Legislature(2025 - 2026)DAVIS 106

05/08/2025 03:15 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

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03:23:40 PM Start
03:24:17 PM Presentation(s): Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
04:59:59 PM SCR4
05:07:22 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Presentation: Alaska Mental Health Trust TELECONFERENCED
Overview by Mary Wilson, Executive Director;
Katie Baldwin-Johnson, Chief Operating Officer
+ SCR 4 MENTAL HEALTH MONTH; TARDIVE DYSK WEEK TELECONFERENCED
Moved SCR 4 Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+ SJR 15 OPPOSE MEDICAID CUTS TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Canceled>
<Pending Referral>
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
      HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                     
                          May 8, 2025                                                                                           
                           3:23 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Genevieve Mina, Chair                                                                                            
Representative Andrew Gray                                                                                                      
Representative Zack Fields                                                                                                      
Representative Donna Mears                                                                                                      
Representative Mike Prax                                                                                                        
Representative Justin Ruffridge                                                                                                 
Representative Rebecca Schwanke                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTATION(S):  ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4                                                                                              
Designating May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month; and                                                                      
designating May 4 - 10, 2025, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness                                                                   
Week.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SCR 4 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15                                                                                                  
Calling on the state's congressional delegation to oppose cuts                                                                  
to federal spending on Medicaid.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARING CANCELED                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SCR  4                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: MENTAL HEALTH MONTH; TARDIVE DYSK WEEK                                                                             
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) GRAY-JACKSON                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
04/15/25       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/15/25       (S)       HSS                                                                                                    
05/01/25       (S)       HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
05/01/25       (S)       Moved SCR 4 Out of Committee                                                                           
05/01/25       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
05/02/25       (S)       HSS RPT 5DP                                                                                            
05/02/25       (S)       DP:   DUNBAR,  HUGHES,   CLAMAN,  TOBIN,                                                               
                         GIESSEL                                                                                                
05/02/25       (S)       RULES TO CALENDAR PENDING HSS RPT/REF                                                                  
05/02/25       (S)       TRANSMITTED TO (H)                                                                                     
05/02/25       (S)       VERSION: SCR  4                                                                                        
05/05/25       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/05/25       (H)       HSS                                                                                                    
05/08/25       (H)       HSS AT 3:15 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MARY WILSON, MD, Executive Director                                                                                             
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority                                                                                            
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:    Gave  the   Alaska  Mental  Health  Trust                                                             
Authority presentation.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
KATIE BALDWIN-JOHNSON, Chief Operating Officer                                                                                  
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority                                                                                            
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Provided  comment  and answered  questions                                                             
during the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority presentation.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON                                                                                                            
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  As prime sponsor, presented SCR 4.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ANN RINGSTAD, Executive Director                                                                                                
NAMI Alaska                                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:   Gave invited  testimony during  the hearing                                                             
on SCR 4.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:23:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GENEVIEVE MINA called the  House Health and Social Services                                                             
Standing   Committee    meeting   to    order   at    3:23   p.m.                                                               
Representatives Schwanke, Ruffridge, Mears,  Gray, Prax, and Mina                                                               
were  present  at  the  call to  order.    Representative  Fields                                                               
arrived as the meeting was in progress.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
^PRESENTATION(S):  Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority                                                                         
     PRESENTATION(S):  Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:24:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MINA  announced that the  first order of business  would be                                                               
the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority presentation.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:24:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARY WILSON,  MD, Executive Director, Alaska  Mental Health Trust                                                               
Authority  (AMHTA),   began  the   Alaska  Mental   Health  Trust                                                               
Authority presentation via PowerPoint  [hard copy included in the                                                               
committee file].  She began by  sharing her work background.  She                                                               
brought  attention   to  slide   3  of  the   PowerPoint,  "Trust                                                               
Beneficiaries,"  which  read  as  follows  [original  punctuation                                                               
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Trust beneficiaries include Alaskans who experience:                                                                       
     • Mental illnesses                                                                                                         
