the legislation, he asked Tom
Wright to present the bill on his behalf.
Number 477
TOM WRIGHT, Legislative Assistant to Representative Ivan, presented
the sponsor statement for HB 392, explaining it amends the Alaska
corporations code to authorize Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
(ANCSA) village corporations to provide for Board of Director
classification in their bylaws. If enacted, HB 392 would allow
ANCSA village corporations to amend their articles of incorporation
to authorize a classified or staggered term board of directors by
a majority vote of the shares represented at a meeting of
shareholders. Under current law, for those villages which did not
have classified boards in place by July 1, 1989, such an amendment
requires a two-thirds vote of all outstanding shares entitled to
vote, which is often difficult for village corporations to achieve.
Number 564
REPRESENTATIVE PETE KOTT asked if there were only two village
corporations to which HB 392 applied.
MR. WRIGHT responded that they were aware of only two, Napaskiak
and Swan Lake; however, there could be others.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked if they knew the reason why, prior to
1989, those corporations did not have a classified board in place.
MR. WRIGHT suggested that Glen Price, representative for Napaskiak
and Swan Lake, could better answer the question.
CO-CHAIR IVAN added that the legislation was intended to assist
village corporations that incur costs in executing annual
shareholder meetings. Shareholders attended by proxy and in
person, but the statutes required a two-thirds majority of all
shareholders to amend the articles and bylaws. He deferred to Glen
Price to answer technical questions.
Number 686
GLEN PRICE, Foster Pepper & Shefelman, representing Napaskiak
Incorporated and Swan Lake Corporation, testified via
teleconference from Anchorage, saying he was unaware of why the
corporations had no classified boards before 1989. He had
represented Napaskiak and Swan Lake for two or three years. The
corporations had attempted to address the issue at their last two
annual meetings, but had only obtained a majority vote at each
meeting, not the two-thirds vote required to amend articles. He
added there were probably other corporations to which HB 392 would
apply, but he did not know which corporations had classified
boards. He thought polling Native corporation villages might be
required to obtain that information, which was not on file with the
Department of Commerce and Economic Development.
Number 760
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked Mr. Price if the villages having
classified boards in place prior to 1989 required a simple majority
vote.
MR. PRICE responded that he thought so; before July 1, 1989, it
could be in the bylaws. Because a board could have amended the
bylaws, he thought boards rather than shareholders of most
corporations had enacted the change.
Number 819
CO-CHAIR IVAN clarified that in no way did the legislation attempt
to alter the checks and balances in place. However, the majority
of small communities had five directors, each up for election every
year. In the case of Napaskiak and Swan Lake, they were trying to
expand the number of directors and institute staggered terms to
provide continuity.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked whether HB 392 would affect regional
corporations.
MR. PRICE confirmed that it would not. He said it specifically
referenced village corporations only.
Number 908
REPRESENTATIVE KIM ELTON noted that the language of July 1, 1989,
was highly specific. He asked Mr. Price what the history of the
1989 language was and why it was included.
MR. PRICE responded that July 1, 1989, was the effective date of
the corporations code currently in place. Prior to that,
corporations could provide for classified boards in their bylaws.
Under the new code, there must be authority in the articles if
there was no classified board before July 1, 1989. For pre-
existing corporations, as of July 1, 1989, they needed a two-thirds
vote to amend the articles. However, he said, those corporations
cannot even get two-thirds attendance at a meeting.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON wanted to know if there had been discussion of
the difference between treatment of village corporations existing
before and after 1989.
MR. PRICE responded he was unaware of such discussion.
CO-CHAIR IVAN asked if there were any further comments or questions
from the committee. Hearing none, he indicated he wanted to
consider passing the bill from committee.
Number 1109
CO-CHAIR ALAN AUSTERMAN moved that HB 392 move from committee with
individual recommendations. There being no objection, it was so
ordered.
HB 383 - REIMBURSE FOR LOCAL SERVICE TO INEBRIATES
Number 1122
CO-CHAIR IVAN introduced the next item of business, HB 383,
indicating the committee packets contained the bill; the sponsor
statement; a zero fiscal note from the Department of Health and
Social Services; a fiscal note from the Department of Community and
Regional Affairs; relevant statutes; support documents; and a legal
opinion from Division of Legal and Research Services regarding use
of the mental health trust income account. He invited Tom Wright
to present the bill on his behalf.
