Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/30/2021 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB76 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 76 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 30, 2021
9:01 a.m.
9:01:37 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Bishop called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:01 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Donny Olson (via teleconference)
Senator Natasha von Imhof (via teleconference)
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Jared Kosin, Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home
Association, Anchorage; Dr. Elliot Bruhl, Chief Medical
Officer, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium
(SEARHC), Sitka; Phil Hofstetter, CEO, Petersburg Medical
Center, Petersburg; Tim Strickland, Ketchikan Medical
Center, Ketchikan; Cara Durr, Director of Public
Engagement, Food Bank of Alaska, Fairbanks; Albert Wall,
Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health and Social
Services, Juneau; Lisa Aquino, CEO, Catholic Social
Services, Anchorage; Laurie Wolf, President and CEO,
Foraker Group, Anchorage; Nils Andreassen, Executive
Director, Alaska Municipal League, Juneau; Cris Eichenlaub,
Self, Wasilla; Mike Coons, Self, Palmer; Vikki Jo Kennedy,
Self, Juneau; Herman Morgan, Self, Aniak; Kristina Bego,
Self, Willow; Christine Hutchinson, Self, Kenai Peninsula;
Teea Winger, Self, Kenai; Willy Keppel, Self, Quinhagak;
Francine Reuter, Self, Anchorage; Max Roney, Self,
Anchorage.
SUMMARY
CSHB 76(FIN)am EXTENDING COVID 19 DISASTER EMERGENCY
CSHB 76(FIN)was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 76(FIN) am
"An Act extending the January 15, 2021, governor's
declaration of a public health disaster emergency in
response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
pandemic; approving and ratifying declarations of a
public health disaster emergency; providing for a
financing plan; making temporary changes to state law
in response to the COVID- 19 outbreak in the following
areas: occupational and professional licensing,
practice, and billing; telehealth; fingerprinting
requirements for health care providers; charitable
gaming and online ticket sales; access to federal
stabilization funds; wills; unfair or deceptive trade
practices; meetings of shareholders; and school
operating funds; relating to informed consent for
COVID-19 vaccines; relating to personal objections to
the administration of COVID-19 vaccines; providing
immunity from liability and disciplinary action for
occupational licensees for exposure of clients to
COVID-19; providing immunity from liability for
persons engaging in business and their employees for
exposure of customers to COVID-19; and providing for
an effective date."
9:03:08 AM
JARED KOSIN, ALASKA STATE HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME
ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. He remarked that Alaska's hospitals
and nursing homes viewed the disaster declaration as a
legal mechanism that provided tools and resources to combat
COVID-19.
9:05:54 AM
DR. ELLIOT BRUHL, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, SOUTHEAST ALASKA
REGIONAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM (SEARHC), SITKA (via
teleconference), testified in support of the legislation.
He stated that he had worked to keep Southeast Alaska safe
from COVID-19. He stressed that the emergency status was
important to keeping people safe.
9:09:32 AM
Co-Chair Stedman wondered whether SEARHC had a position on
having COVID-19 testing at the airports.
Dr. Bruhl replied that testing was a key element for
maintaining safe communities.
9:11:35 AM
PHIL HOFSTETTER, CEO, PETERSBURG MEDICAL CENTER, PETERSBURG
(via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. He
stated that a graph had been provided to the committee
(copy on file).
9:15:06 AM
Co-Chair Stedman asked about the people who had tested
positive for COVID-19 after being vaccinated for the virus.
Mr. Hofstetter replied that the majority of people who
contracted COVIE-19 were unvaccinated. He furthered that
fully vaccinated people could still contract COVID-19.
Senator Hoffman wondered whether vaccinated individuals
would not be hospitalized from COVID-19.
Mr. Hofstetter replied that it was non 100 percent, but the
vaccines were intended to help prevent severe COVID-19
infections.
Co-Chair Stedman wondered whether any of the seven
vaccinated individuals on the list who had contracted
COVID-19 went to the hospital.
Mr. Hofstetter replied that none of the individuals were
hospitalized.
Co-Chair Stedman queried the type of vaccines administered
to those individuals.
Mr. Hofstetter replied that the only vaccines available at
that time were Pfizer.
9:18:02 AM
TIM STRICKLAND, KETCHIKAN MEDICAL CENTER, KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), testified in support of the bill.
9:21:43 AM
CARA DURR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, FOOD BANK OF
ALASKA, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in support of
the legislation.