     • Intellectual and/or developmental                                                                                        
     disabilities                                                                                                               
     • Alzheimer's disease and related                                                                                          
     dementia                                                                                                                   
     • Traumatic brain injuries                                                                                                 
     • Substance use disorders                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON then clicked on the link on slide 3 to play a video.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:29:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON moved  to slide  4,  "Creation of  the Alaska  Mental                                                               
Health  Trust   Authority,"  which  read  as   follows  [original                                                               
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     • Prior to statehood, few mental health services                                                                           
     available in the territory                                                                                                 
     • Mental Health Trust Enabling Act, 1956                                                                                   
     • Legislature was fiduciary, but mismanaged assets                                                                         
     • Weiss v State of Alaska, 1982                                                                                            
     • Final settlement creating the Trust Authority, 1994                                                                      
        • Trust was reconstituted, resulting in 1M acres                                                                        
     of land to                                                                                                                 
     be managed by the Trust Land Office                                                                                        
        • $200M in cash (origin of our corpus), managed                                                                         
     by APFC                                                                                                                    
          • Independent board of trustees                                                                                       
     • Trust established in Alaska Statute, 1994                                                                                
     Morningside Hospital, Oregon                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Historical documents and more                                                                                              
     available on our history webpage                                                                                           
     • UAF's Project Jukebox Oral History                                                                                       
     Project                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON turned to slide 5, "The Trust Today," which read as                                                                  
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     • Oversees  management of Trust assets  and administers                                                                    
     the Trust                                                                                                                  
     • Spends Trust income                                                                                                      
     •  Ensures the  State  has  a Comprehensive  Integrated                                                                    
     Mental Health Program                                                                                                      
     Plan                                                                                                                       
     • Serves as an advocate  for beneficiaries and a Change                                                                    
     Agent                                                                                                                      
     •  Is  required  to  recommend   to  the  Governor  and                                                                    
     Legislature how the State                                                                                                  
     of Alaska  should spend general fund  resources (GF/MH)                                                                    
     to support a                                                                                                               
     mental health program (AS44.25.270)                                                                                        
     •  The Alaska  Permanent Fund  Corporation and  the DOR                                                                    
     Treasury Division to                                                                                                       
     manage  Trust  financial  assets, and  the  Trust  Land                                                                    
     Office within DNR to                                                                                                       
     manage Trust lands.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Mission:  to improve  the  lives  and circumstances  of                                                                    
     Trust beneficiaries                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON noted she would not be addressing trust land during                                                                  
the presentation but members are welcome to reach out to the                                                                    
office.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:33:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON moved on to slide 6, "Trust Authority: Frequently                                                                    
Asked Questions," which are listed as follows [original                                                                         
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     •  Is the  Trust  supposed to  fund  all public  mental                                                                    
     health                                                                                                                     
     and disability services in Alaska?                                                                                         
     • Why doesn't the Trust spend more?                                                                                        
     • Why is the Trust asking for general funds (GF/MH)?                                                                       
     • Is the Trust improving mental health in Alaska?                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON  answered each question on  the slide.  To  the first,                                                               
she said  the answer is  no because  of insufficient funds.   She                                                               
explained that  there had been  concern that the  legislature may                                                               
cut  funds to  mental health  with  the existence  of the  Trust;                                                               
however,  there  are  records  that state  that  the  money  will                                                               
continue to  come from the  general fund (GF).   The role  of the                                                               
Trust fund is to support but  not replace state spending.  To the                                                               
second  question,  she said  the  Trust  manages its  assets  for                                                               
today's beneficiaries and  those in the future and  has a formula                                                               
