Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
05/01/2007 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB85 | |
| HB234 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 234 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
May 1, 2007
3:05 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Peggy Wilson, Chair
Representative Bob Roses, Vice Chair
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Mark Neuman
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 85
"An Act extending the termination date for the State Medical
Board; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED SB 85 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 234
"An Act relating to the education loan repayment program and
establishing the education loan repayment fund."
- HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 85
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND STATE MEDICAL BOARD
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DAVIS
02/19/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/19/07 (S) HES, FIN
03/21/07 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/21/07 (S) Moved SB 85 Out of Committee
03/21/07 (S) MINUTE(HES)
03/23/07 (S) HES RPT 5DP
03/23/07 (S) DP: DAVIS, ELTON, THOMAS, COWDERY,
DYSON
03/27/07 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/27/07 (S) Moved SB 85 Out of Committee
03/27/07 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/28/07 (S) FIN RPT 6DP 1NR
03/28/07 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, STEDMAN, ELTON, THOMAS,
DYSON, HUGGINS
03/28/07 (S) NR: OLSON
04/04/07 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/04/07 (S) VERSION: SB 85
04/05/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/05/07 (H) HES, FIN
05/01/07 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 234
SHORT TITLE: EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JOHNSON
04/13/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/13/07 (H) HES, FIN
05/01/07 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
RICHARD BENAVIDES, Staff
to Senator Bettye Davis
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 85 on behalf of Senator Bettye
Davis, sponsor.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 234 as the prime sponsor.
TAMARA COOK, Director
Legislative Legal and Research Services
Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
234.
SHERRI HARVEY
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Speaking as an individual, testified in
support of HB 234.
DIANE BARRANS, Executive Director
Alaska Commission on Post Secondary Education (ACPE);
Executive Officer, Student Loan Corporation
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
234.
ROD BETIT, President
Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association (ASHNHA);
Member, Physician Supply Task Force
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 234.
PAT CARR, Director
Health Planning and Systems Development
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 234.
KEVIN BROOKS, Deputy Commissioner
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Administration (DOA)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 234.
MARK HICKEY, Lobbyist
Alaska Nurses Association
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 234.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR PEGGY WILSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:05:52 PM.
Representatives Roses, Gardner, Fairclough, Neuman and Wilson
were present at the call to order. Representatives Seaton and
Cissna arrived as the meeting was in progress.
SB 85-EXTEND STATE MEDICAL BOARD
3:06:03 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced that the first order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 85, "An Act extending the termination date for
the State Medical Board; and providing for an effective date."
3:06:22 PM
RICHARD BENAVIDES, Staff to Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 85 on behalf of Senator Davis,
sponsor, paraphrasing from the sponsor statement which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Senate Bill 85 extends the sunset date of the State
Medical Board until June 30, [2013], in accordance
with the recommendations of the Legislative Auditor.
The legislative auditor has concluded that the State
Medical Board meets the statutory requirements of
public need and should continue to regulate the
occupations under its purview.
The board consists of five licensed physicians, one
licensed physician assistant, and two persons with no
direct financial interests in the healthcare industry.
The board serves the public interest by establishing
the minimum education and work experience requirements
that individuals must meet to become licensed
physicians, osteopaths, podiatrists, paramedics and
physician assistants. The board further serves the
public interest by investigating complaints against
licensed professionals and taking disciplinary
licensing action when appropriate.
The board has consistently proven to be efficient,
therefore I recommend that the State Medical Board be
extended to June 30, 2013, and ask for your support in
passage of this bill.
3:07:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES moved to report SB 85 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
Hearing no objection, SB 85 was reported from the House Health,
Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
3:08:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH stated that the State Medical Board
should meet Finding and Recommendation No. 1 identified on page
7 of the audit report dated October 3, 2006.
3:08:33 PM
HB 234-EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM
CHAIR WILSON announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 234, "An Act relating to the education loan
repayment program and establishing the education loan repayment
fund."
3:08:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON, Alaska State Legislature,
presented HB 234, as prime sponsor. He paraphrased from the
sponsor statement, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
The State of Alaska is facing severe shortages in
certain professional fields. House Bill 234 aims to
tackle those workforce shortages by creating a loan
repayment program that would draw qualified jobseekers
into those fields. The accompanying piece of
legislation, HB 235, establishes a $100 million
endowment to fund the program.