Co-Chair Bishop asked that the testimony be provided to the
committee.
Ms. Durr agreed to provide the testimony.
Senator Wielechowski queried how many Alaskans used the
Enhanced SNAP benefits.
Ms. Durr replied that she did not have specific numbers,
but shared that, nationally, 60 percent of families
qualified for the Emergency Allotment. She deferred to the
department for further numbers.
9:26:59 AM
ALBERT WALL, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES, JUNEAU (via teleconference), replied that
there was a draft response of the number of individuals who
were on emergency SNAP benefits, and noted that the number
changed monthly. He stated that the number was
approximately 34,000 households on average.
Senator Wielechowski queried the timing of the payouts.
Mr. Wall stated the payments were made monthly, but were
not all sent out on the same day due to individual
processing.
9:28:46 AM
LISA AQUINO, CEO, CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of the bill. She
remarked that the bill would help to protect Alaska's most
vulnerable people. She echoed the comments from Ms. Durr.
She stressed that, currently, telehealth would be available
for Medicaid recipients.
Senator Wielechowski wondered how the temporary assistance
for needy family (TANF) was different from SNAP benefits,
and whether it was effected by the disaster declaration.
Ms. Aquino did not know the difference between the
programs. She stated that TANF rates were typically cut in
half in the summer, because of the rate of employment
increasing in the summer.
Senator Wielechowski hoped that there could be
clarification on the impact of TANF benefits.
Mr. Wall explained that SNAP benefits were considered an
entitlement program, and TANF was a temporary assistance.
He stated that TANF was not impacted by the disaster
declaration.
Co-Chair Bishop asked for a written detail be provided to
the committee.
Mr. Wall agreed to provide that information.
Senator Wielechowski surmised that the current disaster
declaration would have no impact on future TANF benefits.
Mr. Wall replied in the affirmative.
9:37:03 AM
LAURIE WOLF, PRESIDENT AND CEO, FORAKER GROUP, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), testified in support of the bill.
9:39:41 AM
NILS ANDREASSEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA MUNICIPAL
LEAGUE, JUNEAU (via teleconference), testified in support
of the legislation, and detailed the impacts on
municipalities.
9:42:48 AM
Co-Chair Bishop OPENED public testimony.
9:43:00 AM
CRIS EICHENLAUB, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference),
testified in opposition the legislation.
9:46:05 AM
MIKE COONS, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), spoke
against the bill.
9:48:45 AM
VIKKI JO KENNEDY, SELF, JUNEAU (via teleconference), spoke
in opposition to the legislation. She stated that the
governor could call an emergency declaration.
9:50:57 AM
HERMAN MORGAN, SELF, ANIAK (via teleconference), testified
in opposition to the legislation.
9:54:07 AM
KRISTINA BEGO, SELF, WILLOW (via teleconference), spoke in
opposition to the bill. She felt that there was no
pandemic.
9:56:17 AM
CHRISTINE HUTCHINSON, SELF, KENAI PENINSULA (via
teleconference), echoed the testifiers' comments who have
spoken against the legislation.
9:59:42 AM
TEEA WINGER, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference), testified in
opposition to the legislation.
10:02:54 AM
WILLY KEPPEL, SELF, QUINHAGAK (via teleconference), spoke
in opposition to the bill.
10:05:38 AM
FRANCINE REUTER, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in opposition to the legislation.
10:07:10 AM
MAX RONEY, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill.
10:08:19 AM
Co-Chair Bishop CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Bishop stated that the amendment deadline was
April 1 at 5pm. He discussed the following day's agenda.
CSHB 76(FIN)was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
10:09:26 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 10:09 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 76 PSPA comment_Senate Finance Comm.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 76 |
| HB 76 Hosfstetter Testimony on Petersburg Data 03.30.2021.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 76 |
| HB 76 AARP COVID-19 LTC Immunity Opposition Statement.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 76 |
| HB 76 Public Testimony.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 76 |
| HB 76 Durr Testimony on HB76 Public Health Emergency Declaration 3.30.21.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 76 |
| HB 76 Providence AK Supports HB 76 SFIN 03.30.21.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 76 |
| HB 76 Public testimony support.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 76 |
| HB 76 End the Emergency Dec.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 76 |
| SB 56 Senate Finance - Response to SB 56 Questions - Final.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 56 |
| SB 56 - DHSS Response to Questions Follow Up- FINAL.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 56 |