02/27/2006 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB251 | |
| SB244 | |
| SJR19 | |
| SB242 | |
| HB357 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 251 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 244 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SJR 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 242 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 357 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 27, 2006
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Fred Dyson, Chair
Senator Gary Wilken, Vice Chair
Senator Kim Elton
Senator Donny Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyda Green
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 251
"An Act relating to immunization for meningitis of postsecondary
students residing on campus."
MOVED SB 251 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 244
"An Act prohibiting unfair discrimination against an
acupuncturist; amending the definition of 'provider' as it
relates to authorized collective negotiations by physicians
affecting the rights of providers under health benefit plans;
and providing for an effective date."
HEARD AND HELD
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19
Relating to creating the Task Force to Assess Public Reporting
of Health Care Associated Infections.
MOVED SJR 19 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 242
"An Act updating the terminology in statutes for persons with
disabilities; and providing for an effective date."
HEARD AND HELD
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 357(FIN)
"An Act updating the terminology in statutes for persons with
disabilities; and providing for an effective date."
MOVED CSHB 357(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 251
SHORT TITLE: POSTSEC. STUDENT MENINGITIS IMMUNIZATION
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE
01/30/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/30/06 (S) HES
02/08/06 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/08/06 (S) Scheduled But Not Heard
02/27/06 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 244
SHORT TITLE: NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ACUPUNCTURIST
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WAGONER
01/19/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/06 (S) L&C, HES
02/07/06 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211
02/07/06 (S) Heard & Held
02/07/06 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
02/14/06 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211
02/14/06 (S) Moved SB 244 Out of Committee
02/14/06 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
02/15/06 (S) L&C RPT 3DP 2NR
02/15/06 (S) DP: BUNDE, ELLIS, STEVENS B
02/15/06 (S) NR: DAVIS, SEEKINS
02/27/06 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SJR 19
SHORT TITLE: TASK FORCE ON HOSPITAL INFECTIONS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) STEVENS G
02/14/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/14/06 (S) HES, FIN
02/27/06 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 242
SHORT TITLE: STATUTORY REFERENCES TO DISABILITIES
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) FRENCH
01/18/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/06 (S) HES
02/27/06 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: HB 357
SHORT TITLE: STATUTORY REFERENCES TO DISABILITIES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WILSON
01/11/06 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/11/06 (H) HES, FIN
01/24/06 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
01/24/06 (H) Heard & Held
01/24/06 (H) MINUTE(HES)
01/31/06 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
01/31/06 (H) Moved CSHB 357(HES) Out of Committee
01/31/06 (H) MINUTE(HES)
02/01/06 (H) HES RPT CS(HES) 4DP 1NR
02/01/06 (H) DP: CISSNA, GARDNER, SEATON, WILSON;
02/01/06 (H) NR: KOHRING
02/13/06 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/13/06 (H) Moved CSHB 357(FIN) Out of Committee
02/13/06 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
02/17/06 (H) FIN RPT CS(FIN) 5DP 2NR 1AM
02/17/06 (H) DP: STOLTZE, KERTTULA, HAWKER, FOSTER,
MEYER;
02/17/06 (H) NR: HOLM, KELLY;
02/17/06 (H) AM: WEYHRAUCH
02/17/06 (H) LETTER OF INTENT WITH FIN REPORT
02/22/06 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
02/22/06 (H) VERSION: CSHB 357(FIN)
02/23/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/23/06 (S) HES, FIN
02/27/06 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
Scott Thorson, CEO
Network Business Systems
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 251.
Jay Butler, Acting Chief,
Epidemiology Section
Division of Public Health
Department of Health & Social Services
PO Box 110601
Juneau, AK 99801-0601
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 251 and SJR 19.
Amy Seitz, Legislative Aide
Staff to Senator Wagoner
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 244.
Melanie Millhorn, Director
Division of Retirement & Benefits
Department of Administration
PO Box 110200
Juneau, AK 99811-0200
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to SB 244.