Number 1180
TOM WRIGHT, Legislative Assistant to Representative Ivan, presented
the sponsor statement. Under AS 47.37.170, he said, a person who
appears intoxicated and incapacitated in a public place will be
taken into protective custody and placed in an approved public
treatment facility or a state or municipal detention facility.
This person must then be examined by a licensed physician or other
qualified health practitioner as soon as possible. If the person
is found to be incapacitated by alcohol, the person is detained for
no more than 48 hours in a health facility or for no more than 12
hours in a detention facility. The costs of this program to the
municipalities and the public health facilities are tremendous. He
said Representative Ivan introduced HB 383 to offer a solution that
will reduce or eliminate the fiscal responsibilities that
municipalities and public health facilities bear each year
undertaking what Representative Ivan feels is an unfunded mandate.
MR. WRIGHT explained that the situation was exacerbated by what
occurred in Dillingham over the last year. He referred to the
fiscal note from the Department of Health and Social services,
which he said contained a history of what took place there. In
addition, he said, the problem was ongoing statewide.
CO-CHAIR IVAN thanked Mr. Wright and asked if there were questions
or comments from the committee. Hearing none, he proceeded to take
testimony from teleconference participants.
Number 1295
CRISTY TILDEN, Program Director for Drug and Alcohol Services,
Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation, testified via teleconference
from Dillingham in support of HB 383. She said the issue has been
significant for both Dillingham and other communities statewide.
As a health professional, she supports measures providing treatment
and safety for persons incapacitated by drugs or alcohol. However,
the statute as written compels good treatment without compensation.
She commented that it has been a bitter pill for Dillingham and
other communities.
MS. TILDEN added that she is a member of the Advisory Board on
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. She said the board supports HB 383 but
has further suggestions to improve the statute, including adding
substances besides alcohol and redefining "incapacitated."
Number 1438
JAN McCARTNEY, Patient Accounts Manager, Bristol Bay Area Health
Corporation, testified via teleconference from Dillingham. She
stated she supports HB 383, and stressed the hardship put on small
communities by unfunded mandates.
Number 1527
GEORGE YOUNG, Fire Chief, City of Bethel, spoke via teleconference
in support of HB 383. He asked whether the bill was intended to
apply only when a municipality placed people under protective
custody, or if it would also allow medical services, including fire
department services, to recover losses from people rendered
unconscious or having impaired mobility.
CO-CHAIR IVAN responded that HB 383 asks the state to provide
funding to reimburse municipalities or established villages that
have detention facilities.
MR. YOUNG reiterated his support, and added he would seek
information on how to make this applicable to ambulance services
not involved with protective custody.
Number 1631
CHRIS LIU, Police Chief, City of Bethel, testified via
teleconference from Bethel, expressing gratitude that the needs of
the people in the delta were being addressed. From 1985-1995, an
average of 938 persons were detained for protective custody, with
1,124 people detained in 1995. The financial burden was
significant, costing the police department hundreds of thousands.
He and his fellow chiefs of police agreed the state of Alaska must
address unfunded mandates, this being the most significant one.
Number 1719
DAVE TRANTHAM spoke via teleconference from Bethel, testifying as
a senior citizen in support of HB 383. He agreed with previous
speakers that this unfunded mandate was costly, and added that the
City of Bethel had attempted to collect a $300 fee from individuals
picked up for their own protection. However, the City was often
unable to collect, and the cost was passed on to Bethel's citizens
through taxation and reduced services in other areas. He expressed
appreciation to the committee and the Alaska State Legislature for
joining with Bethel to help solve this problem.
Number 1927
ANASTASIA COOK, Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP)
Receiving Home, Bethel, testified via teleconference in support of
HB 383. Children of people in protective custody were often placed
in emergency shelters and receiving homes. One-third to one-half
of the AVCP Receiving Home's cases related to protective custody;
often the children were in the shelters for three weeks to a month.
She asked that these children be kept in mind.
Number 1938
BOB CHARLES, Vice President of Operations, Association of Village
Council Presidents (AVCP), Bethel, testified via teleconference in
support of HB 383. As a follow-up to Ms. Cook's testimony, he
asked the committee to consider amending the bill to reimburse both
those who care for children impacted by protective custody cases
and Village Public Safety Officers who provide services relating to
such cases, as the two groups are often poorly compensated.
CO-CHAIR IVAN thanked Mr. Charles and asked him to please forward
any proposed amendments to Tom Wright for consideration.
