02/25/2003 03:02 PM House HES
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+ teleconferenced
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE
February 25, 2003
3:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Peggy Wilson, Chair
Representative Carl Gatto, Vice Chair
Representative Cheryll Heinze
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Kelly Wolf
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Mary Kapsner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Board of Education and Early Development
Esther Cox - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
HOUSE BILL 21 "An Act relating to an optional group of persons
eligible for medical assistance who require treatment for breast
or cervical cancer."
- MOVED CSHB 21(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 107
"An Act relating to an optional group of persons eligible for
medical assistance who require treatment for breast or cervical
cancer; relating to cost sharing by those recipients under the
medical assistance program; and providing for an effective
date."
- MOVED SSHB 107 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Board of Education and Early Development
Patsy DeWitt
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 21
SHORT TITLE:MEDICAID FOR BREAST & CERVICAL CANCER
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)KERTTULA, KAPSNER, CISSNA
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
01/21/03 0037 (H) PREFILE RELEASED (1/10/03)
01/21/03 0037 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
01/21/03 0037 (H) HES, FIN
01/29/03 0088 (H) COSPONSOR(S): GARA
02/03/03 0119 (H) COSPONSOR(S): CROFT
02/12/03 0201 (H) COSPONSOR(S): HEINZE
02/21/03 0274 (H) COSPONSOR(S): SEATON
02/25/03 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 107
SHORT TITLE:MEDICAID FOR BREAST & CERVICAL CANCER
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)DAHLSTROM
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/18/03 0229 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/18/03 0229 (H) HES, FIN
02/19/03 0257 (H) COSPONSOR(S): MASEK,
ANDERSON, SAMUELS,
02/19/03 0257 (H) LYNN, COGHILL, WOLF, HEINZE,
GATTO,
02/19/03 0257 (H) HOLM, HARRIS, KOTT
02/21/03 0270 (H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED
02/21/03 0270 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/21/03 0270 (H) HES, FIN
02/25/03 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
ESTER COX, Appointee
to the State Board of Education and Early Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the State
Board of Education and Early Development.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY DAHLSTROM
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor of SSHB 107, testified on the
purpose of the bill and answered questions from the committee.
MARY KVALHEIM
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 21.
KATIE HURLEY
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 21.
EMILY NENON
American Cancer Society
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 21 and SSHB 107.
JOAN DIAMOND
Department of Health and Human Services, Municipality of
Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 21 and SSHB 107.
HELEN SOARES
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 21 and SSHB 107.
CARLA WILLIAMS
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Read testimony on behalf of Mary Lou Barks
in support of HB 21 and SSHB 107.
MARIE DARLIN, Coordinator
Capitol City Task Force, AARP
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 21 and SSHB 107.
CHERYL MANN
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 21.
ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Health and Social Services
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided the department's position on HB 21
and SSHB 107 and answered questions from the committee.
CAREN ROBINSON, Lobbyist
for Alaska Women's Lobby
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 21 or SSHB 107.
PATSY DeWITT, Appointee
to the State Board of Education and Early Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the State
Board of Education and Early Development.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 03-18, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR PEGGY WILSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
Representatives Wilson, Gatto, Wolf, Heinze, Seaton, and Kapsner
were present at the call to order. Representative Cissna
arrived as the meeting was in progress.
CONFIRMATION HEARING
BOARD OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT
CHAIR WILSON announced that confirmation hearings for the
appointees to the Board of Education and Early Development will
be the first order of business. She asked Ester Cox to
introduce herself and provide the committee with some background
information.
Number 0084
ESTER COX, Appointee to the Board of Education and Early
Development, gave a brief history of her background in educating
Alaska's students. She told the committee that she lives in
Anchorage, retired as a high school principal from the Anchorage
School District, and served 33 years as an Alaskan educator.
Ms. Cox said that she brings many years of experience to the
table as a high school administrator and service as the
president of the National Association of Secondary School
Principals.
Number 0140
CHAIR WILSON commented that she has excellent credentials and
asked Ms. Cox to expand on her philosophy on education and her
reasons for wishing to serve on the board.
Number 0160
MS. COX said that her philosophy is that every kid deserves the
best education that the state can give him or her. She said she
wants to be a part of that delivery service to the young people
in the state of Alaska. She said that the state has a very
diverse educational system due to the sizes of its communities.
Ms. Cox told the committee she is interested in the challenges
of delivering good and pertinent education for every kid.
Number 0198
CHAIR WILSON noted for the record that Representative Cissna had
joined the meeting. She asked the members if there were any
questions of Ms. Cox.