in  its budget.   She  said the  largest portion  of the  Trust's                                                               
annual  spend is  funded  through a  withdraw  from its  invested                                                               
assets at  a rate of 4.25  percent of the average  value from the                                                               
previous  four years.    The  payout started  at  3 percent,  and                                                               
trustees  could determine  whether to  increase the  current 4.25                                                               
percent.   Given the  increase in value  of the  Trust's invested                                                               
assets,  the  Trust is  seeing  larger  payouts.   To  the  third                                                               
question, she said  the Trust must, under statute, ask  for GF by                                                               
recommending  to the  state  the  use of  GF  dollars to  support                                                               
beneficiaries.  To  the fourth and final question,  she said data                                                               
shows there is a lot of work to  be done in Alaska to improve the                                                               
mental  health  of  its  population.    She  said  mental  health                                                               
challenges faced by Alaskans have  many contributing factors, and                                                               
the Trust  has been  making advancements  by focusing  on systems                                                               
change  and prevention,  as well  as improving  access to  health                                                               
care.   She put  particular emphasis  on prevention  and "looking                                                               
upstream."  She  further emphasized focus on  individuals and the                                                               
grants used to that end.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:37:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON, in  response  to Representative  Fields' mention  of                                                               
$13.75  million in  legislative funding,  an infant  program, and                                                               
investing  upstream, said  data always  shows that  prevention is                                                               
less expensive than  responding to crisis.  She  talked about lag                                                               
time and  sustained effort.  She  indicated that the Trust  has a                                                               
veteran staff that  can make a sustained effort.   She said there                                                               
need  to  be   partners  and  investment  in   the  right  place.                                                               
Progress, she  said, may  be slow,  but it will  take place.   In                                                               
response  to a  follow-up  question regarding  the resistance  to                                                               
spending  on  prevention  to  save   in  the  long  run  and  how                                                               
prevention  could be  supported  statistically,  she agreed  that                                                               
there  need to  be  markers  of success.    She  deferred to  Ms.                                                               
Baldwin-Johson for further comment.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:41:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATIE  BALDWIN-JOHNSON, Chief  Operating  Officer, Alaska  Mental                                                               
Health Trust Authority, added that  the Trust, along with many of                                                               
its partners, would be interested in helping with this issue.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON, to an inquiry  from Representative Fields regarding a                                                               
possible  shift  from primarily  short-term  programs  to a  more                                                               
balance  mix  of  long-  and  short-term  programs,  said  it  is                                                               
possible and indicated an upcoming slide addresses this topic.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:43:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.   WILSON,   in  response   to   a   two-part  question   from                                                               
Representative  Prax, said  she would  get  back to  him with  an                                                               
answer regarding the  land trust and what it  is producing versus                                                               
what is not in production.   Regarding the evolution of the focus                                                               
and  priorities  of the  Trust,  she  noted  that the  Trust  has                                                               
recognized that people with mental  health problems end up in the                                                               
corrections system;  therefore, "something before and  after that                                                               
will be critically important to crisis management in the state."                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:49:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. BALDWIN-JOHNSON added that part  of the responsibility of the                                                               
Trust is to work with the  Department of Health (DOH) to ensure a                                                               
comprehensive,  integrated  mental  health program  addressing  a                                                               
variety  of  issues.   The  Trust  works collaboratively  with  a                                                               
variety of  stakeholders, has  statutory advisors,  partners with                                                               
tribal  health partners,  listens to  its beneficiaries,  engages                                                               
with state partners, and work prioritize effort and focus.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:52:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON,  regarding a  question from  Representative Ruffridge                                                               
regarding Trust spending, confirmed that  the Trust asset pool is                                                               
approximately $800 million.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:53:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON  returned to the PowerPoint,  briefly mentioning slide                                                               
7,  "Trust  Spending,"   then  moving  on  to   slide  8,  "Trust                                                               
Grantmaking, FY  26," which shows authority  grants of $19,119.3,                                                               
designated grants to  community provider, nonprofit organizations                                                               
("nonprofits"),  local  governments,  and  tribal  organizations,                                                               
including  $1.9  million in  mini-grants;  and  MHTAAR grants  of                                                               
$10,196.8,  designated grants  to state  agencies, which  require                                                               
receipt authority.  Also on slide 8 is listed "FY26 MHTAAR Grant                                                                
Detail" reflecting 53 projects total [original punctuation                                                                      
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     • Department of Health ($4,413.9)                                                                                          
     • UAA ($1,870.0)                                                                                                           
