Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/11/2000 03:11 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL
SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 11, 2000
3:11 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Fred Dyson, Chairman
Representative Jim Whitaker
Representative Joe Green
Representative Carl Morgan
Representative Tom Brice
Representative Allen Kemplen
Representative John Coghill
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING
State Board of Education
Sally Rue - Juneau
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
HOUSE BILL NO. 355
"An Act establishing a state community service program;
establishing by statute the Alaska State Community Service
Commission; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 355 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees
Phil Younker - Fairbanks
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
HOUSE BILL NO. 300
"An Act relating to the establishment and enforcement of medical
support orders for children; and providing for an effective
date."
- MOVED CSHB 300(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 409
"An Act prescribing the rights of grandparents related to
hearings on petitions to adjudicate a minor as a child in need of
aid and to the testimony of grandparents at those hearings; and
amending Rules 3, 7, 10, 15, 17(e), and 19, Alaska Child in Need
of Aid Rules."
- MOVED CSSSHB 409(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 149
"An Act relating to insurance coverage for treatment of mental
illness and substance abuse; repealing provisions of ch. 8, SLA
1997, that terminates required mental health benefit coverage;
and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 149 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 375
"An Act relating to abuse of inhalants."
- BILL HEARING POSTPONED
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 355
SHORT TITLE: STATE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
2/09/00 2147 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2/09/00 2147 (H) HES, FIN
4/06/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
4/06/00 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
4/11/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 300
SHORT TITLE: MEDICAL SUPPORT ORDERS FOR CHILDREN
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
1/21/00 1962 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
1/21/00 1962 (H) HES, JUD, FIN
1/21/00 1962 (H) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (REV)
1/21/00 1962 (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
2/24/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
2/24/00 (H) Heard & Held
2/24/00 (H) MINUTE(HES)
3/23/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
3/23/00 (H) Heard & Held
3/23/00 (H) MINUTE(HES)
4/11/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 409
SHORT TITLE: GRANDPARENTS' RIGHTS REGARDING CINA
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
2/16/00 2220 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2/16/00 2221 (H) HES, JUD, FIN
2/23/00 2278 (H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED
2/23/00 2279 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2/23/00 2279 (H) HES, JUD, FIN
2/25/00 2315 (H) COSPONSOR(S): KOOKESH
3/23/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
3/23/00 (H) Heard & Held
3/23/00 (H) MINUTE(HES)
4/06/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
4/06/00 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
4/11/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 149
SHORT TITLE: INSURANCE:MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
3/19/99 516 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
3/19/99 516 (H) HES, L&C, FIN
4/08/99 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
4/08/99 (H) HEARD AND HELD
4/08/99 (H) MINUTE(HES)
4/10/99 (H) HES AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 106
4/10/99 (H) HEARD AND HELD/SUBCOMMITTEE APPOINTED
4/10/99 (H) MINUTE(HES)
4/11/00 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
SALLY RUE, Appointee
to the State Board of Education
7083 Hendrickson Road
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as Appointee to the State Board of
Education.
PHIL YOUNKER, Appointee
to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees
121 Spruce Avenue
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as Appointee to the Alaska Mental
Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees.
MATTHEW TURNER
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
PO Box 20049
Juneau, Alaska 99802
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 355.
YVONNE CHASE, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Education & Early Development
333 West Fourth Avenue, Suite 220
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 355.
ROBERT BASSETT, Coordinator
Spirit of Community Initiative
Volunteers of America, Alaska
no address provided
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 355.
BARBARA MIKLOS, Director, Central Office, Child Support
Enforcement Division, Department of Revenue
550 West Seventh Avenue, Suite 310
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 300.
PETER TORKELSON, Staff
to Representative Fred Dyson
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 104
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented amendments to SSHB 409.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 00-44, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIRMAN FRED DYSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:11 p.m.
Members present at the call to order were Representatives Dyson,
Green, Kemplen and Coghill. Representatives Whitaker, Morgan and
Brice arrived as the meeting was in progress.
CONFIRMATION HEARING
State Board of Education
CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the committee would consider one nominee
for the State Board of Education. Members would not vote for the
nominee but would pass her name out of committee for full
consideration of the House and Senate. (A resume was provided
for the appointee.)