Number 0222
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON made a motion to advance the confirmation
of Ester Cox to the Board of Education and Early Development to
the full body for confirmation. There being no objection, the
confirmation of Ester Cox was advanced.
Number 0281
CHAIR WILSON noted that while Patsy DeWITT is expected to
testify via teleconference, she is not yet on line. Chair
Wilson said it is the intention of the committee to proceed with
the calendar and return to Ms. DeWITT when she is available.
Number 0301
The committee took an at-ease from 3:10 p.m. to 3:12 p.m.
HB 21 - MEDICAID FOR BREAST & CERVICAL CANCER
HB 107 - MEDICAID FOR BREAST & CERVICAL CANCER
Number 0311
CHAIR WILSON announced that the committee will take up HOUSE
BILL 21 "An Act relating to an optional group of persons
eligible for medical assistance who require treatment for breast
or cervical cancer," and SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
107 "An Act relating to an optional group of persons eligible
for medical assistance who require treatment for breast or
cervical cancer; relating to cost sharing by those recipients
under the medical assistance program; and providing for an
effective date."
Number 0344
CHAIR WILSON told the members it is her intention to hear
testimony on both HB 21 and SSHB 107, address any policy issues,
and then pass the bills from committee. Chair Wilson said the
only difference in the bills is the funding mechanism, and since
the next committee of referral is the House Finance Committee,
the fiscal impacts will be addressed in that committee.
Number 0419
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER, cosponsor of HB 21, told the committee
she would be presenting the bill because the sponsor,
Representative Kerttula was unavailable. Representative Kapsner
read a letter to the committee from Representative Kerttula,
which stated:
Thank you for the opportunity to present House Bill
21, Medicaid for Breast and Cervical Cancer, to the
House Health, Education & Social Services Committee.
It is with deepest regrets that I am not able to
present the bill in person. However, my father has
been ill and I am traveling to be with him while he
undergoes medical testing.
I apologize again for not being present on this
important day and appreciate your understanding.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER provided the committee with background
information on HB 21. She said it makes the treatment for
breast and cervical cancer permanent. If the legislature does
not do anything, this program will end in June of this year.
She said she was excited to sign on as a cosponsor of the bill
because it is a lifesaving program. She told the committee
there are so few things the legislature can do that can save
lives, and this is one of the few things.
Number 0511
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER said HB 21 provides treatment for those
who are screened through the Alaska Breast and Cervical Health
Check program and are uninsured or underinsured [meaning their
insurance doesn't cover what they need to pay for treatment].
This health check program has been in place since 1995, and more
that 100 cases of cancer and 602 precancerous conditions have
been diagnosed. However, until 2000, if an individual went
through screening and found out she has cancer, there was no
program in place to help her pay for treatment of the disease.
In fiscal year 2002, in large part due to Governor Murkowski
[then United States Senator] and his wife, Nancy Murkowski, the
federal government approved a Medicaid expansion to cover
treatment for these women. Alaska opted into the program in
2001, but the legislation sunsets this year. In fiscal year
2002, 44 Alaskan women received treatment, with the federal
government paying 70 percent of the costs; Alaska paid $172,982,
which is less than 30 cents per resident or less than one-one
hundredth of a percent of the total general expenditures for
that fiscal year. Representative Kapsner said it is very
minimal in terms of the overall budget. To date, 94 women have
been treated; the total paid is $1,100,000, 70 percent paid by
the federal government, and 30 percent paid by the state. As of
January 2003, 49 states and the District of Columbia
participate; however, Alaska is the only state that has a sunset
provision on the program.
Number 0645
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER brought attention to an amendment, and
explained that after the bill had been drafted it was noted that
there was not an effective date. The amendment includes the
effective date in the title.
CHAIR WILSON labeled the foregoing Amendment 1.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 23-
LS0131\D.1, Lauterbach, 1/22/03, which read:
Page 1, line 2, following "cancer":
Insert "; and providing for an effective date"
Page 2, following line 10:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"Sec. 5. This Act takes effect immediately under AS
01.10.070(c)."
Number 0669
CHAIR WILSON asked if there were any objections. Since there
were no objections, Amendment 1 was adopted.
Number 0700
CHAIR WILSON asked if there is copay language in the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER replied that there is no copay language
in the bill. She said Representative Kerttula thought long and
hard about the differences between the bills. She said not
having the copay language in the bill does not disqualify the
state from federal funding. She said it would make the bill [or
program] confusing because the language does not necessarily
match up with the federal program.
Number 0730
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said that even though the Medicaid program
includes a cost-sharing requirement from the U. S. Department of
Health and Human Services mentioned in question number 45, page
13. He asked if a cost-sharing requirement would apply under
this bill.