     • AHFC ($1,485.0)                                                                                                          
     • Department of Corrections ($1,041.7)                                                                                     
     • Department of Family and Community                                                                                       
     Services ($587.0)                                                                                                          
     • Department of Administration ($355.9)                                                                                    
     • Alaska Court System ($158.3)                                                                                             
     • Department of Public Safety ($130.0)                                                                                     
     • Department of Education and Early                                                                                        
     Development ($130.0)                                                                                                       
     • Department of Labor and Workforce                                                                                        
     Development ($25.0)                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON moved to slide 9, "Longevity of Trust Grants to SOA                                                                  
Agencies," a pie chart showing fiscal year 2026 (FY 26) MHTAAR                                                                  
grants comprising 53 projects, totaling $10.2 million.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:57:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON turned to slide 10, "Trust Focus Areas," which read                                                                  
as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
          The Trust develops its budget and engages in                                                                          
     grantmaking and system                                                                                                     
     improvement efforts around the following areas:                                                                            
     Established Focus Areas (FY26 Grant Investment)                                                                            
     • Disability Justice ($3.6M)                                                                                               
     • Mental Health & Addiction Intervention ($7.0M)                                                                           
     -Includes Behavioral Health Crisis Response ($5.3M)                                                                        
     • Beneficiary Employment & Engagement ($1.7M)                                                                              
     • Housing and Home & Community Based Services ($4.3M)                                                                      
     Additional Priorities                                                                                                      
     • Workforce Development ($2.2M)                                                                                            
     • Early Childhood Intervention & Prevention ($3.3M)                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON next showed slide 11, "Disability Justice Focus                                                                      
Area," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Disability    Justice    reduces   Trust    beneficiary                                                                    
     involvement in the criminal  justice system by focusing                                                                    
     on     evidence-based    practices,     data,    strong                                                                    
     partnerships,  and  advocacy  for systemic  change.  It                                                                    
     also focuses  on reducing Trust  beneficiary recidivism                                                                    
     rates  and enhancing/expanding  access to  clinical and                                                                    
     case  management   resources  for   incarcerated  Trust                                                                    
     beneficiaries.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Grant Highlight                                                                                                            
     Project: Mental Health/Therapeutic Courts                                                                                  
     Grantees: Alaska Court System/Partners for Progress                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:58:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  BALDWIN-JOHNSON added  that  Trust  support for  therapeutic                                                               
courts is also  referred to as the  Coordinated Resource Project.                                                               
It provides an alternate to  usual criminal case process for some                                                               
offenders,  the goal  being to  prevent recidivism  in the  court                                                               
system.   She  said currently,  the Trust  supports training  for                                                               
court staff, and she reviewed the dollars spent and saved.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:01:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON returned  to  the PowerPoint,  to  slide 12,  "Mental                                                               
Health  and Addiction  Intervention  Focus Area,"  which read  as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     This focus area supports  the entire continuum of care,                                                                    
     ensuring  beneficiaries  have   access  to  prevention,                                                                    
     early   intervention,  ongoing   community-based  care,                                                                    
     treatment   for  mental   health   and  substance   use                                                                    
     disorders,  and  recovery  support across  the  various                                                                    
     care settings.  And on improving  the crisis  system of                                                                    
     care  for   individuals  in  acute   behavioral  health                                                                    
     crises.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Grant Highlight                                                                                                            
     Project:  3.7  Care  at   the  ARCH  Youth  Residential                                                                    
     Treatment                                                                                                                  
     Facility                                                                                                                   
     Grantee: VOA Alaska                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. BALDWIN-JOHNSON  highlighted one project for  which the Trust                                                               
awarded a  $325,000 authority grants  to Volunteers of  America -                                                               
Alaska to support  the implementation of the  American Society of                                                               
Addiction  Medicine (ASAM)  level  3.7  care, including  expanded                                                               
psychiatric services  and medication  management.   She discussed                                                               
the expected outcomes.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:02:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON moved  on to  slide 13,  "Beneficiary Employment  and                                                               
Engagement  Focus   Area,"  which   read  as   follows  [original                                                               
