Legislature(2009 - 2010)
04/10/2009 01:38 PM Senate FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB35 | |
| SB114 | |
| SB183 | |
| SB86 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 10, 2009
1:38 p.m.
1:38:52 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:38 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice-Chair
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Joe Thomas
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Senator Bettye Davis, Sponsor; Tom Obermeyer, Staff, Senator
Bettye Davis; Sam Trivette, Self; Senator Joe Paskvan;
Konrad Jackson, Staff, Representative Kurt Olson.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Boyd Brownfield, Engineer and Chairman, Board of Architects,
Engineers, and Land Surveyors; Harley Hightower, Architect
and Member, Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors.
SUMMARY
SB 35 "An Act extending the termination date of the
Statewide Suicide Prevention Council; and
providing for an effective date."
CSSB 35(HSS) was REPORTED out of Committee with a
"do pass" recommendation and with attached fiscal
notes 1 and 2 by the Department of Health and
Social Services.
SB 114 "An Act extending the termination date of the
State Board of Registration for Architects,
Engineers, and Land Surveyors; and providing for
an effective date."
CSSB 114(L&C) was REPORTED out of Committee with a
"do pass" recommendation and with attached fiscal
note 1 by the Department of Commerce, Community
and Economic Development.
SB 183 "An Act authorizing the Department of
Environmental Conservation to award grants for the
control of air emissions or the development and
administration of air quality control programs;
and providing for an effective date."
SB 183 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with attached new zero
note by the Department of Environmental
Conservation.
HB 86 "An Act extending the termination date of the
Board of Veterinary Examiners; and providing for
an effective date."
HB 86 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with attached fiscal note
1 by the Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development.
SENATE BILL NO. 35
"An Act extending the termination date of the Statewide
Suicide Prevention Council; and providing for an
effective date."
1:39:53 PM
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, SPONSOR, spoke in support of the bill.
TOM OBERMEYER, STAFF, SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, SPONSOR, read
from the Sponsor Statement (Copy on File):
SB 35 extends the termination date of the Statewide
Suicide Prevention Council to June 30, 2013. Suicide is
a very serious public health concern in Alaska,
particularly among young males and the Alaska native
population. Extension of the Statewide Suicide
Prevention Council is important in curtailing this
avoidable loss of life. The mission of the Statewide
Suicide Prevention Council is to advise the governor
and the legislature on issues relating to suicide. In
collaboration with communities, faith-based
organizations, and public-private entities, the Council
works to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans by
reducing suicide and its effect in individuals and
communities.
The Executive Summary of the July, 2005 study by the
Alaska Injury Prevention Center funded by Alaska Mental
Health Trust Authority "Alaska Suicide
Hospitalizations, 2001-2002," reported that in 2002
32,000 took their own lives in the United States, and
20 times that number sought treatment for self-
inflicted injuries. Alaska had the highest age-adjusted
suicide rate of all the states in 2002 at 21.12 per
100,000 population, which is nearly twice that of the
U.S. rate of 10.99 per 100,000. An average of 125
people die from suicide each year in Alaska, making it
the number one cause of death for Alaskans under the
age of 50 years (if unintentional injuries are examined
individually instead of in groups).
Hospitalizations for suicide per the above study make a
compelling case for prevention of suicide and new
insights into this dramatic public health problem. Over
$4 million in hospital costs alone is spent in public
funds each year to care for suicide attempts. This did
not include physicians' and specialists' costs. While
the toll on society and family members by suicide may
be incalculable, significant numbers were revealed:
· The average age for the patients was 30 years.
· The average length of each hospital stay was 4 days,
with a range of 1 to 366.
· The average cost per case was $8,986.
· Over 75% of the hospital costs were paid through
public funding sources.
· 15% of hospital costs had to be written off for
patients' inability to pay.
The unabated high rate of suicide in Alaska demands
continued attention and effort and earnestly urges, if
not compels, the extension of the Statewide Suicide
Prevention Council. A subsequent study to the above by
the Alaska Injury Prevention Center from 9/1/03-8/31/06
found 426 suicides in Alaska during this 36-month
period, with the continuing rate of suicide at over
21/100,000. Males outnumbered females 4 to 1. The age-
group 20-29 had both the greatest number of suicides
and the highest rate per 100,000 population. Alaska
Natives had a significantly higher average rate of
suicide than the non-Native population (51.4/100,000
compared to 16.9/100,000). The leading cause of death
was firearms with toxicology reports in 1/3 of the
cases. Alcohol was found in 44% of the toxicology tests
and marijuana was found in 15%.
1:44:01 PM
Co-Chair Stedman opened public testimony.