Freda Miller, Health Benefits Manager
Division of Retirement & Benefits
Department of Administration
PO Box 110200
Juneau, AK 99811-0200
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to SB 244.
Valerie DeLaune,
Licensed Acupuncturist
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported of SB 244.
Senator Gary Stevens
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SJR 19.
Rod Betit, President
Alaska State Hospital Nursing Home Association
426 Main Street
Juneau, AK 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 19.
Lori Herman
Providence Hospital
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported of SJR 19.
Senator Hollis French
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 242.
Representative Peggy Wilson
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 357.
Kevin Gadsey, Representative
Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL)
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 242 and HB 357.
Faith Myers
Mental Health Advocate
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 242 and HB 357.
Dorrance Collins
Mental Health Advocate
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 242 and HB 357.
Aaron Danielson, Legislative aide
Intern to Representative Wilson
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions related to HB 357.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR FRED DYSON called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:33:40 PM.
Present were Senators Gary Wilken, Kim Elton, Donny Olson, and
Chair Fred Dyson.
SB 251-POSTSEC. STUDENT MENINGITIS IMMUNIZATION
CHAIR FRED DYSON announced SB 251 to be up for consideration.
1:34:43 PM
SENATOR CON BUNDE, sponsor of SB 251, explained that the bill
that passed last year relating to postsecondary schools and
meningitis was too broad because it included postsecondary
schools without dormitories. The new requirement is burdensome
to schools and an invasion of student privacy for little
purpose. SB 251 would exempt postsecondary educational
institutions without dormitory facilities from the requirement
of information distribution about meningitis. The sponsor of the
previous bill agreed that this adjustment is appropriate.
1:37:24 PM
SENATOR KIM ELTON questioned why the phrase "intends to reside"
is used rather than "will reside."
SENATOR BUNDE answered that it was the drafter's language.
SENATOR ELTON said he would follow up with the drafter.
SENATOR OLSON asked how many institutions this would apply to.
JANE ALBERTS, Staff to Senator Con Bunde, said that data was
difficult to find.
CHAIR DYSON opened public testimony.
1:39:38 PM
SCOTT THORSON, CEO, Network Business Systems, testified in
support of SB 251. He said the current situation doesn't work
for distance learning for a number of reasons for the following
reasons. Students have to sign documents that appear to invade
their privacy. Second, it increases the cost of education.
Third the regulations require the state to keep records, but it
is not clear how this benefits the state. Fourth, the current
requirements don't do anything to reduce the potential of
meningitis. Fifth, the original wording pertained to
postsecondary institutions with dormitories, but there are 136
postsecondary institutions without dormitories that will be
affected.
1:44:46 PM
JAY BUTLER, Acting Chief, Epidemiology Section, Division of
Public Health, Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS),
supported SB 251. He said that various epidemiological studies
suggest that the overall risk of meningococcal meningitis is
relatively low, but risk is ten to twenty-five times higher
among dorm residents. He added that the provisions in SB 251
also bring the law into line with recommendations from the
Center for Disease Control's advisory committee on immunization
practices and the recommendations of the American Academy of
Pediatrics.
SENATOR OLSON asked about the frequency of allergic reactions to
immunizations.
MR. BUTLER replied that they are quite uncommon.
SENATOR OLSON asked whether there have been any other negative
reactions or side affects associated with the vaccinations.
MR. BUTLER replied that a small number of the recipients of the
conjugate vaccine developed Guillian-Barre syndrome. He added
that this occurred after upward of one million doses of the
vaccine had been administered and follow-up on the incidents
does not suggest a relationship between the vaccine and those
events.
SENATOR OLSON asked if any of the affected people died as a
result of the syndrome.
MR. BUTLER replied that all of them survived.
SENATOR OLSON asked how much the conjugate vaccine and the
regular vaccine cost.