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     This focus area works to improve outcomes and promote                                                                      
    recovery   for    beneficiaries   through   integrated,                                                                     
       competitive employment, and meaningful engagement                                                                        
     opportunities.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Grant Highlight                                                                                                            
     Project: Microenterprise Grant Program                                                                                     
     Grantee: UAA Center for Human Development                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.  BALDWIN-JOHNSON  highlighted  the microenterprise  grant  of                                                               
$175,000, which goes directly to  the University of Alaska Center                                                               
for  Human   Development,  through   the  University   of  Alaska                                                               
Anchorage (UAA)  to administer the direct  microenterprise grants                                                               
to beneficiaries.   Uses  for the  grant monies  include starting                                                               
new  businesses, expanding  current businesses,  or acquiring  an                                                               
existing business.   She expounded on the  topics of eligibility,                                                               
coverage, and recipients.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:05:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON to  slide 14,  "Housing  & Home  and Community  Based                                                               
Services   Focus  Area,"   which   read   as  follows   [original                                                               
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     This focus area  concentrates on ensuring beneficiaries                                                                    
     have access to housing and  a continuum of services and                                                                    
     supports that  maximize independence in their  home and                                                                    
     community.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Grant Highlight                                                                                                            
     Project: Environmental Modifications Improvement                                                                           
     Grantee: DOH, Senior and Disability Services                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. BALDWIN-JOHNSON  highlighted the  Environmental Modifications                                                               
("E-Mods")  Improvement  project, which  is  a  $90,000 grant  to                                                               
Senior and Disability  Services in FY 26 to create  a position to                                                               
remove systemic barriers to effective  use of the Medicaid waiver                                                               
environmental  modification  service.     She  talked  about  the                                                               
improvements  helping  to  delay  or  avoid  assisted  living  of                                                               
skilled   nursing  facility.     The   project  was   created  in                                                               
partnership with  the Division of Senior  and Disability Services                                                               
in  DOH   and  will  terminate   once  system   improvements  are                                                               
implemented, in approximately three to five years.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON  showed  slide 15,  "Workforce  Development  Priority                                                               
Area," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     The Trust utilizes  workforce development strategies to                                                                    
     support engaging,  recruiting, training,  and retaining                                                                    
     healthcare   employees   across  Alaska   who   provide                                                                    
     residential  and  community-based   services  to  Trust                                                                    
     beneficiaries.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Grant Highlight                                                                                                            
     Project: Peer Support Certification                                                                                        
     Grantee: DOH Division of Behavioral Health                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  BALDWIN-JOHNSON highlighted  the Peer  Support Certification                                                               
program, noting  that peer support  professionals are  people who                                                               
have  experienced  recovery  from mental  health,  addiction,  or                                                               
other  issues  or have  cared  for  people who  have  experienced                                                               
those.   She reported that  $150,000, which includes  $100,000 in                                                               
FY 25  and $50,000 in FY  26, support the Division  of Behavioral                                                               
Health in  administering the  certified training,  overseeing the                                                               
Commission  for  Behavioral  Health  certification,  executing  a                                                               
statewide  conference,   and  recruiting  and  training   a  peer                                                               
workforce.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:08:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON moved  to slide  16, "Workforce  Development Priority                                                               
Area," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     The Trust utilizes  workforce development strategies to                                                                    
     support engaging,  recruiting, training,  and retaining                                                                    
     healthcare   employees   across  Alaska   who   provide                                                                    
     residential  and  community-based   services  to  Trust                                                                    
     beneficiaries.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Grant Highlight                                                                                                            
     Project: Peer Support Certification                                                                                        
     Grantee: DOH Division of Behavioral Health                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. BALDWIN-JOHNSON  talked highlighted a $216,000  grant awarded                                                               
to  the  Family  Resource  Center of  Beacon  Hill,  a  nonprofit                                                               
organization  that serves  Alaska's children  in foster  care and                                                               
those at risk of going into foster care.  In response to                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:10:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  BALDWIN-JOHNSON,  responded   to  questions  from  committee                                                               
members.  To Representative Fields,  she confirmed that the Trust                                                               
has been a funder of the  therapeutic courts for quite some time,                                                               