Number 2050
EDMON MYERS, Administrator, Kodiak Island Hospital/Care Center,
testified via teleconference in support of HB 383, saying he
concurred with the majority of testimony heard previously. At his
hospital, there were $70,000 to $80,000 in unreimbursed costs that
probably fell within the relevant categories. Patients in "gray
areas" probably represented an additional $100,000 to $120,000.
Unreimbursed costs were compensated for by other users and hurt the
medical community a great deal. In addition, the hospital
maintained a security force to protect staff from inebriated
patients, adding to costs.
MR. MYERS said Kodiak police officers often call an ambulance to
transport inebriated persons to the hospital, resulting in a
question as to when the person is in protective custody. Police
may wait at the back door and arrest a person once they had been
medically evaluated and released. HB 383 would eliminate problems
of defining protective custody for purposes of reimbursement.
Number 2239
DENNIS OAKLAND, Chief of Police, City of Homer, testified via
teleconference in support of HB 383. Despite Homer having fewer
inebriates than some other communities, he said, unreimbursed
expenses ran into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for
incarceration, medical and attached liability costs. In addition,
because reimbursement was affected, many inebriated individuals who
committed minor crimes were charged with those crimes in situations
where they might not otherwise have been charged, adding to the
criminal justice system load. He added that the 17 communities in
Alaska with contract jails are not reimbursed for individuals
brought in under Title 47.
Number 2312
CO-CHAIR AUSTERMAN referred to recommendations forwarded to the
committee by Mr. Oakland and asked if he wanted to address those in
his testimony.
MR. OAKLAND deferred to the author of that information, William
Walters, who had been in charge of the Homer jail for several
years.
CO-CHAIR IVAN noted that Representative Al Vezey had joined the
meeting and called on William Walters to testify.
Number 2357
WILLIAM WALTERS, Judicial Services Officer, Police Department, City
of Homer, spoke via teleconference and said the problem in Homer
was getting individuals out of a jail environment and under medical
supervision. Because many intoxicated persons had severe medical
crises as they withdrew from alcohol, the jail was not the
appropriate place for them. Hospitals were concerned with
liability, unreimbursed costs and the lack of statutory detention
authority at the medical facility. He referred to his written
suggestions to add a liability waiver absent gross negligence or
intentional misconduct on the part of the facility, and to provide
authority in section 170(a) whereby medical staff "may" detain
these people.
MR. WALTERS stated support for HB 383 in concept, but added he
would like a provision in the bill for direct reimbursement by the
state to medical facilities, rather than having a facility petition
the municipality; this would save significantly on administrative
costs. However, he could live with the bill as is, if necessary.
Tape 96-1, Side B
Number 001
GARY GRANDY, Administrator, Petersburg Medical Center (PMC), and
Council Member, Petersburg City Council, testified via
teleconference in support of HB 383. He said PMC includes a
hospital, nursing home and physicians' offices; their bad debts
amount to about $100,000 per year. He gave an example of an
inebriated person who attempted suicide, resulting in a medical
bill of $5,000. The medical center sought reimbursement from the
Indian Health Services and SEARHC programs, but those programs,
which do not pay costs related to alcohol, reimbursed only a few
hundred dollars for treatment of the patient's wrists. Mr. Grandy
said the hospital has $10,000 to $20,000 per year written off the
books, which they can no longer absorb.
MR. GRANDY expressed concern about numerous demands on the mental
health trust. He wondered if the committee would look at using
general funds, which are fed in part by alcohol and tobacco taxes.
Number 126
GREG PORTER, Administrator, Cordova Medical Center, testified via
teleconference, stating he supported HB 383 and concurred with
previous testimony. A small facility owned by the City of Cordova,
the center's costs for these cases ranged from $60,000 up per year.
Mr. Porter said he understood the need for medical treatment of
inebriates, as he knew of patients who had nearly died in the jail.
However, the city had no funds to support the hospital and operated
hand-to-mouth.
Number 134
MIKE HOLSMAN, Planning Officer, Department of Health and Human
Services, Municipality of Anchorage, testified via teleconference
in support of HB 383, agreeing with previous speakers. A burden on
local hospitals and police, the problem costs the Municipality of
Anchorage several hundred thousand dollars per year of local
taxpayer money. He asked the committee to look at statewide
actions to prevent or reduce public drinking. He noted that many
inebriates have incomes of $750-850. He suggested inebriates pay
for their treatment; for example, their checks could be reduced or
their permanent fund dividends garnished.
Number 328
CHRIS HLADICK, Manager, City of Dillingham, testified via
teleconference. He agreed with previous testimony and supported HB
383. He added he also supported an amendment to the bill providing
direct reimbursement to medical facilities.