SALLY RUE, Appointee to the State Board of Education, came
forward to testify.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN asked Ms. Rue what she considers the three
most important issues facing state education and how she intends
to address them in her tenure on the Board of Education.
Number 0241
MS. RUE indicated that the first issue would be meeting higher
standards. That is going to take a long commitment, and that is
well on the way. From her school board and volunteer experiences
in Juneau, she knows there are going to be some bumps in the
road. A steady course needs to be maintained to focus on the
goal and figure out how to get there from here. It probably
won't be an easy or quick process. It is important to stick to
the standards and refine them as needed. One of the bumps in the
road is probably going to be the results of the first high school
qualifying exam. How that is dealt with will have to be thought
out carefully, and what will be done to make sure all students
succeed in the end.
MS. RUE mentioned another issue she would be defining, a broader
role for both the board and the Department of Education & Early
Development (EED) in terms of incorporating the early development
aspect into the department. She does not have tremendous
expertise in that area, but she is very interested in it. The
more that is found out about how children develop, the more those
years become absolutely critical. Problems need to be taken care
of before the problems show up in school.
MS. RUE said the third issue would be seeing more students
graduate from high school but also seeing more high school
graduates go on to some kind of postsecondary training.
Generally a high school diploma is not adequate for making a wage
to raise a family on these days.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN asked Ms. Rue if she would be supportive
of initiatives that allowed qualified high school students to
take college credits at the expense of the school district.
MS. RUE said she hadn't thought a lot about that; she would have
to think about the details. Generally, she is supportive of
students having options. She knows there are students in Juneau
who have taken courses at the University of Southeast when the
high school couldn't offer the courses. At some point, resources
become an issue so she would have to look at the details.
Number 0446
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE asked Ms. Rue how she would see her role in
connecting early childhood development and K-12 education. He
also asked what she is going to do to ensure that the gifted and
talented regulations will be developed over the summer.
MS. RUE replied she is still new at this and hasn't had any
detailed conversations about that. She doesn't know the details
of where the EED is in terms of the regulations so she can't
really answer that.
MS. RUE said there has been a subcommittee appointed for early
childhood development, and she volunteered for that subcommittee.
She would look for the board to have some far-reaching
discussions on what the role should be.
Number 0608
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN mentioned that one of the leading causes of
youth death is firearm mishaps. He asked Ms. Rue what she
thought of a voluntary course in the schools on outdoor living,
gun safety and things like that.
MS. RUE said she is very supportive of hunter education and gun
safety courses. A voluntary course would be fine. She is a
little worried that schools are expected to do so much in light
of trying to narrow down and doing better on math, reading and
writing. All those things have to be weighed carefully, and
resources would be an issue. She supports having those courses
whether it is the school that offers them or not.
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked Ms. Rue to discuss how she'll make a
decision on how much to "dumb down" the qualifying exam if there
is an unacceptable failure rate.
Number 0740
MS. RUE replied she does not believe the exam should be "dumbed
down." The question of where the cut is set is a different
question. That gets back to the standards and what the students
should know and be able to do when they graduate from high
school. Then the question is how do we get the students there.
CHAIRMAN DYSON said some standards were set a couple years ago on
how much money goes into the classroom, and how much goes into
administration. That has sparked a lot of discussion about what
are classroom expenses. He noted that Ms. Rue voted a few weeks
ago to put all the administration as part of the 70 percent of
the classroom. He asked her to address what she was thinking.
MS. RUE admitted she did vote for that. There was not the option
of picking and choosing different positions in the 400 line of
school administration. The choice was either waiting a year to
have it become effective if the chart of accounts was changed or
taking too much now and dealing with the problem of some school
districts that have been switching from having principals to head
teachers which means there may be people evaluating teachers who
do not get in their classrooms; they may be 100 miles away. She
looks at principals, and possibly some vice principals, as
critical pieces of improving the schools.
MS. RUE said philosophically, she doesn't agree with setting
principals off as an extraneous category saying administration
has nothing to do with instruction; she believes it has a lot to
do with instruction. She doesn't see much progress made on
getting students and schools to higher standards without having a
really strong instructional leader in the principal. That is
key. She understood at the time it would cause some unhappiness,
in terms of the budget, but on the merits of it and the
substantive reasons, it was the right thing to do, and that is
how she voted. The board requested that the EED change the chart
of accounts so the support staff and travel could be sorted out
and not be associated with instruction.