MR. BUTLER replied that for the public sector, the cost of the
conjugate vaccine is about $60 and the cost of the regular
vaccine is somewhat less.
1:49:23 PM
SENATOR WILKEN moved to report SB 251 and attached fiscal notes
from committee with individual recommendations. There being no
objection, it was so ordered.
1:49:41 PM
SB 244-NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ACUPUNCTURIST
CHAIR FRED DYSON announced SB 244 to be up for consideration.
1:49:56 PM
AMY SEITZ, Staff to Senator Wagoner, said that SB 244 adds
acupuncturists to the list of licensed providers in the Unfair
Discrimination Statute. This would prohibit insurance companies
that offer group policies from unfairly discriminating against
them.
She added that the sponsor introduced the bill after reviewing
the results of several studies that demonstrate the positive
affects of acupuncture. She referenced a 1993 Swedish study on a
group of recovering stroke patients that were treated with
acupuncture. According to the study, the treatment of these
patients cost $26,000 less than patients without acupuncture and
required half the normal time for recovery.
She referenced another study on knee surgery patients who
underwent acupuncture therapy before surgery. According to the
study, the treatment of these patients cost $9,000 less per
patient than for patients without acupuncture. A Boston
University researcher recently claimed that acupuncture
treatment for stroke and Carpel Tunnel Syndrome could reduce the
nation's medical bill by 11 million.
She said, in addition to positive health benefits, acupuncture
has an extremely low rate of malpractice associated with
acupuncture. A bill was recently introduced at the federal level
to include acupuncturists into the Federal Insurance Act. She
continued to say that several insurance companies have
volunteered to cover acupuncturists.
1:53:12 PM
SENATOR OLSON asked how long the results of acupuncture
treatment lasted for patients in the stroke study.
MS. SEITZ believed that they were long-term results.
SENATOR OLSON asked how often acupuncture treatment causes a
major bleeding event.
MS. SEITZ said all the information she has read shows that it
happens very infrequently.
SENATOR OLSON asked the amount of education required for a
person to legally practice acupuncture.
MS. SEITZ replied that it requires a three-year graduate degree.
1:56:50 PM
MELANIE MILLHORN, Director, Division of Retirement and Benefits
(DRB), Department of Administration (DOA), provided information
on the state's health plans and discussed how SB 244 would
affect them. She said the Division administers two health
plans, one for the active population and one for the retired
population. She said that the commissioner of The Department of
Administration has the authority to make changes to the health
plans.
FREDA MILLER, Health Benefits Manager, DRB, DOA, reported that
the health plans only cover acupuncture if a physician performs
it in lieu of anesthetic during surgery. She said that passage
of SB 244 would allow acupuncturists to bill for office visits
related to the evaluation and management of a condition. Since
SB 244 only expands coverage options, the bill is cost neutral.
She remarked that acupuncture therapy itself would remain an
uncovered benefit unless there is a signed plan change
authorized by the commissioner of The Department of
Administration.
SENATOR ELTON asked if SB 244 would allow coverage for visits to
an acupuncturist that are related to evaluation and management,
but not to therapy.
MS. MILLER replied that SB 244 confers recognized provider
status upon acupuncturists thereby allowing them to bill for
visits related to evaluation and management. She added that SB
244 would not change any existing coverage for therapy since
that is determined by one's particular health plan.
SENATOR OLSON asked whether SB 244 would change the
impatient/outpatient status of acupuncture treatment.
MS. MILLER replied it would not do so.
SENATOR WILKEN asked whether the bill would open up a new level
of service for plan members and create additional costs for the
system.
MS. MILLER replied that it only allows members to see an
acupuncturist instead of a physician to evaluate and manage a
condition. She stressed that it does not increase the level of
coverage to which members are already entitled for evaluation
and management.
SENATOR WILKEN remarked that he would like Ms. Millhorn's
reassurance that the legislation would indeed be cost-neutral.