Number 387
MARY PAVIL, Representative, Orutsaramuit Native Council, and
Council Member, City of Bethel, testified via teleconference in
support of HB 383. She asserted that as long as it was not a crime
to be drunk in public, communities would be mandated to put people
in protective custody. She commended the police department for
saving a large number of lives and suggested hidden costs be
covered as well as more obvious ones.
Number 445
CO-CHAIR IVAN noted that the teleconference testimony was concluded
and called on Kimberly Metcalfe-Helmar to testify.
Number 471
KIMBERLY METCALFE-HELMAR, Special Assistant, Office of the
Commissioner, Department of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA),
said the department's concern with HB 383 was the reimbursement
program envisioned in the bill. The grants administrator in the
Division of Administrative Services would most likely oversee the
program. DCRA feels additional staff would be required to operate
the new program effectively. They have asked for a Range 13
administrative assistant under the supervision of the existing
grants administrator.
Number 531
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON asked whether, in the DCRA review, they had
looked at how much money would be disbursed through the program.
MS. METCALFE HELMAR said they had not; the amounts were uncertain
at this point.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated one of his concerns was that
collections might not be a big priority if all that was required
for reimbursement was filling out a form.
MS. METCALFE HELMAR responded that DCRA's concern was whether they
could handle the workload and what the staffing would be.
Number 768
LOREN JONES, Director, Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse,
Department of Health and Social Services, said their concern was to
protect people and engage them in treatment, with an eye to
avoiding repeat occurrences. If a treatment facility was
available, police officers, community service patrols or medical
personnel would take a person there. However, he explained, many
communities heard from via teleconference either lacked residential
or detoxification facilities, or had needs exceeding available
resources. In those cases, individuals sometimes ended up in jail
instead of getting appropriate treatment.
Number 725
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON asked Mr. Jones for an estimate of the amount
of money the state would need to fund reimbursements under HB 383.
MR. JONES replied that the advisory board and others had identified
approximately $1 million that could be used to provide increased
and better detoxification services. However, he could not estimate
the needs of police departments, medical facilities or other
providers.
CO-CHAIR IVAN said the Bristol Bay area is doing their best to
solve the problems. He stated he believed if there is a mandate,
the state has the responsibility to address the issue. Alcoholism
prevention programs statewide need to be reassessed.
Number 887
MR. JONES said his department had worked hard with many of the
communities that testified. He agreed that some of the proposed
amendments would be ideas the department would like to work on.
Number 931
HARLAN KNUDSON, President/CEO, Alaska State Hospital and Nursing
Home Association, said several members of the association had
testified previously. He stated that they strongly support HB 383.
He admitted that because of the $500 million fiscal gap, it seemed
a bad time to ask for funding; however, the issue was vitally
important. He suggested the committee look at reports like
"Healthy People 2000," and offered to be a resource on the issue.
Number 1006
CO-CHAIR IVAN asked if there were questions from the committee.
Hearing none, he concluded the testimony on HB 383, adding that he
would invite further testimony from people across the state at a
future meeting. He proposed appointing a subcommittee and asked
for direction from the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON commented that Mr. Knudson was right; the
committee must look at not only what was being spent but also the
cost to communities if the money was not spent. He indicated
concern about the substantial amount of new money required. He
referred to a memo from Bartlett Memorial Hospital in Juneau
addressing the need for reimbursement, and stated he thought this
was perhaps one of the most important issues facing many
communities, including his own. Representative Elton commended Co-
Chair Ivan for addressing the issue, and volunteered to serve on
the subcommittee.
Number 1159
CO-CHAIR IVAN appointed Co-Chair Austerman to head a subcommittee
to consider HB 383; Co-Chair Austerman indicated he would contact
committee members and form the subcommittee.
Number 1242
REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY said he understood the communities to be
saying that providing the services in question was not a high
priority in their budgets and communities were therefore turning to
the state for funding. He wondered if they were getting a vote at
the local level telling the committee this was their top priority.
Number 1281
CO-CHAIR IVAN said he appreciated Representative Vezey's comments,
and that he also understood the dire situation in some of the
municipalities. Dillingham, especially, was trying to address
other priorities as well. He suggested the subcommittee look for
ways and means to fund the program by everyone involved.
Number 1364
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to conduct, CO-CHAIR IVAN adjourned
the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee meeting at 2:25
p.m.
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