Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/16/2000 03:30 PM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL
SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 16, 2000
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Fred Dyson, Chairman
Representative Jim Whitaker
Representative Tom Brice
Representative Allen Kemplen
Representative John Coghill
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Joe Green
Representative Carl Morgan
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 353
"An Act relating to heirloom certificates of marriage."
- MOVED CSHB 353(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 427
"An Act relating to the school year for purposes of the
postsecondary student loan program; and providing for an
effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 427(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees
Susan LaBelle
Tom Hawkins
- CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
Robert Christal
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
University of Alaska Board of Regents
Joshua Horst
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 270
"An Act relating to sexual assault and sexual abuse and to
payment for certain examinations in cases of alleged sexual
assault or sexual abuse."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 353
SHORT TITLE: HEIRLOOM MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
2/07/00 2123 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2/07/00 2123 (H) HES, FIN
2/07/00 2123 (H) FISCAL NOTE (DHSS)
2/07/00 2123 (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
2/07/00 2123 (H) REFERRED TO HES
3/16/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 427
SHORT TITLE: POSTSECONDARY LOAN PROGRAM:SCHOOL YR
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
3/01/00 2359 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
3/01/00 2359 (H) HES, FIN
3/01/00 2359 (H) REFERRED TO HES
3/16/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Health & Social Services
PO Box 110601
Juneau, Alaska 99811
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 353.
DR. MILTON BYRD, President
Charter College
Member, Alaska Commission of Postsecondary Education
2221 East Northern Lights Boulevard
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 427.
DIANE BARRANS, Executive Director
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
Department of Education & Early Development
3030 Vintage Boulevard
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on HB 427.
SUSAN LaBELLE, Appointee
to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees
4830 Shelikof Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska Mental
Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees.
TOM HAWKINS, Appointee
to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees
1820 East 24th Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska Mental
Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees.
JOSHUA HORST, Appointee
to the University of Alaska Board of Regents, Student Regent
513 St. Ann's Avenue
Douglas, Alaska 99824
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the University of
Alaska Board of Regents, Student Regent.
ROBERT CHRISTAL, Appointee
to the Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC)
12661 Schooner Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99515
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the PTPC.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 00-31, SIDE A
Number 0001
[The minutes for the Bridges Campaign are found in the 3:02 p.m.
cover sheet for the same date.]
CHAIRMAN FRED DYSON reconvened the House Health, Education and
Social Services Standing Committee meeting at 3:30 p.m. Members
present were Representatives Dyson, Whitaker, Brice, Kemplen and
Coghill.
HB 353 - HEIRLOOM MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES
CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the first order of business as HOUSE
BILL NO. 353, "An Act relating to heirloom certificates of
marriage."
Number 0030
ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Health & Social Services, came forward to present
HB 353. He explained that HB 353 is a "follow-on" bill to
legislation passed several years ago that created a special
heirloom birth certificate program. The heirloom birth
certificate is available to persons, at their option, if they are
willing to pay a premium for a legal document suitable for
framing. It is an artistic rendition and something anyone would
be pleased to hang in the front room. The program has been
successful over the years and has resulted in approximately
$50,000 in the Alaska Children's Trust to date.
MR. LINDSTROM indicated this bill would create an heirloom
certificate of marriage, which also would be a legal document
suitable for framing. It might well prove to be pretty popular,
with the proceeds going to the Alaska Children's Trust being
subject to appropriation by the legislature for that purpose. He
noted that there was a proposed committee substitute (CS) that
would conform to an amendment in the Senate Health, Education and
Social Services Committee several weeks ago. The amendment kept
open the price that would be charged for an heirloom certificate.
In the future, there may be special-edition certificates of one
type or another that might be more valuable than the document
originally envisioned, and the department would be limited to
charging what a print of similar value would go for on the open
market. It is not an open-ended ability to charge, however. The
document is one that people would have to decide that they want.
The regular certificate would be available for the regular price.
MR. LINDSTROM said the fiscal note prepared originally would
remain applicable to the proposed CS. The heirloom document
would have a $25 surcharge above the normal price of a marriage
certificate. That might change over time as opportunities occur
to do something more unique and spectacular.
Number 0287
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL made a motion to adopt the proposed CS for
HB 353, version 1-GH2056\D, Lauterbach, 3/15/00, as a work draft.
There being no objection, Version D was before the committee.
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked Mr. Lindstrom whether removing the price cap
indicates that the department is also thinking about inflation.