MS. MILLHORN said that according to Delloit Consulting, it costs
less to visit an acupuncturist than a physician, and
consequently, the cost-neutral designation is conservative.
SENATOR WILKEN said he was concerned that the bill would
generate additional costs because it would create coverage for
the alternative treatment of conditions for which some would not
otherwise see a physician.
SENATOR OLSON said he was concerned about the possibility of
additional costs from lawsuits arising from the inability of
acupuncturists to evaluate and manage certain conditions.
CHAIR DYSON asked Ms. DeLaune to explain how the bill would
benefit the people of Alaska.
VALERIE DeLAUNE, licensed acupuncturist, testified that she has
personally saved the state and its residents a lot of money by
providing an effective alternative to some conventional
procedures. She remarked that coverage for acupuncture is the
number one requested benefit among insurance consumers. She
added that many insurance companies voluntarily cover
acupuncture and suggested that they would not do so if it did
not save them money.
CHAIR DYSON said that he is struck by the fact that an
acupuncturist can mitigate the pain of surgery, but cannot seek
reimbursement for evaluating a condition.
MS. DeLAUNE said, with regard to Senator Olson's concern about
malpractice, that the incidence of malpractice among
acupuncturists is very low.
2:21:03 PM
SENATOR OLSON asked the number of licensed and unlicensed
acupuncturists practice in the state.
MS. DeLAUNE replied that about 65 acupuncturists are licensed in
the state.
MS. MILLER added it is illegal to practice acupuncture without a
license in the state.
SENATOR ELTON asked whether an acupuncture license could be
revoked in the case of malpractice.
MS. DeLAUNE replied that is correct, but the state has yet to
revoke an acupuncture license.
SENATOR OLSON asked how an acupuncturist is licensed.
MS. DeLAUNE replied the state requires at least three years of
graduate level education for licensure.
SENATOR OLSON asked whether the state requires a written exam
for licensure.
MS. DeLAUNE replied the state requires that a prospective
licensee take certain courses on AIDS, CPR, pass a written and
practical exam, and complete 15 hours of continuing education
every two years.
SENATOR OLSON asked how this bill compares to similar bills in
other states.
MS. DeLAUNE replied the State of Washington has similar
legislation.
MS. SEITZ said that as of 1991, ten states covered acupuncture.
SENATOR WILKEN asked whether acupuncture treatment would be
covered for small businesses under this bill.
MS. SEITZ replied that it would.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if the legislation would require managers
of private insurance plans to cover acupuncture treatments that
they do not cover at the present time.
MS. SEITZ replied that the bill does not affect the coverage
plans of any insurance provider; it only allows members to
choose acupuncture for services already provided under their
plans.
2:39:25 PM
SENATOR WILKEN asked if private plan managers would have to make
a plan modification before covering acupuncturists for
evaluation and management and therapy services.
MS. MILLER answered that adding acupuncturists to the recognized
provider list allows them to submit charges for evaluation and
management for any plan that covers it. The managers would have
to decide whether or not to cover acupuncture therapy in their
benefit plans.
SENATOR WILKEN cited Alaska Sales and Service as an example of a
small private company and asked whether its plan covers
acupuncturists for providing evaluation and management services.
MS. DeLAUNE did not know.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if the state and private providers would be
able to decide whether or not to cover acupuncture therapy and
evaluation and management services if the bill is passed.
MS. MILLER replied that is the case and added it is important to
remember that typically the evaluation and management services
are already covered in all insurance plans.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if conferring recognized provider status
upon acupuncturists would allow them to receive coverage under
the state plan since it currently covers evaluation and
management services.
MS. MILLER replied that is correct.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if acupuncture therapy would not be covered
under the state plan until the commissioner of administration
amends the design of the benefit plan.
MS. MILLER replied that is correct.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if the commissioner or private plan
managers could decide to cover acupuncture therapy without the
passage of SB 244.
MS. SEITZ replied that they could do so.
SENATOR WILKEN asked why the bill is needed.