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked who, besides the principals, did she vote to
include in the classroom.
MS. RUE answered that whoever is in that line, which right now is
probably all the staff in the central office of a school
building. If she had the choice, she would not support that; she
would support people who really have the instructional leadership
roles, not the school secretary and other people in the office.
CHAIRMAN DYSON said he appreciated that explanation. He asked
Ms. Rue if she believes that charter schools should receive part
of the local contribution.
MS. RUE answered it depends on how it is sorted out and what
services the regular schools provide for the students. She would
want to look at it on a case-by-case basis.
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked if she would decide what a charter school
gets based upon what services it requires, not it getting a fair
share of each funding stream.
MS. RUE said the charter schools should get a fair share, but she
would want to see what is being proposed and what the situation
is in the district. There is a charter school in Juneau that she
supported, but she also learned from that experience that quite a
bit of effort is required from the school district to make it
work.
CHAIRMAN DYSON said the school district gets money from several
different sources, such as state money, federal money and maybe
some grants and in some districts from the local tax base. In
essence, most of that money flows into one pot, then it goes out
for lots of things. He asked Ms. Rue if she thought the local
contribution ought to be set aside and the charter schools can't
get their fair share of that.
MS. RUE said she doesn't necessarily believe that. She would
still have to look at what the proposal was. She agrees with the
principle of the charter schools getting a fair share of all
funding streams.
Number 1061
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked Ms. Rue who should set the standards for a
school's behavior and safety standards.
MS. RUE answered the local school board, the school districts,
the parents and staff at the school.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said he had heard some village teachers
say that a lot of students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades
are beginning to not want to complete school. The students have
a hopelessness about them. He wondered if the REAAs [Rural
Education Attendance Area] should be combined at the high school
level to give the students something to look forward to. He
asked Ms. Rue what are some of the solutions to getting students
from the seventh grade into postsecondary education.
MS. RUE answered one solution is to give students hope that there
will be something to do, and they will have a future in Alaska.
Another area to look at is how to provide them with high quality
teaching. It is a concern that small districts tend to have new
and not very experienced teachers who tend to stay only a couple
of years. Inexperienced teachers who only stay a short time is a
handicap. That is something that needs to be dealt with. It
would help to have more local teachers, more Native teachers and
more minority teachers.
MS. RUE noted there is a worry that students who fail the exit
exam will leave school. Who is going to want to come back in the
senior year after flunking the test twice? It is the board's job
to make sure that doesn't happen and give the students across the
state the tools to succeed at that exam. She doesn't have a
magic answer, but it takes caring teachers, and experienced
teachers certainly help. She would like to work on getting more
students into postsecondary education. If students see something
to do beyond high school, they will see the need to get a high
school diploma.
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE asked Ms. Rue what the primary thing is she
will bring to the Board of Education.
Number 1294
MS. RUE answered she brings a passion for education. It is what
she does avocationally, not professionally. She said she feels
like she has a vision for what the system can be. It has a long
way to go, and it is not an easy thing to move that way.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked Ms. Rue what she believes has caused
the panic in Alaska about the fact that there are the competency
tests. He wondered if it is a problem of the school system or
because there are so many dysfunctional families or parents who
don't care. He asked if there are adequate requirements for
children to go from one grade to the next, or are students just
allowed to move on.
MS. RUE replied her answer lies in moving to standards rather
than seat time. If the move can be made to standards so students
understand what they are supposed to be doing, and what it looks
like when they are doing that at an acceptable level, it connects
them much more to real things. Learning feels more relevant, and
students begin to see why they need to know something.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said he was appalled to find out that
students graduating from high school can't do a checkbook. He
wondered how can that be.
MS. RUE said because up until now, the system has been oriented
toward seat time. Students need to be involved in their
education and understand what standards are. She believes Alaska
is moving in the right direction.
CHAIRMAN DYSON thanked Ms. Rue for serving and advised her to not
the let system absorb her. [Ms. Rue's confirmation was
advanced.]