Number 0792
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER told the committee that from her
discussions with Juli Lucky [Representative Kerttula's aide],
who is very knowledgeable on this issue, her understanding is
that cost sharing is Medicaid-wide, and not program specific.
Representative Kapsner asked Chair Wilson if she would like Juli
Lucky to join the discussion.
CHAIR WILSON replied that this is really a financial issue and
she would prefer not to do that. But her understanding is that
this is a Medicaid-wide, not program-specific issue.
CHAIR WILSON said she would like to have the sponsor of HB 107,
present her bill. The committee will then take testimony from
the public on both bills.
Number 888
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM, sponsor of SSHB 107, thanked the
committee and members of the public who have taken the time to
testify on this important piece of legislation. She thanked
Representative Beth Kerttula for her diligent work on this
issue. Representative Dahlstrom said Representative Kerttula is
dedicated to helping all the women in Alaska and her colleagues
are thinking of her and her family today.
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM shared events in her own family when
her sister had just been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
She said she will never forget the devastation in her voice, and
the concerns she expressed about what was going to happen to her
14-year-old son, her husband, and just her life in general. She
told the committee she had the opportunity to be with her during
her first chemotherapy. Her sister had three chemotherapies and
then she had a complete radical mastectomy. Representative
Dahlstrom said she was able to be with her sister as she was
wheeled into the operating room for the surgery, and was able to
be there after the surgery to take care of her for the weeks
that followed. Her sister had eight more chemotherapies after
that, and at this point she hopes that her sister is in
remission. Representative Dahlstrom said she is grateful that
her sister was able to receive the care that she did.
Representative Dahlstrom said this, in part, is why she is a
strong advocate for breast cancer awareness.
Number 1001
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM told the committee that one in eight
women in Alaska will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Imagine:
250 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Alaska each
year. National statistics are no better; one woman every 12
minutes is diagnosed with breast cancer, for which the mortality
rate is unacceptable. That is just part of the picture;
statistics alone do not reveal the impact on a personal level
that this disease causes. The number of people impacted by this
dreadful disease is much larger. Imagine the emotional stress
in a family when a mother, diagnosed with breast or cervical
cancer, has to go through the everyday living when this takes
place. She said she knows many of the members have watched as a
family member has experienced such an impact.
Number 1034
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM said both HB 21 and SSHB 107 cover a
vital service to Alaskan women. Like HB 21, SSHB 107 will
continue the treatment services to women who were diagnosed for
breast and cervical cancer under the Breast and Cervical Cancer
Mortality Prevention Act. In 2001 legislation was passed that
extended Medicaid coverage to women diagnosed with cancer by
federally funded screening programs. That legislation included
a two-year sunset clause that will terminate medical treatment
for all women on June 30, 2003. SSHB 107 will remove the sunset
provision and ensure that treatment continues for women
diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer while under the 2001
legislation.
Number 1074
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM said the major difference between SSHB
107 and HB 21 is the cost-sharing provision. SSHB 107 addresses
those who qualify for treatment, but are not covered by
Medicare. This bill directs the Department of Health and Social
Services to adopt a sliding scale for premiums or contributions
in the same way the Denali KidCare program does. This would
allow women whose household income falls between 150 percent of
the poverty guidelines, which is $34,500, and 250 percent, which
is the equivalent of $57,500 of the poverty guidelines in
Alaska, to receive needed relief. Representative Dahlstrom
urged the committee to pass this legislation out of committee
today.
Number 1135
CHAIR WILSON asked if members have any questions before the
committee takes testimony from the public.
Number 1139
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE asked, of the 92 or 94 women treated, how
many survived. She said the department seems to know the cost
of what was spent by the federal and state government, but not
if they lived or died.
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM responded that she would provide that
information to the committee.
Number 1185
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA remarked that she knows the chair does not
want to discuss the financing aspects of the bills; however,
that is the only difference between the bills.
Number 1198
CHAIR WILSON agreed and reiterated her intention to discuss the
policy of the bills, and pass the bills from committee if the
members feel this is the policy they wish to follow. The
financing mechanism will be discussed in the House Finance
Committee.
CHAIR WILSON opened the meeting to public testimony.