MS. MILLER replied the bill would ensure that insurance
companies could not refuse plan managers who decide to cover
acupuncture.
SENATOR ELTON said it is important to note that the bill only
prevents insurance companies from discriminating against
acupuncturists; it does not preclude them from charging for the
added service.
CHAIR DYSON remarked it is not a pro-choice bill, but an anti-
discrimination bill for a profession that is widely recognized.
SENATOR WILKEN expressed concern over costs that the bill would
generate for both the state and private insurance companies.
CHAIR DYSON asked Ms. Seitz if she heard anything from the
insurance industry when the bill was heard in the Labor and
Commerce Committee.
MS. SEITZ said she has not heard any opposition from the
insurance industry. She remarked that many insurance companies
already voluntarily cover acupuncture.
CHAIR DYSON asked whether insurance companies have been notified
about the bill.
MS. SEITZ said she has been trying to solicit comments from the
insurance companies, but it doesn't seem to be a big issue for
them.
SENATOR WILKEN remarked that while no one wants to discriminate,
the bill might be less benign than it seems.
MS. SEITZ remarked that it might actually save money.
Acupuncture is the only licensed profession in the state that is
not on the recognized providers list.
SENATOR ELTON said it would be important to determine whether
the amount of money saved by visits to acupuncturists instead of
physicians would offset the cost of visits to acupuncturists by
people who would not otherwise see a physician.
SENATOR OLSON said a study done five years ago showed that
people saved money when they underwent effective acupuncture
therapy as opposed to drug therapy because there are no side
effects associated with acupuncture.
2:54:46 PM
CHAIR DYSON held SB 244 in committee.
SJR 19-TASK FORCE ON HOSPITAL INFECTIONS
2:55:15 PM
CHAIR FRED DYSON announced SJR 19 to be up for consideration.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, Sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution (SJR)
19, said every year two million infections are acquired each
year in hospitals. These infections cost between $4.5 billion
and $11 billion and cause some 90,000 deaths each year. He added
that hospital infection is the sixth leading cause of death in
the country.
It is important for consumers to know how medical facilities
fare with infection rates. SJR 19 creates a task force to
assess public reporting of health care associated infections.
It will have 11 members who work during the interim to determine
what experience hospitals across the nation have in the public
reporting of hospital associated infections, develop a white
paper to be used in future legislation and create legislation to
assist in the collection of data from all hospitals across the
state on their infection rates.
2:56:54 PM
SENATOR ELTON expressed concern that public members would not
receive reimbursement for travel and other expenses and that it
would also create an unfair burden on rural members.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS replied that the cost burden is not
expected to be prohibitively high because the panel will only
meet three or four times in Anchorage each year.
SENATOR ELTON asked if a rural consumer lives in a remote town,
like Dutch Harbor, he would incur significant expenses while
traveling to the Anchorage meetings.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS replied that since this is an appointed
position, he could insure that the rural member lives close to
Anchorage.
CHAIR DYSON said he recently spoke to a public health doctor
supported the resolution because it would be an important step
towards establishing a comprehensive web-based list of all the
providers around the state, their costs, and their track record.
SENATOR WILKEN suggested that it would be most convenient to
address Senator Elton's concern in the Finance Committee.
3:02:52 PM
ROD BETIT, President, Alaska State Hospital Nursing Home
Association (ASHNA), testified in support of SJR 19. He said
that the control of infections in a hospital environment is a
complex, difficult task. SJR 19 would create valuable dialogue
between the public, the legislature, and the medical community
concerning the way that infection is reported. Hopefully this
would lead to useful, collaborative conclusions regarding what
the state should be doing to improve things.
CHAIR DYSON asked the witness whether his organization had
expressed support for the resolution.
MR. BETIT answered he is confident that they will support it,
but they have not yet had a chance to discuss it.
SENATOR OLSON remarked that some of the statistics are startling
and asked whether there has been a significant increase in
infections in the recent past.