MR. LINDSTROM answered that the department would be required to
go through a regulatory process anytime it elected to change the
value of the certificate. He hadn't really thought about
inflation but would be cognizant of it.
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE made a motion to move CSHB 353, version 1-
GH2056\D, Lauterbach, 3/15/00, out of committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal notes. There being no
objection, CSHB 353(HES) moved from the House Health, Education
and Social Services Standing Committee.
HB 427 - POSTSECONDARY LOAN PROGRAM:SCHOOL YR
Number 0450
CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the next order of business as HOUSE BILL
NO. 427, "An Act relating to the school year for purposes of the
postsecondary student loan program; and providing for an
effective date."
Number 0468
DR. MILTON BYRD, President, Charter College, Member, Alaska
Commission of Postsecondary Education, came forward to present HB
427. He explained that HB 427 is a technical change in the
statute authorizing the administration of the Alaska Student Loan
Program. The current definition indicates that students can
receive one loan every 12 months. This bill changes that to
permit an institution to offer a fast-track program consistent
with legitimate requirements or length of time to justify an
academic year. The U.S. Department of Education defines an
academic year as 30 weeks of instruction; most institutions
follow that, using either two 15-week semesters or three 10-week
quarters.
DR. BYRD said this change, from a 12-month period to a 30-week
period to qualify for a loan, permits an institution to offer a
fast-track program and shorten the traditional four-year degree
for students who have the energy and desire to pursue such a
degree with few, if any, breaks between terms. This bill was
taken up at a meeting of the Alaska Commission of Postsecondary
Education this morning and was endorsed by the commission.
Number 0574
DR. BYRD requested a small change in HB 427, to delete the word
"occurs" in line 6 and add the word "begins." The word "occurs"
could be misinterpreted, he explained, and the original draft had
the word "begins" in it.
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE asked for clarification.
DR. BYRD explained that "occurs" between those periods of time
could be interpreted to mean beginning and ending during that
time. So if it begins in that period, a student could begin a
second term in that same period of time. The word "begins" is
more precise than "occurs."
DR. BYRD observed that there is a slight cost benefit for
students. Over the years, analysis has shown that the major
expense of attending college is the foregone income. The income
not earned during the time someone attends college is more than
50 percent of the cost of attending college. If a student is
able to finish in less than four years and go to work, the
student's cost of education is reduced.
Number 0904
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN made a motion to adopt an amendment "to
substitute the word 'begins' for 'occurs' on line 6, for purposes
of discussion."
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN noted that the substitution changes the
legislation because now it allows for a school year to go beyond
August 31 of the following year. He asked for clarification.
CHAIRMAN DYSON said he doesn't believe it sets a maximum on how
many weeks the school can go. It only has to be a minimum, and
it can start anytime during that period; a student could actually
start two terms during that period.
Number 1120
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE noted that the original bill said all 30 of
the weeks had to fall between September 1 and August 31. The
amendment says that a student can lapse over August 31 in the
program. He wondered if that would be considered two years or
one year.
CHAIRMAN DYSON said the real thing here is the money. It allows
students to complete it and then start their second academic year
within a calendar year, and to have access to the funding for it.
DR. BYRD agreed. If a student enrolled on September 1, the
beginning of the loan year, then 30 weeks will have transpired
seven months and a week and a half later; the student will have
completed one academic year of the four years for a four-year
degree. The following day, theoretically, that student could
start a second academic year, and a little more than seven months
later would have completed a second year. If the schedule were
written properly, that student would be able to complete a four-
year degree in two and a half years. During that year and a half
saved, the student would be earning money that otherwise he/she
couldn't earn if he/she took four years to complete the degree.
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE said "The issue is we want that student to
be able to apply for and receive four years of student loans
because he is paying for four years of tuition. That's why we
want 'begins' instead of 'occurs.'"
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked Ms. Barrans whether the department endorses
this and doesn't have any problems with it.
Number 1258
DIANE BARRANS, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on
Postsecondary Education, Department of Education & Early
Development, came forward. She confirmed that the commission did
review this legislation at its meeting earlier today and acted to
endorse it. The commission consulted with other four-year
institutions in the state and explained that this bill is
relatively invisible to them. In the event that the institutions
proposed accelerated degree programs, they would offer their
students the same benefit.
CHAIRMAN DYSON noted that he has a perceived conflict of interest
because he had been a student at Dr. Byrd's institution and has
received advice from Dr. Byrd on educational issues.