Number 1258
MARY KVALHEIM testified that she is a mother of a daughter who
died from cervical cancer. She told the committee her daughter
was an alcoholic and due to the practice of her disease, she did
not amass any property, nor was she able to hold a job that
provided benefits. Because of this, she was afforded the best
medical care available in the state of Alaska. She told the
committee as a mother she is grateful that things worked out for
her that way. But as a woman who did work all her life,
sometimes in positions which had no health care, she urged the
members to support this bill. She said she left a job in 1980
that paid $1,000 more per month for a job with insurance
benefits. This bill will help people who are employed in
positions that are unable to do what she did, by leaving one job
for another, because they would be unqualified, or because of
the pre-existing condition clause. She went on to tell the
committee that during her time working for the Legislative
Information Office, there was a woman living in Wasilla who
would have benefited from this bill, but due to her employment
she could not qualify for assistance. She could either make her
house payment or pay for her breast cancer treatment, amounting
to $600 monthly. She chose the house to have a place to die in.
Please support this legislation, she asked members.
Number 1338
KATIE HURLEY testified that she is a breast cancer survivor and
is in her 14th year. She told the committee she knows the
importance of early detection. Having the chance to have
mammograms will save money with early detection. She said her
cancer was caught before it was invasive. She had a mastectomy,
but did not have to have any follow-up treatment because it had
not spread into the nodes. She said she cannot tell the members
how important it is for women to have good medical care.
Number 1391
EMILY NENON testified on behalf of the American Cancer Society,
saying that the members probably already know many stories about
women who have breast and cervical cancer. She said the policy
issue is pretty straightforward: women are getting screened,
and they need to be treated. It is unconscionable to screen
individuals that do not have the means to get treatment, to tell
them that they have cancer and then not provide treatment. The
incentive of the 70 percent federal match is a pretty strong
message from the federal government on the importance of this
issue. In looking at the two bills, she referred to the later
bill [SSHB 107] which deals with cost sharing. She said her
concern is that there would be undue burden on people that have
already established that they do not have the means to cover
their own medical care. That is her concern and she wants to
make sure it is very clear that the fees that are established
are nominal and fair. She said the American Cancer Society
supports legislation to remove the sunset provision that is
provided by both bills.
Number 1503
JOAN DIAMOND testified on behalf of the Department of Health and
Human Services, Municipality of Anchorage, in support of HB 21
and SSHB 107. She said the municipality supports both bills as
long as they remove the sunset clause and establishes reasonable
cost sharing. She pointed out that her department does screen
many women who would be potentially eligible if they were
diagnosed with cervical or breast cancer. Ms. Diamond told the
committee she is hopeful this legislation will pass.
Number 1572
HELEN SOARES testified that she is a nurse and long-time breast
cancer survivor. She asked the committee to please continue
funding the breast and cervical treatment program. She told the
committee when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, she
felt really scared because it was a diagnosis of aggressive
breast cancer, but she was relieved that she had a second
opinion. Ms. Soares said she felt really ignorant about breast
cancer because she had worked in pediatrics. She said she got
support and knowledge from her support group, family, friends,
books, and prayer lists. When the huge tumor had shrunk after
weekly chemotherapy [for approximately three months], she had a
mastectomy. She said 16 of the 22 nodes were positive, and she
felt despair because she could not get the rest of her
treatments because her husband's insurance denied treatment and
appeals. She said they considered selling their house, but she
was fortunate to get into a research program, under the United
States Department of Defense and that is how she got treatment
several years ago. She urged the committee to pass this
legislation, because women who are diagnosed with cancer need
treatment to save their lives.
Number 1692
MARY LOU BARKS provided the following testimony which was read
into the record by Carla Williams in support of HB 21 and SSHB
107. Ms. Williams said she will be testifying in the Finance
Committee on the funding aspects of the bills.
Hello, my name is Mary Lou Barks. I live in Eagle
River, Alaska. Since I am very uneasy about speaking
in front of people, I am hoping this will be allowed
to be read to the legislation on keeping the funding
for Medicaid on Alaska's Breast and Cervical Cancer
Program going. Right now I am being helped through
this program with breast cancer and can concentrate on
getting well. I cannot imagine what it would have
been like not to be in the program.
Since I have no income except for the PFD [permanent
fund dividend], I would not have known about the
breast cancer if it were not for this program that is
offered to women like myself.
As I type this, I am wondering how many women have
died or will because there was not a program to help
them in finding out through the screening and
diagnosis of cancer.
The cost is overwhelming. How can a person be able to
recover if they have this cost facing them?
So I am asking you to please keep the Medicaid funding
for the Alaska's Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment
Program going to help women like myself because unless
you have been in our shoes, you will never know how it
feels to cope with the cost and getting better.
I give my permission to put my testimony into the
public record.
Number 1787
MARIE DARLIN, Coordinator, Capitol City Task Force, AARP,
testified in support of HB 21 and SSHB 107. She said the
program is established now and she urges the committee to remove
the sunset clause and keep the program going because it has
proven its worth.