MR. BETIT answered there has not been a significant increase in
the recent past. The problem has never been addressed in a
systemic way and the apparent urgency of the problem is due to
the significant increase in effort in the last three years.
SENATOR OLSON said most of the hospitals in which he has been
granted privilege have had boards to address hospital
infections. He asked whether the boards are effectively
addressing the problem, and if not, whether their inefficiency
is a reason for the resolution.
MR. BETIT replied that they are not as effective as one would
hope because there are so many different places in a hospital
where measures must be implemented and monitored. He said that
the establishment of a task force would augment their efficiency
by consolidating data and comparing ideas.
LORI HERMAN, Providence Hospital, testified in support of SJR
19.
3:09:01 PM
JAY BUTLER, Acting Chief, Epidemiology Section, Division of
Public Health Department of Health & Social Services, supported
SJR 19.
CHAIR DYSON asked Senator Elton if he would be comfortable
addressing his aforementioned concern in the Senate Finance
Committee.
SENATOR ELTON replied that he would be comfortable with that.
3:09:30 PM
SENATOR ELTON moved SJR 19 and attached fiscal notes from
committee with individual recommendations. There being no
objection it was so ordered.
3:10:02 PM
SB 242-STATUTORY REFERENCES TO DISABILITIES
CHAIR DYSON announced SB 242 to be up for consideration.
SENATOR FRENCH, sponsor SB 242, said that SB 242 would update
terminology in statutes for persons with disabilities. He said
that HB 357 is a House bill that is very similar to SB 242 only
more developed, and in the interest of efficiency he would like
to have that bill discussed first.
3:10:14 PM
CHAIR DYSON held SB 242 in committee.
HB 357-STATUTORY REFERENCES TO DISABILITIES
3:11:04 PM
CHAIR DYSON announced CSHB 357(FIN) to be up for consideration.
REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, Sponsor of HB 357, said the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Governor's
Council on Disabilities requested the bill, which eliminates
demeaning terminology pertaining to disabled persons that exists
in Alaska statute. She read the following from the Southeast
Alaska Independent Group (SAIL):
American culture consistently redefines itself through
language and subcultures also use language to redefine
themselves. Negros became Blacks and then African
Americans. Homosexuals choose the term 'gay' for
themselves, and people with disabilities have done the
same over the years, attempting to fight stereotypes
and negative imagery.
Representative Wilson said that the term 'handicapped'
originated as a slur and a reference to begging and it is time
for Alaska to make this change.
3:13:50 PM
KEVIN GADSEY, SAIL representative, supported SB 242 and HB 357.
He said that SB 357 eliminates the term 'handicapped' from
statute and replaces instances of it with the term 'people with
disabilities' which is the term adopted under the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA).
3:15:49 PM
KELLY DONNELLY, Partners in Policy Project, said that her
organization supports SB 242 and HB 357 with some minor changes.
She said in section 1, under AS.14.36.30B, item 1 should say
"students who have been classified under Individualized
Education Plans (IEPs)". The reason being that the term
"mentally retarded" still appears in federal statute and the
aforementioned change would reflect that while the state
acknowledges the use of the term for classification, it does
accept it as an appropriate term for general reference.
3:19:03 PM
FAITH MYERS, Mental Health Advocate, supported SB 242 and HB
357.
3:20:40 PM
DORRANCE COLLINS, Mental Health Advocate from Anchorage,
testified in support of SB 242 and HB 357.
CHAIR DYSON asked the sponsor about the aforementioned
suggestion.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said she didn't have a problem with it.
AARON DANIELSON, Staff to Representative Wilson, said he would
have to consult with Department of Education to determine how
the amendment may impact the bill.
3:22:59 PM
SENATOR WILKEN moved to report CSHB 357(FIN), the letter of
intent, and attached fiscal notes from committee with individual
recommendations. There was no objection, and it was so ordered.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dyson adjourned the meeting at 3:23:25 PM.
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