HB 355 - STATE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
Number 1500
CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the next order of business as House Bill
No. 355, "An Act establishing a state community service program;
establishing by statute the Alaska State Community Service
Commission; and providing for an effective date."
Number 1520
REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN KEMPLEN, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor,
came forward to present HB 355. He has become increasingly
concerned about the lack of participation in the civic sector by
the citizens. Before he became a legislator, he was very active
in his neighborhood and community, and he found it increasingly
difficult to get people to participate in volunteer activities.
He discovered that volunteerism is an essential trait of the
American character and has always been powerful in American
culture. He told the committee members there are several
articles in their packets that addressed the diminishing
character trait. Technology has played a great role in this.
One of the articles maintained that television is drawing people
away from participating in the community, faith organizations and
community service organizations. The Internet is also keeping
people isolated from their neighbors. With this increasing
isolation of individuals, the community needs are not being
addressed.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN explained that in the past, many of the
social problems were dealt with in the civic sector by social and
community organizations. House Bill 355 provides incentives for
people to participate in civic sector organizations and do some
good for their neighborhood and the community at large. The
Department of Education & Early Development has provided a zero
fiscal note for HB 355. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
said it foresees no increased cost for the housing voucher. It
would be treated as a component of its portfolio.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN noted that the community service program
that was created by executive order is lodged in the Department
of Education & Early Development (EED). It was created to
channel the Americorps grants from the federal government, and HB
355 moves that commission to Alaska statutes and gives it some
additional responsibilities. The commission will take the
initiative to create an Alaska-based community service program
instead of just monitoring the Americorps pass-through grants.
The EED feels it can do that with existing staff.
Number 1797
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL asked Representative Kemplen if this was a
prototype, or if it was patterned after things existing in other
states or communities.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN answered that the community service
program is something already in place. This bill makes it
Alaska-specific and strengthens it.
Number 1835
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER asked Representative Kemplen how HB 355
revamps the existing Community Service Commission.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN replied it doesn't revamp the commission
itself, it just moves it into Alaska statutes. It makes it an
official state-sponsored program and gives it some additional
responsibilities.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER asked how exactly it enhances the
commission.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN said it enhances it by giving the
commission members a greater charge. It strengthens their
mission so they become responsible for laying out an Alaska-
specific community service program. The commission will write
administrative procedures and regulations on how this Alaska
program would be implemented, what would qualify an organization
to receive the designation of an official Alaska community
service program, and what type of criteria it would have to meet
in order to justify the housing or education voucher. It gives
the commission work.
Number 1934
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL asked Representative Kemplen what he
envisioned as part of the community service specific to a
community; what kinds of logistical things was he thinking people
would do.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN suggested a number of things could
qualify, but the Community Service Commission would set those
parameters. That would be the commission's charge to define
exactly what the sideboards are that qualify for community
service. It will be structured. It will have to be an
established civic organization. There are already a number of
civic organizations that provide community service, and those
organizations could apply to participate in this Alaska community
service program.
CHAIRMAN DYSON commented that this group will be doing a lot of
work. If it can do it without existing cost, he wondered what is
being done now that the commission will quit doing.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN said his impression from talking to the
members of the Community Service Commission, is that they don't
do too much now besides approve the federal pass-through dollars.
House Bill 355 will tap into that potential.
Number 2048
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked where the money is going to come from for
the vouchers.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN answered that the housing voucher becomes
part of the portfolio of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
(AHFC). The AHFC is guaranteeing a 100 percent mortgage loan.
That is carried on the AHFC's books so there is no additional
cost to the AHFC. The educational vouchers could come from
either the university as a line item in its budget or from
federal funds.
CHAIRMAN DYSON referred to page 3 of HB 355 and asked about the
faith based organizations.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN answered Catholic Community Services does
social service activities and would be eligible for this type of
activity because it is separate from the other part of the
organization. It basically precludes preaching of a specific
faith.
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE explained that this commission wouldn't draw
from the EED's current resources, it just is putting what it does
now into statute.