although with varying  start dates.  To  Representative Prax, she                                                               
confirmed that  the Trust receives  performance reports  from all                                                               
the  therapeutic courts,  and  there  are evaluations  conducted,                                                               
which  show  that   a  high  number  of  those   who  go  through                                                               
therapeutic  courts   do  not  recidivate.     To  Representative                                                               
Ruffridge,  she   talked  about  meaningful  engagement   in  the                                                               
community.     To   a  follow-up   question,  she   talked  about                                                               
requirement  for eligibility  and the  meaning of  being a  trust                                                               
beneficiary.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:16:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON, in  response  to Representative  Fields, offered  to                                                               
follow-up with information regarding Trust workforce programs.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:18:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  BALDWIN-JOHNSON,  in  response to  Representative  Schwanke,                                                               
offered further information regarding Beacon  Hill.  She said the                                                               
program helps those with financial  need that may not necessarily                                                               
have access to other help.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:22:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON  added that the Trust  seeks to develop data  in grant                                                               
making.   To a question  from Representative Fields,  she further                                                               
discussion strategic planning in partnership with others.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:25:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON  continued with the  PowerPoint, on slide  17, "Crisis                                                               
Now  Community Implementation  2024/25,"  which  read as  follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
      Since the initiative's launch in 2019, the Trust has                                                                      
       invested roughly $20M in planning and grantmaking                                                                        
     around psychiatric emergency response.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Crisis planning and implementation is underway in:                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Anchorage                                                                                                                  
     Mat-Su                                                                                                                     
     Fairbanks                                                                                                                  
     Juneau                                                                                                                     
     Ketchikan                                                                                                                  
     Kenai Peninsula                                                                                                            
     Kotzebue                                                                                                                   
     Copper Basin                                                                                                               
     Unalaska                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:26:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[A video was shown regarding Crisis Now.]                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:31:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. BALDWIN-JOHNSON moved to slide  19 to discuss House Bill 172,                                                               
passed   in  2022,   during   the   Thirty-Second  Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature, which established a  statutory framework to bring on                                                               
new crisis facility  types and services.  It aimed  to reduce the                                                               
need  for  hospitalizations.    A report  was  submitted  to  the                                                               
legislature October  2023.  She  reported on the progress  of the                                                               
Department of Health (DOH).  The  goal is to design and implement                                                               
a  behavioral  health crisis  response  system  analogous to  the                                                               
physical health system.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:36:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON, in response to  a question from Representative Fields                                                               
regarding issues  at Providence  Alaska Medical Center,  said the                                                               
Trust is  concerned.  She said  not only is the  use facility not                                                               
moving forward, but the 23-hour  stabilization center is also "on                                                               
pause."   She said  the assumption  is that the  issue has  to do                                                               
with  money  and  sustainable  funding.    In  terms  of  whether                                                               
Medicaid payment  alone sustains mental health  services in acute                                                               
crises, she  said there is usually  a shortfall.  She  added that                                                               
there are models that  can make it work, but most  of the time it                                                               
is difficult.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:39:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON, in response to Chair  Mina, said the Crisis Now model                                                               
has  to look  different  depending on  its area  of  focus.   She                                                               
pinpointed  areas of  difficulty being  the 23-hour  holding area                                                               
and  access  after that  for  short  stay, along  with  intensive                                                               
outpatient follow-up for any hospitalization or long-term stay.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:41:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  BALDWIN-JOHNSON added  that each  community needs  to design                                                               
its  unique local  response  and coming  up  with solutions  that                                                               
work.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:42:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON, in  response  to  Representative Schwanke's  comment                                                               
that the  grant funding is  not sustainable, agreed and  said the                                                               
Trust must work  with communities to come up  with something that                                                               
works, is better than what  they currently have, and is evidenced                                                               
based.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:45:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON  returned to the  PowerPoint, to slide 20,  "The Trust                                                               
and the Comp  Plan," which read as  follows [original punctuation                                                               
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
