Legislature(2005 - 2006)SENATE FINANCE 532

03/15/2006 03:30 PM Senate FINANCE


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Audio Topic
03:32:08 PM Start
03:33:29 PM Key Campaign
04:10:27 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Key Campaign Presentation TELECONFERENCED
                            MINUTES                                                                                           
                    SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                  
                         March 15, 2006                                                                                       
                           3:32 p.m.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Lyda Green convened the meeting at approximately                                                                       
3:32:08 PM.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyda Green, Co-Chair                                                                                                    
Senator Gary Wilken, Co-Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Con Bunde, Vice-Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Donny Olson                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Also Attending: SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS; SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS;                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BERTA GARDNER;                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Testifiers are listed in the order they spoke.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Attending via Teleconference:  There were no teleconference                                                                   
participants.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY INFORMATION                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
^Key Campaign                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                          Presentation                                                                                          
                             By the                                                                                             
                          Key Campaign                                                                                          
3:33:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
EMILY ENNIS introduced the 19th annual Key Campaign participants                                                                
and told about the group, its members and needs and goals.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:40:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KIM SIMPSON and AUBREY SIMPSON of Chugiak spoke about Aubrey's                                                                  
adoption into the family and participation in the Infant                                                                        
Learning Program.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:45:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVE  FALSEY of  Anchorage  introduced his  19 year-old  autistic                                                               
son. He told of his dentistry  practice and the need for expanded                                                               
preventative and restorative dental care coverage.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:51:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken was aware of  the pending legislation the witness                                                               
spoke  of and  the benefits  it would  provide. He  requested Dr.                                                               
Falsey  encourage  the  Alaska chapter  of  the  American  Dental                                                               
Association  to support  the issuance  of  temporary licenses  to                                                               
allow  dental  professionals  to  travel  to  Alaska  to  provide                                                               
services  to indigent  patients. Although  not a  final solution,                                                               
this would help the situation.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:52:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Dr. Fasley informed  that he works at the  Alaska Native Hospital                                                               
and in that  capacity he travels to rural areas.  He was aware of                                                               
the problems associated with dental health in rural communities.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:52:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TRAVIS NOAH  of Fairbanks introduced his  special assistant, Alex                                                               
McDonald, who makes  it possible for him to travel  to this event                                                               
and  participate  in other  activities.  Mr.  Noah explained  the                                                               
cerebral  palsy he  is afflicted  with and  reported that  of the                                                               
many states in which he has  resided, Alaska provides some of the                                                               
best services.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:58:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATY  PARISH of  Anchorage shared  that during  her pregnancy,  a                                                               
drunk  driver hit  her vehicle.  Her son,  Wilson Middleston  was                                                               
born premature  and with disabilities  as a result.  His progress                                                               
was substantially greater than the  doctor predicted, largely due                                                               
to the immediate assistance that was available to them.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:01:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WILSON  MIDDLESTON  of  Anchorage  testified  that  he  has  been                                                               
waiting for four  years for services and that working  with a job                                                               
coach  would give  him the  skills to  achieve his  goals in  the                                                               
media industry.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:02:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KRISTINE  COLLINS gave  her testimony,  which was  read aloud  by                                                               
LAYNE  COLLINS   both  of   Palmer  about   her  right   to  live                                                               
independently.  She  asked  that  the waitlist  for  services  be                                                               
reduced so that she may receive services.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:04:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN CANNON of Wasilla told of his involvement in entities that                                                                 
serve those with developmental disabilities. He spoke of the                                                                    
need for continued support of related programs.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:09:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ennis concluded the presentation.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:09:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins thanked the testifiers.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:10:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green furthered that she hoped that the dreams of those                                                                
present all come true.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Lyda Green adjourned the meeting at 4:10:27 PM                                                                       

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