Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/22/2000 01:34 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE March 22, 2000 1:34 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Mike Miller, Chairman Senator Pete Kelly, Vice-Chairman Senator Gary Wilken Senator Kim Elton MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Drue Pearce COMMITTEE CALENDAR SENATE BILL NO. 207 "An Act relating to the establishment and enforcement of medical support orders for children; and providing for an effective date." -MOVED SB 207 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION SB 207 - No previous Senate action. WITNESS REGISTER Barbara Miklos, Director Child Support Enforcement Division Department of Revenue 550 W 7th Ave., Suite 310 Anchorage, AK 99501 POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 207 Marci Schmidt 2040 Fishhook Road Wasilla, AK 99654 POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 207 ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 00-12, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Senate Health, Education and Social Services (HESS) Committee to order at 1:34 p.m. Present were Senators Pete Kelly, Wilken, Elton, and Chairman Miller. The committee took up SB 207. SB 207-MEDICAL SUPPORT ORDERS FOR CHILDREN MS. BARBARA MIKLOS, Director of the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED), Alaska Department of Revenue, informed committee members that CSED believes SB 207 will be beneficial to everyone. The bill makes three changes. Under current law, CSED must establish a medical support order whenever it establishes a child support order. When a parent signs up for Medicaid, CSED is required by federal law to set a medical support order. Because Alaska law ties the two together, CSED must set up a financial order for all Medicaid recipients. That requirement has led to problems because CSED must set up a financial order even though the custodial parent may not request that one be established. SB 207 will allow CSED to establish a medical support order without a financial order when appropriate. CSED would then go after both parents to see if they have insurance, in which case, the child would not need Medicaid coverage. MS. MIKLOS said that current law requires the obligor to provide insurance. SB 207 allows that either parent may be required to provide insurance - a provision consistent with a court rule. Last, the bill confirms CSED's current practice of setting the medical support order before it knows whether insurance is available. CSED does not enforce the order until it verifies that the parent has insurance. DIANE WENDLANDT, Assistant Attorney General, offered to answer any legal questions regarding SB 207. MARCI SCHMIDT, representing herself, said she favors SB 207 and hopes that CSED puts together a packet that makes it easier for parents to file for medical support only. There being no further discussion, SENATOR ELTON moved SB 207 from committee with individual recommendations and its zero fiscal note. There being no objection, the motion carried. SENATOR WILKEN commended Ms. Miklos on her work, as did SENATOR ELTON. CHAIRMAN MILLER informed committee members that one appointment to the Board of Regents and two appointments to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority will be brought before the committee, and the other appointees' names will be reviewed in a package. There being no further business to come before the committee, CHAIRMAN MILLER adjourned the meeting at 1:39 p.m.
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