Number 2199
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER asked Representative Kemplen if he had
given thought to the notion that the volunteer efforts of the
individuals, who might qualify for either the educational voucher
or the housing voucher, would now be no longer voluntary, but
there would be remuneration considered for that time. Therefore,
it may have an implication with regard to federal income taxes.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN said it may. Often most people who do
volunteer activities don't make very much money. Young people
out of high school or recent college graduates are not making
very much money.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER said because the individuals may not have
substantial earnings, they may essentially be taxed for $2500
credit referred to on page 6, line 14. The volunteers may be
taxed on revenue, but this is a credit so it could have a
substantial negative effect on their tax situation. He
recommended that Representative Kemplen look into that.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL asked Representative Kemplen if he thought
about putting this commission into the Department of Health &
Social Services.
Number 2310
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN replied he did not consider that. The
current commission is lodged in EED and the administration was
comfortable in keeping it there. The programs that will be
eligible have yet to be defined by the commission. If there is a
heavy social services orientation to it, that may be something to
address down the road.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL asked if Representative Kemplen studied or
knew of any studies on the structure for community volunteerism
in Alaska. He commented that there are a lot of nonprofit or
civic minded organizations that are probably doing this, and it
seems that this could insert a community in areas where nonprofit
and other civic organizations have already asserted themselves.
TAPE 00-44, SIDE B
Number 2351
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN answered he hasn't done a systematic
analysis but in conversations with people who are active in the
civic sector, they tell him this is great; it would make it
easier to get people to participate in the different
organizations, and it would make the organization do a better
job.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER asked Representative Kemplen if the
commission would pay pass-through dollars to the university for
the educational voucher and the same then would be true for the
recipient of the housing voucher to pay for mortgage insurance no
matter who the mortgage holder may be.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN explained if a participant were to
complete the defined length of community service, he/she would be
eligible for a voucher, either housing or education. It would be
very similar to the GI [Government Issue] bill. As a veteran, he
received a housing voucher from the Veterans Administration which
guaranteed his loan at 100 percent so he can purchase a home for
zero down payment. This would be very similar. The actual
details would have to be worked out by the commission; this bill
just gives the commission the authority to move forward. A
participant would receive a certificate from the Community
Service Commission with the backing of AHFC. When the
participant applies for a housing loan, the certificate is
presented to the loan officer, and the loan officer knows it is
guaranteed 100 percent by the portfolio held by AHFC, and the
participant doesn't have to put anything down. The biggest
obstacle to moving someone into home ownership is the down
payment. This becomes a great incentive for people.
Number 2191
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER said in going back to the full faith and
credit of AHFC, he asked if that would then be subsidized by the
pass-through dollars as attributable to the commission from the
federal government.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN answered it would not be subsidized.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER asked if that would be a cost borne by
AHFC.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN explained that AHFC would guarantee that
loan. If someone pays on time and doesn't default, there is no
cost to AHFC.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER said the problem with that is it is on
the wrong side of the ledger of the portfolio; that is a
liability and that could be problematic, and he suspects that
will be reflected in a fiscal note of an appropriate amount. The
same question would be appropriate with regard to the university.
There is no pass-through funding from the commission; it is
simply the responsibility of the university given this voucher as
a result of HB 355.
REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN explained that employees of the university
now can take classes at no cost.
CHAIRMAN DYSON temporarily suspended the hearing on HB 355 in
order to take testimony for a confirmation hearing.
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees
CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the committee would consider one nominee
for the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees.
Members would not vote for the nominees but would pass his name
out of committee for full consideration of the House and Senate.
(A resume was provided for the appointee.)
Number 2138
PHIL YOUNKER, Appointee to the Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority Board of Trustees, testified via teleconference from
Fairbanks. He told the committee he has been in Alaska about 36
years and works in the investment field. He has served on the
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board for the past five
years and is seeking a second term. He has felt the trust
authority board has accomplished a lot. He serves as the asset
manager on the board. He is proud of the land management project
to provide ongoing funds on an annual basis.
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE stated his appreciation for the work Mr.
Younker has done on the trust authority.
Number 2085
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER said Mr. Younker is a pillar of the
community, and he continues to serve the community well.
CHAIRMAN DYSON thanked Mr. Younker for his willingness to serve.
[Mr. Younker's confirmation was advanced.]
HB 355 - STATE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
Number 2071
CHAIRMAN DYSON reopened the hearing on HOUSE BILL NO. 355, "An
Act establishing a state community service program; establishing
by statute the Alaska State Community Service Commission; and
providing for an effective date."