Number 1834
CHERYL MANN told the committee she was not sure she wanted to
speak, but then heard the statistics in the committee room "that
three of us will have breast cancer." She said only two in the
room have to worry, because she has it. She said she is blessed
because she has two health insurance policies that cover her and
she is getting treatment. She said she is there to ask the
committee to support HB 21 because the women who do not have the
resources she does, cannot get treatment. The anti-nausea pill
she takes after treatment is $75 for one pill. Women without
resources could not have that and could not access any of the
treatment. She urged the committee to even the playing field
and make treatment accessible to poor women as well as those
with resources. She urged the committee to support the bill.
Number 2007
ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Health and Social Services, provided the
department's position on HB 21 and SSHB 107. He said that he
knows the committee is aware of the governor's interest in this
legislation. As a member of the United States Senate, Governor
Murkowski was instrumental in seeing that the federal
authorizing legislation became law at the federal level. Mr.
Lindstrom told members that Commissioner Gilbertson and Governor
Murkowski's message to the committee is to urge passage of a
bill that extends the program as quickly as possible. Mr.
Lindstrom said he appreciates the bi-partisan support on this
legislation.
Number 1997
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked Mr. Lindstrom if he has read both
bills and asked if he sees something in one bill that is not in
the other, with the exception of the fiscal aspects of the bill.
MR. LINDSTROM replied that the administration finds both bills
absolutely acceptable. He told the committee that the governor
and the department do support cost sharing for the Medicaid
program, particularly in instances when income eligibility for
Medicaid is greater than the historical norm. This program and
a previous program that everyone is familiar with, the Denali
KidCare program, have income levels that are greater than what
has historically been the case. So, in principle, the governor
and the department endorse this, as did the previous
administration. Having reasonable cost-sharing provisions on a
sliding fee scale for people who can afford to pay something for
their care as their income increases is the right thing to do.
He said the practical application of both of these bills is the
same.
Number 2067
CAREN ROBINSON, Lobbyist for the Alaska Women's Lobby, told the
committee the Alaska Women's Lobby has been in Alaska since the
mid-1980s and has a membership of around 3,000 men and women
from across the state. She told the members the Alaska Women's
Lobby supports both bills and urges the committee to pass this
legislation as quickly as possible. Ms. Robinson said she
believes it is essential to assist people who are having a
battle with a disease. These women need a lot of love and
patience. She said on a personal note, she is fortunate because
her husband works for the state and she would be covered. She
shared with the committee that Ruth Lister, who was the chair of
the Alaska Women's Lobby for many years, lost her battle to
cancer on December 10 of this year [2002]. She said her last
words to Ms. Lister were that she would do what she could to get
this bill through this year.
Number 2131
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE asked about Ruth Lister.
MS. ROBINSON told the committee that Ms. Lister lived in Juneau,
but was originally from Fairbanks, where she was the dean of
women [at the university] in Fairbanks. At one time she was the
director of the Women's Commission, and was one of the original
directors of the women's shelter in Fairbanks. Ms. Robinson
told the committee Ms. Lister had a 15-year battle with cancer,
and she testified on this bill last year about this time.
CHAIR WILSON asked if anyone else wanted to testify or if the
members had further questions.
Number 2196
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO moved to report HB 21 [as amended] out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 21(HES) was
reported from the House Health, Education and Social Services
Standing Committee.
Number 2215
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE moved to report SSHB 107 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note. There being no objection, SSHB 107 was reported from the
House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
The committee took an at-ease from 3:50 p.m. to 3:52 p.m.
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Board Of Education And Early Development
CHAIR WILSON said the next order of business will be to hear
testimony on the confirmation of Patsy DeWitt to the Board of
Education and Early Development.
Number 2276
PATSY DeWITT
PATSY DeWITT, Appointee to the Board of Education and Early
Development, told the committee she wishes to serve on the board
because she believes a good education for Alaska's kids is the
best foundation for the state of Alaska. She said she has
volunteered for many years while her children were going through
school. She believes education is in crisis, and she wants to
be there to help.
Number 2307
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked Ms. DeWitt how she feels about the
Pledge of Allegiance in the school systems. He said he hopes
she supports it.
MS. DeWITT replied that she supports the Pledge of Allegiance
and believes it should start each morning.
Number 2327
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON made a motion to advance the confirmation
of Patsy DeWitt to the Board of Education and Early Development
to the full body for confirmation. There being no objection,
the confirmation of Patsy DeWitt was advanced.
TAPE 03-18, SIDE B
Number 2367
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting
was adjourned at 3:54 p.m.
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