The number of qualified individuals in the state isn't
keeping pace with workforce demands in a few critical
areas, including allied health, engineering, and
teaching. A steadily growing economy and population,
coupled with the mega-projects the state has on the
horizon, means certain professions already in high
demand are only going to become more critical. HB 234
takes a pro-active approach to workforce shortages in
order to ensure the state's continued prosperity.
HB 234 creates an education loan repayment program to
help attract and retain Alaskan workers in professions
identified as having a severe workforce shortage. The
bill establishes the program within the Alaska
Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE), who
would determine eligibility criteria and disburse loan
repayment grants to qualifying individuals.
The loan repayment program would repay up to $7500 in
outstanding student loan debt for qualifying
individuals per year, not to exceed 5 years or 50
percent of the total outstanding debt. Eligibility
criteria established under HB 234 include:
The person must be a state resident on the date the
application is filed.
The person must have been employed or otherwise
engaged full time for at least a year in an occupation
or profession identified as having a severe workforce
shortage before being awarded the first grant.
The person must meet any additional eligibility
requirements imposed under regulations adopted by the
ACPE.
3:13:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN asked for a reason to approve this bill if
there are no funds available to appropriate.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON responded that the bill is a work in
progress; the hard part will be funding the $100 million
request. He explained that the legislature routinely sets money
aside for education funds or the budget reserve. This is a
similar request to set aside funds, and appropriate the interest
from those funds to this program. HB 234 is only the first step
in addressing the workforce shortage problem.
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN recalled that there are existing programs
for the benefit of teachers and asked for information about them
and whether this bill will affect them.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON deferred the question to the National
Education Association (NEA) representative that will be giving
testimony later. He clarified that HB 234 is a broad brush
approach that will be directed to a variety of needed industries
as determined by the Department of Labor & Workforce
Development(DLWD).
3:16:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked how this program is different from
the previous loan forgiveness repayment programs. She also
asked whether the goal of this program is to bring back Alaskan
students who have gone outside for college, or to attract new
residents.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON answered that the goal of this bill is to
recruit a quality workforce to Alaska. He expressed his belief
that the five year minimum residency commitment will ensure that
many applicants will stay permanently. He said his wish is also
to bring 100 percent of Alaskan college graduates back to the
state; however, the bill is not targeted at any particular
group.
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER then asked whether a full scholarship to
local universities would accomplish the same goal without having
the state reimburse tuition from outside schools.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON stated that this is not a scholarship;
this bill will encourage someone who has completed their
education to come to Alaska and work. He pointed out that this
bill will begin to fill jobs within one or two years; other
remedies will be more effective for the long term.
3:20:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH referred to the language on page 2
line 23, that states "full time" employment, and asked for a
definition of this term.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON answered that full-time employment is
specific to the hiring institution's standard practice. He
indicated that the Department of Labor & Workforce Development
(DLWD) would be enlisted to include the appropriate definition
in this bill.
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH suggested using "a minimum of 32 hours
and above" and explained the rotational and seasonal rational
that would support this minimum.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON agreed and said that the DLWD standards
and the industry standards would determine the limits of full
time employment.
3:22:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH stated her concern that the DLWD may
use state standards and not account for the employees that work
a variety of shifts in the private or municipal sector. She
then referred to page 3, line 16, and inquired about guidelines
on what defines a "severe shortage." Representative Fairclough
also asked whether the interest earnings are the sole source of
funding for the program, or if funds will be used from the
initial $100 million that is set aside.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON responded that, using the percent of
market value of $100 million at 5 percent interest, the program
will earn $5 million in the first year. He opined that this sum
will sufficiently fund the program initially.
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH stated her support of the percent of
market value and distribution of endowment funds. She shared
that there is a similar endowment in Anchorage.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON noted that the estimated 5 percent
[interest earnings] is a baseline, but it is expected that it
would be higher. It is not the sponsor's intent to dip into the
corpus, but to utilize the interest only.
3:26:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked whether the program will be
available to anyone who is filling a job that is designated in a
category of "severe shortage" and has been in the state for 30
days.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON expressed his understanding that, after
one year of employment, an applicant could submit an application
with his or her student loan information and request a loan
repayment of up to $7,500.