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE asked whether there was still an objection
to the amendment.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN withdrew his objection.
Number 1323
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN made a motion to move HB 427, as amended,
out of committee with individual recommendations and zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, CSHB 427(HES) moved from the
House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
The committee took an at-ease from 3:52 p.m. to 4:08 p.m.
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
Number 1366
CHAIRMAN DYSON announced that the committee would consider two
nominees for the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of
Trustees, one nominee for the Professional Teaching Practices
Commission, and one nominee for the University of Alaska Board of
Regents. Committee members would not vote for the nominees but
would pass their names out of committee for full consideration of
the House and Senate. (Resumes were provided for all
appointees.)
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees
Number 1382
SUSAN LaBELLE, Appointee to the Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority Board of Trustees, testified via teleconference from
Anchorage. She was born and raised in the village of Port
Graham. She has been working in the social services and mental
health field for over 20 years. She came to the field as a
direct service provider as a trustee. She brings a different
perspective to the Board of Trustees as well as a measure of
cultural diversity with her ethnic background. She has lived in
Anchorage for over 20 years.
MS. LaBELLE said she has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in
social work. She has insights into the special needs of
individuals, families and communities, and she knows the issues.
Those are the primary reasons she would like to serve on the
Board of Trustees. She has been serving a little over two years
on the board, which has given her an opportunity to learn much
more about the mental health systems in the state and to become
familiar with the budget process. This is a reappointment for
her; she [was appointed] more than two years ago to fill the
remainder of a term, which expired last March.
CHAIRMAN DYSON expressed his appreciation to Ms. LaBelle for her
willingness to serve.
Number 1592
TOM HAWKINS, Appointee to the Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority Board of Trustees, testified via teleconference from
Anchorage. He has lived in Alaska since 1972, and most of his
work experience has had to with resource management and business
management. He has chaired the asset management committee of the
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority for the past four years.
This is also a reappointment for him. He is interested in
continuing his service as he likes the mission and vision of the
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. The legislature has done a
pretty enlightened job of crafting the management of the trust in
perpetuity. It has provided some excellent advisors to the
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority community, the Alaska Mental
Health Board and the Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special
Education as well as the Governor's Advisory Board on Alcoholism
& Drug Abuse and the Alaska Commission on Aging. It is a
positive relationship developed over the first four years that
has produced positive benefits for the beneficiaries of the
trust.
CHAIRMAN DYSON expressed his appreciation to Mr. Hawkins for his
willingness to serve.
University of Alaska Board of Regents
Number 1750
JOSHUA HORST, Appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, Student Regent, came forward to testify. He is a
student at the University of Alaska Southeast and currently is
the student regent on the University of Alaska Board of Regents.
He has enjoyed the process of bringing together students from all
the campuses and keeping open communication with the Board of
Regents and the legislature.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL expressed his appreciation for Mr. Horst's
efforts.
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE asked Mr. Horst what his role is on the
Board of Regents. He asked whether it is to tell the students
what is happening from the board and dictate down or is it to be
the active voice of student discontent.
MR. HORST answered he didn't have a good answer for that, but so
far it appears that the role has a little bit of both. He serves
as the spokesman for the coalition of student leaders; he has
committed to them that whatever that group of students from
around the state wants him to tell the board, he will tell the
board. When students are displeased with tuition increases, for
example, he will be sitting in front of the board and sharing the
students' insight. On the flip side, there are going to be times
that the board has things to tell the students, and he will share
those as well.
CHAIRMAN DYSON encouraged Mr. Horst to maintain his viewpoint and
conscience and continue to do a good job on the Board of Regents.
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
Number 1958
ROBERT CHRISTAL, Appointee to the Professional Teaching Practices
Commission (PTPC), testified via teleconference from Anchorage.
He is the superintendent of the Anchorage School District since
1992 and has lived in Anchorage since 1970. He has taught and
worked for the Anchorage School District that entire time. He
applied to the PTPC because of the saying "teachers policing
their own," and there have been inappropriate actions by
superintendents across the state. He believes there is no higher
responsibility of reviewing complaints, and he would enjoy
dealing with the issues in a fair manner. He has a child and
grandchildren in the school system. Education is the most
important component of a healthy community, and he would like to
do his part.
CHAIRMAN DYSON expressed his appreciation to Mr. Christal for his
willingness to serve.
[End of confirmation hearings; all confirmations were advanced.]
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting
was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
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