Number 2056
MATTHEW TURNER, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, came forward to testify
in support of HB 355. The entire product of Big Brothers/Big
Sisters is entirely dependent upon adult volunteers who work with
children. If there is a commission in place that sets certain
standards for both an agency and the volunteer, it seems like the
question of liability is pretty low risk. The volunteer proves
himself/herself by showing up on time, doing the service, and
basically following a contract with an agency for no payment. He
wondered if the question of liability would take a lower mark
because of that.
MR. TURNER noted that this is a good step in the direction of
legislation impacting culture because it raises the bar for
volunteers and agencies that are part of this program. The
commission is going to expect that certain commitments are met.
It will be an asset to the agencies to know there is enough of an
incentive to know there will be follow through on what a
volunteer says he/she will do and follow through on those
commitments over the course of a year. Another positive outcome
of HB 355 would be the impact on agencies. In order to qualify,
agencies are going to have to meet certain performance standards.
There will be some accountability without a lot of penalty.
MR. TURNER noted that many people are imported from other states,
and this bill will encourage more volunteerism in Alaska.
Number 1896
YVONNE CHASE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education &
Early Development (EED), testified via teleconference from
Anchorage. The Alaska State Community Service Commission resides
within the EED. She researched what other states have done and
said many states are in the process of moving their respective
commissions into statute, and ten states already have moved to
establish their commissions in statute. Establishing the
commission in statute formalizes the commitment to volunteer
services. The EED did submit a zero fiscal note because the
department saw the bill, with the exception of the section on the
housing vouchers, as actually taking the functions that were
presently outlined for the commission and moving them into
statute. The commission has two staff people, and the department
doesn't anticipate more staffing would be necessary with these
changes. A good deal of the work in reviewing proposals and
determining community needs is done by the commission members in
a volunteer capacity. The department sees this as a workable
bill in statute.
Number 1815
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked Ms. Chase if organizations like Alcoholics
Anonymous or Boy Scouts are disqualified because of their
religious affiliation or orientation.
MS. CHASE answered no they wouldn't be disqualified because of a
religious orientation. She believes the issue is not of the
organization's religious orientation but rather that the
organization will serve individuals regardless of their religious
orientation.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL asked Ms. Chase how the commission came to
be in the Department of Education & Early Education. He asked if
it was there originally or did it go through HB 40 under
reorganization.
Number 1766
MS. CHASE answered that the commission was moved under HB 40.
Initially, the commission was in the Department of Labor &
Workforce Development, as a result of the changes in HB 40. The
commission members at the time felt that the commission's
placement fit better in the Department of Education & Early
Development.
Number 1730
ROBERT C. BASSETT, Coordinator, Spirit of Community Initiative,
Volunteers of America, Alaska, testified via teleconference from
Anchorage in favor of HB 355. He has experience with state
commissions in other states, most notably New York, and the
function and role of the state Community Service Commission is a
wonderful and critical part of the strategy for developing human
resources in any state. He has followed the development of the
Alaska Community Service Commission, and it is at an exciting
stage right now. He believes that to codify the state commission
and also to establish a state community service program would be
a wonderful strategy to keep people engaged, especially young
Alaskans who are frankly facing disengagement, either because
they are dropping out of school or don't necessarily see a worker
career path, or possibly don't see themselves going on to higher
education.
MR. BASSETT likes the fact that the proposed bill seems to
emphasize disadvantaged youth and young people who may not be on
the fast track to success. By providing some additional state
leadership through the EED, the state is doing a great service.
It increases the emphasis on volunteerism. It connects
volunteerism to educational development. All experiences out in
the community that are structured, mentored and supervised
provide great education and in some cases, better education than
what is going on in a classroom. It also focuses on citizenship
at a time when young people and adults are questioning what their
role is in the community. This bill says it is important to be a
citizen, and that is going to be recognized through a system of
incentives that are tied to higher education. Education is the
key.
MR. BASSETT noted lastly the bill focuses on motivation. If the
young people are not motivated in school, and if they don't feel
there is an opportunity for them in the community, there is
direction to be motivated if they find an opportunity to get
involved in a community activity in service or volunteerism that
is meaningful to them where they feel valued and have some sense
of success. That leads to building on to a career path or higher
education. It is a great proposal to have the state commission
become formally part of the EED.