3:27:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER observed that, to attract workers who may
not have a student loan, an increase in the pay scale of $7,000
will accomplish the same goal.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON informed the committee that a side
benefit to this bill is that it addresses the "tier four"
problem with state employees. The $7,500 repayment is roughly
equivalent to a three step increase in salary; the potential
investment of this money could offset the lesser benefit package
that state agencies offer to tier four new hires. However, he
stated reservations about raising salaries by $7,500 per year.
3:29:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER gave an example of a current employee,
who is repaying a student loan, and who has a new coworker who
qualifies for this program.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON acknowledged that this example is a
possibility and there may be repercussions. In fact, the
benefit from this bill is similar to paid moving expenses and
other recruitment tools.
3:30:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER gave another example of a teacher who
moves from one Alaska school district to another in order to
qualify for the program.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON surmised that the teacher would qualify
for the program.
3:31:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA relayed that traveling nurses, who make
very high salaries, and the regular staff have a similar
conflict in hospitals. She turned to the issue of eligibility
and stated that the bill should have a liberal definition of
full time pay in order to assist the health care industry which
has many vacancies that are very difficult to fill.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON said, "I would love for this program to
run out of money because we have so many people to hire."
However, the intent of the program is to assist people who are
vested in the state as permanent residents, not someone who
comes in on a part time basis.
3:33:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES called the committee's attention to page 2
of the bill. He surmised that an employee, who is currently
employed in an area of critical need and who is still paying on
a student loan, may apply for repayment.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON concurred.
3:34:44 PM
CHAIR WILSON agreed that it is an issue and it is important to
address that aspect.
3:35:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON clarified that the bill's effective date
may preclude those who are employed. Representative Johnson
then retracted his previous statement.
3:35:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES cautioned that what often seems to be an
opportunity to attract employees can become a deterrent. He
provided an example of a situation that occurred in the
Anchorage School District, and the contract labor agreement
issues that arose as a result of special benefits offered to new
hires.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON acknowledged this possibility and
reiterated that the goal is to attract good workers without
creating openings for legal entanglements.
3:38:21 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked whether this bill is just for state
employees.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON said no. This is for anyone in a
professional field that the DLWD has identified as "high need".
3:39:19 PM
CHAIR WILSON expressed her views that this bill should be an
enticement for new workers rather than to encourage the
retention of existing employees.
3:39:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to page 2, line 23, and asked for
clarity of the language and the intent of this section.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON clarified that the intention is that the
worker has been employed for 12 months.
3:41:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH proposed an amendment to correct the
reference for the definition of "severe shortage" on page 3 line
17 from AS 114.43.415(b) to AS 114.43.415(b2).
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON deferred the question to the drafter,
Tamara Cook, Director, Legislative Legal and Research,
Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA).
3:42:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER stressed that the bill should not exclude
an Alaskan student who is attending an Alaskan college in order
to attain an education in a field of high need.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON confirmed that the intent is inclusive
and is not designed to exclude anyone.
3:43:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN referred to the $7,500 loan repayment and
asked whether this amount could be thought of as a credit that
would result in the recipient's ineligibility to apply for a
loan.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON opined that the best way to look at this
is not as a debt repayment but as a grant. He indicated that
the sponsors will look into the questions of the recipient's
ability to quality for loans.
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN opined that the money will be unearned
income to the recipient.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON agreed that a student loan is income for
income tax purposes; this is similar to a hiring bonus, which is
also taxable.
3:45:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for the definition of "loan" in the
bill.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON clarified that the definition of loan was
left intentionally vague. A qualified recipient will be working
in the state for a year and repaying a regular student loan.
3:46:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for the stipulation in the bill that
identifies what type of loan can be repaid.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON deferred the question to the drafter.
3:47:27 PM
TAMARA COOK, Director, Legislative Legal and Research Services,
Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA), advised the committee that the
bill as it is currently drafted does not define the term
"education loan." Unless the bill is changed to add a
definition, the Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE),
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), has the
authority to determine, through regulation, what an education
loan is. Regarding Representative Fairclough's question on the
reference to define "severe shortage," Ms. Cook confirmed that
the critical definition is found in AS 14.43.415(b2). She
explained that, for drafting purposes, the section is given as a
reference, but not the paragraph. The purpose for this is to
allow new definitions to be added as the bill evolves.