        Per AS44.25.200, the Trust ensures an integrated                                                                        
     comprehensive mental health program                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     We do this through:                                                                                                        
     • Supporting DPH/DFCS in the development of the plan                                                                       
     - Latest 5-year plan was released in 2024                                                                                  
     • Shared funding of a Comp Plan Coordinator in DOH                                                                         
     • Coordination on Comp Plan implementation and                                                                             
     progress with SOA partners                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:46:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  B-J offered  her  understanding that  the  2024 score  card,                                                               
which holds  the results  of the  last comp plan,  is soon  to be                                                               
posted on DOH's website.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON moved  to  slide 21,  "How the  Trust  Uses the  Comp                                                               
Plan," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
      The Plan and the Associated Scorecard are considered                                                                      
     in the development of the annual Trust budget                                                                              
      • All Trust grants are linked to Comp Plan Areas of                                                                       
     Focus                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Strengthening the System II Areas of Focus:                                                                                
     1: Early Childhood and Youth                                                                                               
     2: Healthcare                                                                                                              
     3: Economic & Social Well-being                                                                                            
     4: Substance Use Disorder Prevention                                                                                       
     5: Suicide Prevention                                                                                                      
     6: Protecting Vulnerable Alaskans                                                                                          
     7: Services in the Least Restrictive Environment                                                                           
     8: Services in Institutional Settings                                                                                      
     9: Workforce                                                                                                               
     10: Data                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:48:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON directed attention to the final slide, "Wrap-up:  The                                                                
Trust Continues to Meet its Mission," which read as follows                                                                     
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The  Trust is  a  unique asset  to  our state's  mental                                                                    
     health system,  supporting innovation  and system-level                                                                    
     improvements                                                                                                               
     • Behavioral health crisis response                                                                                        
     • Access to treatment                                                                                                      
     • Community-based services                                                                                                 
     The Trust is completely  self-funded, and awards grants                                                                    
     to  State,  local,  Tribal,  provider,  nonprofit,  and                                                                    
     other partners each year                                                                                                   
     •  Since  inception the  Trust  has  awarded more  than                                                                    
     $465M, supporting  more than  5,000 beneficiary-focused                                                                    
     projects                                                                                                                   
     The board of trustees prudently manages Trust assets                                                                       
     • Continued  growth in invested assets  managed by APFC                                                                    
     and DOR                                                                                                                    
     •  Principal and  income earnings  generated each  year                                                                    
     from Trust-owned                                                                                                           
     lands and non-cash assets                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:50:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE made comments about the importance of                                                                  
mental health and the need for better mental health in Alaska                                                                   
and the role that the Trust plays.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:55:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON concurred with Representative Ruffridge that this is                                                                 
a good time to make a contingency plan.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:56:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked if the Trust is allowed to accept                                                                     
nongovernment contributions.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  BALDWIN-JOHNSON  noted  that  statute allows  the  Trust  to                                                               
receive funds.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX said he would  like information about income-                                                               
raising land development.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
DR. WILSON agreed to make that part of future presentations.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:58:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS mentioned  a  parcel of  land in  downtown                                                               
Anchorage  and wondered  whether  it would  be  developed with  a                                                               
lower rate of return than from other assets.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  WILSON  offered  to update  Representative  Fields  on  that                                                               
later.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:59:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE    GRAY   concurred    with   the    comments   of                                                               
Representatives Ruffridge and Fields.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:59:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MINA thanked the presenters.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
          SCR 4-MENTAL HEALTH MONTH; TARDIVE DYSK WEEK                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:59:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MINA  announced that the  final order of business  would be                                                               
SENATE  CONCURRENT  RESOLUTION NO.  4,  Designating  May 2025  as                                                               