CHAIRMAN DYSON closed the public testimony.
Number 1577
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE made a motion to move HB 355 from committee
with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL objected. He said the idea sounds good,
but he has not had time to think about ramifications. He doesn't
want to see civic organizations get crowded by a governmental
organization in volunteerism. He would like to do more research
because it is not clear to him that this type of commission isn't
going to overshadow some of the community efforts. He might be
mistaken, and he is open to discussion on it. However, he is not
ready to move the bill out of committee.
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE said, to alleviate Representative Coghill's
concerns, this bill enhances civic organizations' volunteer
efforts. It provides a stream of volunteers for those
organizations to use to work within the community, and that is
why he supports it. Anything that can be done to encourage more
volunteerism in the community is a good thing, and thus
establishing the commission in statute is appropriate and timely.
The commission is not competing. It is cooperating with
volunteer organizations.
Number 1469
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER said he likes the idea, and it has
tremendous merit, but he has some practical concerns. He is not
going to oppose the bill moving on. However, he is concerned
with what the university and AHFC may have to say, and with the
tax and wage concerns. He offered to work with the sponsor in
the interim to advance something like this.
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Kemplen, Whitaker,
Green, Brice and Dyson voted in favor of moving the bill.
Representative Coghill voted against it. Representative Morgan
was absent. Therefore, HB 355 moved from the House Health,
Education and Social Services Standing Committee by a vote of 5-
1.
HB 300 - MEDICAL SUPPORT ORDERS FOR CHILDREN
Number 1385
CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the next order of business as House Bill
No. 300, "An Act relating to the establishment and enforcement of
medical support orders for children; and providing for an
effective date." He asked Ms. Miklos if she'd had time to look
over the proposed committee substitute (CS).
Number 1337
BARBARA MIKLOS, Director, Central Office, Child Support
Enforcement Division (CSED), Department of Revenue, testified via
teleconference from Anchorage. She said for the most part the
changes are fine. She and Diane Wendlandt had a question on
Section 7, page 7, lines 9-13, which is confusing. She was
worried that it would do the opposite of what is wanted.
Specifically, her concern is in regard to the words "government
assistance", which she interpreted to mean that if it were
covered by government assistance, then the CSED would not be
collecting the support from the parent. She asked what the
purpose of that sentence is.
MS. MIKLOS referred to page 12, line 25, Indirect Amendment of
Court Rule. In their reading of the court rule, the two orders
are not locked together like in statute now. They don't believe
that the statute, even as written, would amend the court rule.
That is not as big an issue for them as the question on Section
7.
MS. MIKLOS said she has mistakenly spoken and thus wanted to
correct her comments as follows: The CSED wouldn't collect on
behalf of Medical Assistance; rather, Medical Assistance would do
the collecting. She reiterated her concern that the language
"government assistance" would prohibit Medical Assistance from
collecting this money if the people were already covered by
government assistance.
CHAIRMAN DYSON said he understood her; it would negate the
ability to get reimbursed.
MS. MIKLOS agreed that is what she is worried about. From
discussions with the committee, she thought that was the opposite
of what some of the members of the committee want, and it is the
opposite of what the federal government intends when it tells
CSED it must go after medical support orders.
CHAIRMAN DYSON said his staff told him that is quoted directly
from the court rules.
MS. MIKLOS said no, "government assistance" is not in the court
rules. The court rule says, "reasonable health care expenses not
covered by insurance unless a court orders otherwise for good
cause" so there is a little difference in the language.
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked Ms. Miklos how this bill is doing in the
Senate.
MS. MIKLOS replied that it is scheduled [to be heard in the]
Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow. She also told the committee
the House Bill will go to the [House] Judiciary Committee after
[it is moved out of the House] Health, Education and Social
Services Committee.
CHAIRMAN DYSON said it would be his desire to let the House
Judiciary Committee decide whether it is consistent with the
court rules or not.
Number 1060
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN made a motion to adopt the proposed
committee substitute (CS) for HB 300, version 1-GH2061\D,
Lauterbach, 4/11/00, as a work draft. There being no objection,
Version D was before the committee.