Consequently, all of the definitions will be included in
alphabetical order and the paragraphs will change.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked whether there is a due process or
equal protection issue if identical employees are being hired
and one has a student loan, thereby qualifying for this program,
and one does not have a loan.
MS. COOK answered that an equal protection problem does not
appear to exist. This bill applies to people who qualify
because they have an educational loan debt. This category only
aids those who are filling a severe shortage and who carry an
education loan debt. She added that the legislature has the
ability to elect to help a limited category of people.
3:52:14 PM
SHERRI HARVEY informed the committee that she was speaking as an
individual. She stated her support for HB 234, and urged the
committee to create the loan forgiveness program. She said she
is a resident of Alaska for 36 years, a student of the
university system, and a voter. Ms. Harvey suggested adding the
area of social work to the critical work categories of health,
engineering, and teaching. She said that she understood that
the intent of the bill is to attract and retain workers trained
in critical fields; her experience is that there is a great need
for dedicated and diligent workers in the human services and
social services field. Ms. Harvey stated that the bill will
energize students and revitalize the Alaskan workforce. She
closed by urging the committee to pass the bill from committee
with the professions of human and social services added to the
critical need categories.
3:56:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for clarification of the "course of
study" found on page 3, line 14, and of Sec. 14.43.438, which
are the pre-eligibility determinations.
3:56:47 PM
DIANE BARRANS, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Post
Secondary Education (ACPE); Executive Officer, Student Loan
Corporation, Alaska Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED), paraphrased from a prepared statement, which
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
HB 234 establishes an Alaska workforce development
program using a recruitment and retention financial
incentive model. While workforce development is not
within ACPE's core mission, as the state agency that
originates and services both the state education loan
program and participates as a federal education loan
provider, the bill tasks us with a substantial
responsibility for managing this new program. In
discussion with the sponsor's office I have relayed my
concern that one key component of the new program
should not be ACPE's responsibility and that is the
designation of the qualifying occupations and
professions. ACPE has no research staff nor do we
have the tools and knowledge to make these critical,
high-stakes determinations. Specific to the bill, to
protect the interest of the Alaska Student Loan
Corporation, I would request program statutes contain
an explicit statement that this program and any
related funding needs is not the obligation of the
corporation. I would also request throughout the bill
the benefits paid out on an individual's behalf be
termed a "benefit" earned rather than a grant. Within
the array of programs ACPE administers, grants are
need-based financial aid awards and to call these
grants will inevitably lead to confusion and
misunderstanding. This would require conforming
change to AS 14.43.920.Repayment by ineligible
recipient. Some technical changes are needed to
insure benefits are paid out as intended. For
instance-my understanding is that the cumulative
benefit will be the lesser of either $37,500 or 50% of
the participant's outstanding loan balance. There are
unresolved issues regarding whether or not a
participant could receive the 50% benefit in fewer
than five years of employment. Because the current
version requires benefits be paid directly to the
lender, what happens if a participant pre-pays and
loan and expects to have remaining benefits remitted
directly to them? Bill language requires that an
individual must be employed "or otherwise engaged"
full time (page 2, line 23. "Otherwise engaged"
should be defined or otherwise explained. Reference
pre-eligibility (page 3, line 11)-this appears to be
fairly problematic in that advance communication about
or perceived determination of eligibility opens the
commission (or another entity making the
determination) up to subsequent disputes and
grievances. It is possible the certain regions of the
state will periodically have severe shortages of
certain professionals when others, at the same time
may have an adequate or even an oversupply. It will
be important, in order to effectively and
strategically deploy state funds, that early
"commitments" not be in any way binding. No effective
date for qualifying employment is established-should
it be "first time" employment on or after a certain
date: That will need to be specified.
4:07:20 PM
CHAIR WILSON recalled that there are already loan forgiveness,
or home loan assistance, programs for teachers and nurses. In
addition, doctors have the Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho,
Medical Education Program (WAMI) loan forgiveness program.
MS. BARRANS explained that the teacher education loan program is
run on a very limited basis and is available only to those who
graduated from an Alaska high school and who are nominated by a
rural school district. She stated that her experience is that a
loan repayment model is better than a loan forgiveness model.
4:09:01 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked whether the [teacher] mentoring program has
helped.
4:09:18 PM
MS. BARRANS responded that there is no connection between the
teacher mentor program and the teacher education loan program.
CHAIR WILSON re-stated her question.
MS. BARRANS relayed that there is a high attrition rate in the
program.