Mental Health Awareness Month; and  designating May 4 - 10, 2025,                                                               
as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:00:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR   GRAY-JACKSON,  Alaska   State  Legislature,   As  prime                                                               
sponsor, presented  SCR 4.  She  noted that in Alaska,  there are                                                               
more than 108,000 adults who  live with mental health conditions.                                                               
She  explained that  by  designating May  2025  as Mental  Health                                                               
Awareness  Month,  SCR  4 "seeks  to  promote  understanding  and                                                               
reduce  stigma and  support those  effected  by mental  illness."                                                               
She  reported  that Alaska  continues  to  face a  mental  health                                                               
crisis; the state  ranks second in the nation  for suicide rates,                                                               
and 8,000  youth are currently  experiencing depression.   Mental                                                               
health issues  effects all communities  regardless of  age, race,                                                               
or  economic  status.   She  opined  that raising  awareness  and                                                               
reducing stigma is the least the legislature can do.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON  pointed out that  the second part of  SCR 4                                                               
would recognize  Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week,  observed May                                                               
4-10, 2025.   This is a side effect  of long-term, anti-psychotic                                                               
treatment  that  effects  hundreds of  thousands  of  individuals                                                               
nationwide yet  remains underdiagnosed and  widely misunderstood.                                                               
She concluded,  "So, through this  resolution, we aim to  shine a                                                               
light  on  these  important  issues   and  foster  a  culture  of                                                               
compassion,  education,  and  support."     She  noted  that  Ann                                                               
Ringstand was available to expound  on the reasons to support SCR
4.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:02:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MINA  announced the committee would  hear invited testimony                                                               
and invited Ms. Ringstad to speak.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:02:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANN  RINGSTAD,  Executive  Director, National  Alliance  for  the                                                               
Mentally  Ill  (NAMI)  Alaska, began  her  invited  testimony  in                                                               
support of SCR  4 by explaining that established  in 1949, Mental                                                               
Health Awareness Month  is observed every May  to raise awareness                                                               
about  the importance  of  mental health  and  "to celebrate  the                                                               
recovery  for   individuals  and  families."     She  echoed  the                                                               
statement  of  the  bill  sponsor   that  mental  health  effects                                                               
everyone  regardless  of age,  background,  or  experience.   She                                                               
added  that   just  like  physical  health,   "mental  health  is                                                               
essential to  overall well-being  in every stage  of life."   The                                                               
two are  "deeply connected," yet  stigma regarding  mental health                                                               
prevents too many Alaskans from seeking needed care.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. RINGSTAD talked about Tardive  Dyskinesia, explaining that it                                                               
causes involuntary movements  of the face, limbs,  and torso, and                                                               
this  is  the eighth  annual  effort  to  raise awareness.    She                                                               
stated, "This  resolution is a  call to action  for all of  us to                                                               
realize the  impacts of mental health  challenges, the importance                                                               
of support  and services, and  the healing power  of acceptance."                                                               
She concluded by  emphasizing, "There is no fiscal  note, but the                                                               
cost  of   inaction  is  great  -   socially,  economically,  and                                                               
emotionally."   She  thanked the  committee for  its support  and                                                               
asked for  expedient action  to pass  SCR 4  during the  month of                                                               
May.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
5:04:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX,  regarding  the  connection  between  anti-                                                               
psychotic medications  and Tardive Dyskinesia, asked  whether the                                                               
legislature  should create  further  legislation  to address  the                                                               
issue.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:05:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. RINGSTAD  responded that she  does not think  the legislature                                                               
needs to do  anything besides supporting SCR 4 as  a way to bring                                                               
awareness of the issue to Alaskans.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:05:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MINA opened public testimony  on SCR 4.  After ascertaining                                                               
there  was  no one  who  wished  to  testify, she  closed  public                                                               
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:06:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MEARS moved to report  SCR 4 out of committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  the  accompanying fiscal  notes.                                                               
There being  no objection, SCR  4 was  reported out of  the House                                                               
Health and Social Services Standing Committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:07:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further business before the  committee, the House                                                               
Health  and  Social  Services   Standing  Committee  meeting  was                                                               
adjourned at 5:07 p.m.                                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
Alaska Mental Health Trust Presentation 05.08.25.pdf HHSS 5/8/2025 3:15:00 PM
SCR 4 SOA DBHMortality data 1999 to 2023.pdf HHSS 5/8/2025 3:15:00 PM
SCR 4
SCR4-LEG-SESS-05-01-2025.pdf HHSS 5/8/2025 3:15:00 PM
SCR 4
SCR 4 2023 Suicide by State 2023 CDC.pdf HHSS 5/8/2025 3:15:00 PM
SCR 4
SCR004A.pdf HHSS 5/8/2025 3:15:00 PM
SCR 4
SCR 4 AlaskaStateFactSheet.pdf HHSS 5/8/2025 3:15:00 PM
SCR 4
SCR 4 Sponsor Statement.pdf HHSS 5/8/2025 3:15:00 PM
SCR 4
SCR 4 Combined Bill Packet 05.07.25.pdf HHSS 5/8/2025 3:15:00 PM
SCR 4