Number 1032
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER made a motion to move CSHB 300, version
1-GH2061\D, Lauterbach, 4/11/00, from committee with individual
recommendations and the attached fiscal note.
Number 1020
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL objected because he hadn't had a chance to
spend the time [reviewing the CS] that he would have liked.
Furthermore, he is still concerned about private insurance,
although it looks like that was addressed in the proposed CS,
which seems quite different. Representative Coghill removed his
objection.
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked whether there was further objection. There
being no objection, CSHB 300(HES) moved from the House Health,
Education and Social Services Committee.
The committee took an at-ease from 4:30 p.m. to 4:31 p.m.
HB 409 - GRANDPARENTS' RIGHTS REGARDING CINA
Number 0923
CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the next order of business as Sponsor
Substitute for House Bill No. 409, "An Act prescribing the rights
of grandparents related to hearings on petitions to adjudicate a
minor as a child in need of aid and to the testimony of
grandparents at those hearings; and amending Rules 3, 7, 10, 15,
17(e), and 19, Alaska Child in Need of Aid Rules."
CHAIRMAN DYSON noted that the last time the committee heard this
bill, the Department of Health & Social Services objected to the
difficulty of finding and informing all the grandparents.
Therefore, Peter Torkelson will offer some amendments.
Number 0882
PETER TORKELSON, Staff to Representative Fred Dyson, Alaska State
Legislature, came forward to present two amendments to SSHB 409.
The first amendment is a technical title change to make it more
accurate. The second amendment addresses the issue that the
department had with the bill while still granting grandparents
the rights the sponsor believes they should have.
Number 0819
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE made a motion to adopt Amendment 1, which
read:
Page 1, line 1, following "to":
Insert "child-in-need-of-aid"
Page 1, lines 1-2:
Delete "on petitions to adjudicate a minor as a
child in need of aid"
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked whether there was any objection. There
being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
Number 0795
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE made a motion to adopt Amendment 2 [1-
LS1458\G.1, Lauterbach, 4/5/00], which read:
Page 2, lines 9-18:
Delete all material and insert:
"(d) the department shall give advance written
notice of all court hearings in a child's case to a
grandparent of the child if the grandparent has
contacted the department, requested notice about the
hearings in the child's case, and provided the
department with a current mailing address."
CHAIRMAN DYSON asked whether there was any objection. There
being no objection, Amendment 2 was adopted.
MR. TORKELSON noted that the Division of Family and Youth
Services (DFYS) said this change would negate the rather large
fiscal note. There may be a few costs related to the
notification but not the large amount that would have applied
under the old version of HB 409.
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE stated his understanding that the bill could
be passed out without the fiscal note, then.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked Mr. Torkelson whether the DFYS had
indicated how much the fiscal note would be reduced.
MR. TORKELSON answered no, it would just take care of the fiscal
concerns with the bill. There would be postage costs involved in
notifying the grandparents but not a huge addition.
Number 0686
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE made a motion to move CSSSHB 409, version 1-
LS1458\G, Lauterbach, 3/16/00, as amended, out of committee with
individual recommendations. There being no objection, CSSSHB
409(HES) moved from the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee.
HB 149 - INSURANCE: MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Number 0661
CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the next order of business as House Bill
No. 149, "An Act relating to insurance coverage for treatment of
mental illness and substance abuse; repealing provisions of ch.
8, SLA 1997, that terminates required mental health benefit
coverage; and providing for an effective date." He asked
Representative Coghill to give a subcommittee report. [The bill
had been assigned to a subcommittee on 4/10/99.]
Number 0637
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL reported that the subcommittee on HB 149
could not come to a conclusion on the matter, so the bill was
coming back before the committee for perusal. He personally had
strong objections to this bill going on, considering the mandate
of mental health insurance coverage at this time, but couldn't
get a consensus in the subcommittee. He recommended that the
committee not move the bill out of committee.
Number 0574
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE made a motion to move HB 149 from committee
with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL objected.
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Brice, Kemplen,
Whitaker and Dyson voted in favor of moving the bill.
Representatives Coghill and Green voted against it.
Representative Morgan was absent. Therefore, HB 149 moved from
the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing
Committee by a vote of 4-2.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 0514
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting
was adjourned at 4:39 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|