4:10:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked whether the education loan program
has a loan forgiveness component for those who are teaching in
the state.
MS. BARRANS answered that education loans are 100 percent
forgivable when the applicant is teaching in one of the
qualifying schools.
4:10:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON stated that his understanding is that the
purpose of the program is to attract workers. He asked what
residency requirement in the bill is being used to determine
page 2, line 22, "resident of the state."
MS. BARRANS responded that the residency requirement, in the
present version of the bill, is twelve months domiciled in
Alaska. She offered that there may be changes to this part of
the bill.
4:11:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON also asked whether Ms. Barrans wanted the
definition of loan to be written in statute or regulation.
MS. BARRANS stated that this is one area that would be best left
for regulation to determine. She advised that it would not suit
to establish statute, considering the ever changing world of
finance.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON confirmed that educational loans could
include loans from family members.
4:13:29 PM
MS. BARRANS opined that a policy determination is not necessary
because parents do not make standard education loans. In fact,
loans to parents who borrowed on their student's behalf would
not qualify.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON clarified that these are institutional
loans.
MS. BARRANS said yes.
4:14:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN recalled that there is an existing student
loan program that is earning interest income for the state.
MS. BARRANS affirmed that the Alaska Student Loan Corporation
statutes provide that one-third of the net income can be
returned to the state. That provision does not relate to this
bill.
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN asked whether this same system would be
incorporated into this bill.
MS. BARRANS stated that it does not appear so at this time.
4:16:22 PM
ROD BETIT, President, Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home
Association (ASHNHA); and member, Physician Supply Task Force,
stated his support of the concept of HB 234 and said that the
bill is a good start to attracting workers to professions of
critical shortage, including health care. He shared the
attrition rates for physicians in Alaska and noted that progress
that has been made on the medium-term problem through expansion
of the WAMI legislation. In fact, what this bill does not do is
to fill the physician gap, although it could be modified towards
that end. Mr. Betit said this bill is a major help with respect
to nursing, radiological technicians, pharmacy technicians and
physical therapist's aides. He expressed his hope that work
will be done on the bill so that it can be refined to address
specific needs more effectively.
4:21:32 PM
PAT CARR, Director, Health Planning and Systems Development,
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), stated her
support for the concept of loan repayment and the inclusion of
the field of health professionals. She offered the committee
information on a federal procedure, through the U. S. Department
of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), to identify shortages of
high need professions. The designation criteria used studies
primary care, central health, and mental health. Ms. Carr
referred to information supplied to the committee about the
history of the federal procedure; it has been used in the long
term as a means to determine the shortage area designations. As
part of the process, the procedure considers: provider to
population ratio, travel time to health facilities, infant
mortality rates, and the percentage of the population below the
poverty level. Ms. Carr continued to say that health
professional shortage area designations are used for
approximately 39 federal programs, such as the USDHHS National
Health Service Corps Scholarship Program.
4:25:52 PM
KEVIN BROOKS, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Administration (DOA), informed the committee that
he is representing the state as an employer. He explained that
his department has provided the sponsor with demographic studies
on job classifications that are difficult to fill, and the
coming shortages as a result of retiring employees, public and
private. A high priority of the DOA is to study Alaska's
workforce during the interim. Mr. Brooks pointed out that
professional positions are in demand in the private sector as
well as the state, and that shortages are further anticipated by
region. He stressed that solutions will require a coordinated
approach.
4:28:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked whether there is any way to know
what proportion of this fund would be paid to graduate level
students versus those who hold vocational, two-year or four-year
undergraduate degrees.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BROOKS clarified that, although his
testimony stressed the critical shortages of professionals, the
shortages will include the trades as well. He opined that the
quantified analysis of the levels of education is available for
study and that this information is also desired by the DOA.
4:30:28 PM
MARK HICKEY, Lobbyist, Alaska Nurses Association, informed the
committee that the Alaska Nurses Association supports HB 234;
however, the definition of "full time" will need further
attention. He pointed out the shortage of registered nurses in
Alaska, and nationwide, and cited the various reasons for this
trend.
4:32:06 PM
CHAIR WILSON offered to bring the bill back later in the week.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON stated that the goal of the sponsor is to
work on the bill during the interim.
[HB 234 was held over for further testimony.]
4:33:01 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting
was adjourned at 4:33 p.m.
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