Legislature(1995 - 1996)

05/01/1996 09:06 AM Senate HES

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
    SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE                     
                          May 1, 1996                                          
                           9:06 a.m.                                           
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
 Senator Lyda Green, Chairman                                                  
 Senator Loren Leman, Vice-Chairman                                            
 Senator Mike Miller                                                           
 Senator Johnny Ellis                                                          
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Senator Judy Salo                                                             
                                                                               
 COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                            
                                                                               
 HOUSE BILL NO. 529                                                            
 "An Act giving notice of and approving the entry into, and the                
 issuance of certificates of participation in, a lease-purchase                
 agreement for a centralized public health laboratory."                        
                                                                               
 Confirmation Hearing:  Board of Regents, Joe L. Hayes                         
                                                                               
  PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION                                             
                                                                               
 HB 529 - See Senate Health, Education & Social Services minutes               
          dated 4/29/96.                                                       
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
 Elmer Lindstrom, Special Assistant                                            
 Office of the Commissioner                                                    
 Department of Health & Social Services                                        
 PO Box 110601                                                                 
 Juneau, Alaska 99811-0601                                                     
 POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported SCS HB 529(HES).                               
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
 TAPE 96-37, SIDE A                                                            
                                                                               
                                                                               
          HB 529 APPROVE CENTRALIZED PUBLIC HEALTH LAB                         
                                                                              
 Number 002                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social                 
 Services (HESS) Committee to order at 9:06 a.m. and introduced                
 HB 529  as the first order of business before the committee.                  
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER believed that the committee had a CS which is a good           
 compromise.  Senator Miller moved that the SCS HB 529(HES) be                 
 adopted in lieu of the original bill.  Hearing no objection, the CS           
 was adotped.                                                                  
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN wanted to hear from the department.  Are there still            
 substantial benefits from partial consolidation?  How much more               
 will this cost the state in the long run rather than doing the full           
 consolidation now?                                                            
                                                                               
 Number 039                                                                    
                                                                               
 ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant to Commissioner Perdue in the              
 Department of Health & Social Services, said that the department              
 supports the CS adopted by the committee.  The department's first             
 priority throughout this process has been addressing the life,                
 health, and safety issues in the Juneau and Anchorage labs.  This             
 bill does just that.  Mr. Lindstrom noted that previously the                 
 department supported full centralization and those benefits have              
 been discussed.  However, this CS does address the aforementioned             
 priority.  There will be operating budget savings from the CS,                
 although not as large as the centralization option.                           
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN inquired as to how much more it would cost to have a            
 facility in Fairbanks and a partially centralized facility in                 
 Anchorage.  ELMER LINDSTROM stated that the full centralization               
 option would save about $750,000 per year.  Mr. Lindstrom believed            
 that the estimated savings for the option under the CS is                     
 approximately $25,000.                                                        
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired as to the will of the committee.                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER moved that SCS HB 529(HES) be reported out of                  
 committee with individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection,             
 it was so ordered.                                                            
                                                                               
 Number 093                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN announced that the committee would now take up the             
 Confirmation of the Board of Regents.  She welcomed Joe Hayes and             
 asked if he had any comments for the committee.                               
                                                                               
 JOE HAYES informed the committee that he has served on the Board of           
 Regents since last May.  Mr. Hayes said that his primary goal is to           
 facilitate information from all the student governments across the            
 UA campuses and to present problems that student bodies have with             
 certain policies.                                                             
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER moved to forward Mr. Hayes' name to the full body              
 for confirmation.  Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.                   
                                                                               
 There being no further business before the committee, the meeting             
 was adjourned at 9:11 a.m.                                                    
                                                                               

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