SAM TRIVETTE, SELF, spoke in support of the legislation. He
described personal experience with losing a son to suicide
in 2007. After his death, they heard many reports of other
suicides. Recently, seven young people took their lives in
the Juneau area. He said that young people with the highest
potential have the highest suicide rate.
Mr. Trivette told the committee that there had been no
program in the school system to educate students, teachers,
and parents about depression and suicide. The Juneau school
district recently added a component in the high school
curriculum to educate students regarding depression and
suicide. Another school district with the program has not
experienced suicides since its implementation.
Mr. Trivette reported that the curriculum was supported by
the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, which has
implemented a number of other initiatives at various local
levels. The council is focused on getting information to
citizens that can help lower the suicide rate. He noted that
no other organization is focusing on the issue in Alaska. He
emphasized that the council has had an impact in Alaska and
urged extension of the council for another four years.
Co-Chair Stedman expressed compassion for the family.
Mr. Trivette informed the committee that his nephew had
committed suicide that week.
1:47:27 PM
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report CS SB 35(HSS) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CSSB 35(HSS) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with attached fiscal notes 1 and 2 by the
Department of Health and Social Services.
SENATE BILL NO. 114
"An Act extending the termination date of the State
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and
Land Surveyors; and providing for an effective date."
1:48:20 PM
SENATOR JOE PASKVAN, gave the committee an overview of the
legislation. He noted that the board fees are paid by
licensees, which cover the board's full operating expense.
There is no need for state money. The board is in good
financial standing with a surplus since FY06. He emphasized
that new funds are not required to implement the bill.
Senator Paskvan read from the Sponsor Statement (Copy on
File):
The State Board of Registration for Architects,
Engineers, and Land Surveyors is a regulatory board
consisting of 10 members appointed by the governor. The
board consists of two civil engineers, two land
surveyors, one mining engineer, one electrical or
mechanical engineer, one engineer from another branch
of the profession of engineering, two architects, and
one public member.
Senate Bill 114 seeks to extend the termination date of
the Board from June 30, 2009, to June 30, 2017, as
recommended by the Legislative Auditor.
The CS for SB 114(L&C) corrects an oversight in the
original bill. By statute, the position of the
temporary board member must also be extended in this
legislation and that was not done in the original bill.
The CS simply maintains the status quo of the Board of
Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors by adding
language that extends the term for one temporary, non-
voting board member who must be registered as a
landscape architect.
The enclosed audit states that the Board "serves a
public purpose and has demonstrated an ability to
conduct its business in a satisfactory manner. The
registration of qualified architects, engineers, land
surveyors, and landscape architects benefits the
public's health, safety, and welfare. We recommend that
the legislature extend the termination date of the
board until June 30, 2017."
Senator Paskvan urged support of the legislation.
1:51:29 PM
Co-Chair Stedman opened public testimony.
BOYD BROWNFIELD, ENGINEER AND CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF ARCHITECTS,
ENGINEERS, AND LAND SURVEYORS (testified via
teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. He had been
charged with addressing three items:
· Reviewing the original sunset bill. He reported that he
did read the bill and concurred with the proposed
extension to the year 2017.
· Legislative audit findings from 2008. The board
concurred with the three final findings and
recommendations of the audit.
· Inclusion of the temporary, non-voting landscape
architect seat. The board supports the position and its
inclusion into SB 114.
1:54:09 PM
HARLEY HIGHTOWER, ARCHITECT AND MEMBER, BOARD OF ARCHITECTS,
ENGINEERS, AND LAND SURVEYORS (testified via
teleconference), spoke in support of the legislation. He
concurred with Mr. Brownfield's testimony.
Co-Chair Stedman closed public testimony.
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report CSSB 114(L&C) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CSSB 114(L&C) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with attached fiscal note 1 by the
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.
SENATE BILL NO. 183
"An Act authorizing the Department of Environmental
Conservation to award grants for the control of air
emissions or the development and administration of air
quality control programs; and providing for an
effective date."
1:55:48 PM
Co-Chair Stedman provided the history of the legislation.
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report SB 183 out of Committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
SB 183 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with attached new zero note by the
Department of Environmental Conservation.
HOUSE BILL NO. 86
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of
Veterinary Examiners; and providing for an effective
date."
1:56:46 PM
KONRAD JACKSON, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE KURT OLSON, CHAIR,
HOUSE LABOR & COMMERCE COMMITTEE, gave background of the
legislation. He explained that boards come up for extension
regularly and then are audited. The recommendation from
legislative audit was an eight-year extension to June 30,
2017.
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report HB 86 out of Committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HB 86 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with attached fiscal note 1 by the
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.
1:58:58 PM
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 1:58 PM.
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