Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/18/1997 09:05 AM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
April 18, 1997
9:05 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Wilken, Chairman
Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chairman
Senator Lyda Green
Senator Jerry Ward
Senator Johnny Ellis
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 117
"An Act relating to an infant care curriculum in the public school
system."
- MOVED SB 117 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CONFIRMATIONS: University of Alaska Board of Regents - Michael
Burns, Elsa Demeksa
SENATE BILL NO. 164
"An Act relating to the authority of an emergency medical
technician at the scene of an accident or emergency."
- MOVED CSSB 164(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 117 - No previous Senate action to record.
SB 164 - See Senate Health, Education & Social Service minutes
dated 4/16/97.
WITNESS REGISTER
Senator Donley
State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Prime Sponsor of SB 117.
Tom Dean, Chief
Tok EMS
PO Box 811
Tok, Alaska 99780
POSITION STATEMENT: Encouraged passage of CSSB 164(HES).
Craig Lewis
Alaska EMS Association
Interior Region Emergency Medical Services Council
3522 Industrial Avenue
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
POSITION STATEMENT: Present for questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 97-41, SIDE A
SB 117 INFANT CARE CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Number 001
CHAIRMAN WILKEN called the Senate Health, Education & Social
Services Committee (HES) to order at 9:05 a.m. and introduced
SB 117 as the first order of business before the committee.
SENATOR DONLEY , Prime Sponsor, said that SB 117 adds the language
"including infant care" to the suggested health curriculum for
Alaska's public school system. Senator Donley pointed out that the
committee packets included a chart which illustrates why Alaska
needs better infant care. The chart shows that Alaska has the
fewest low weight births, the best early prenatal care, and the
fewest births by mothers under 18 years of age. However, the chart
shows that Alaska has the highest rate of infant mortality, infants
three months to one year, in the nation. This data indicates that
something is going wrong during the three months to one year time
period.
Senator Donley hoped that health classes in the public schools
could educate students on caring for a baby. For example,
informing the students of SIDS and the need for a baby to sleep on
its back not its stomach. The class could educate students in the
proper way to hold and feed a baby. The class could provide
general information that everyone should learn because not only the
mother will be taking care of the baby.
In response to Chairman Wilken, SENATOR DONLEY explained that the
initial data came from the University of Washington, but his staff
has spent much time compiling the data.
Number 087
CHAIRMAN WILKEN pointed out that the sponsor statement refers to
requiring infant care, but this would be voluntary. SENATOR DONLEY
clarified that SB 117 would only add infant care to those suggested
for education under the existing law.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN noted that SB 117 has a zero fiscal note.
SENATOR WARD asked if any school system has a curriculum that
includes infant care in its health curriculum. SENATOR DONLEY had
not checked every school district in Alaska, but the Anchorage
School District does not. Senator Donley informed the committee
that the Anchorage School District just performed a review of the
health care curriculum, but no one brought forth this issue.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN said that he had discussed this with a Fairbanks'
School Board member who indicated that the Fairbanks' School Board
had discussed such curriculum. This member believed that SB 117
would encourage further discussion of the issue.
SENATOR GREEN moved to report SB 117 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN moved to the nominees of the Board of Regents as
the next order of business before the committee.
Number 137
MIKE BURNS , UA Board of Regent nominee, said that it was an honor
to be nominated for this position. Mr. Burns informed the
committee that he came to Alaska in 1985 as the President of Alaska
Pacific Bank, Key Bank, and continues in that position today. By
training Mr. Burns is a lawyer, but is not admitted to practice in
Alaska. Mr. Burns listed the following civic affairs: Chair of
the Anchorage Telephone Utility, Governor's Commission on Tort
Reform, YMCA Board, Nature Conservancy Board, United Way, etc.
SENATOR GREEN inquired as to the university's stand on resource
management and agricultural related programs. MIKE BURNS said
that he had not gotten into the programs yet. Mr. Burns sensed
that the university is now at the point of doing less with less due
to declining budgets. Mr. Burns did not know how agriculture fits
into all of this.
SENATOR WARD said that as budget reductions continue, the Board of
Regents need to review how to make the university system work.
Senator Ward suggested reducing the campuses down to two; one in
Fairbanks and the other in Anchorage. By keeping all the
satellites open, some of the core activities of 80 percent of the
university population are being damaged. MIKE BURNS said that it
is a grave situation and the university needs to determine how to
do less because there is less. Before reviewing issues of what is
being done, issues of how efficient things are done must be
determined. The structure of the administration of the university
must be reviewed in order to determine if the correct
administrative model is in place for the future. Mr. Burns
believed that some things can be done cheaper, perhaps not enough
cheaper to salvage everything that is provided today.
SENATOR WARD informed the committee that the concept of scaling
down to only two campuses comes from the student body of the
University of Alaska-Anchorage.
MIKE BURNS believed that some input from the Legislature is
necessary regarding the direction and scope of the university.
With any further cuts, the university will not be able to continue
doing what it does today for the next year. Mr. Burns commented
that in the short time of his involvement with the university, he
has been struck by the involvement of the student body. For
example, there is a proposed technology fee and the students'
responses indicate that they realize the need for other resources
beyond the traditional channels.
Number 291
SENATOR ELLIS noted that he and Mr. Burns served on the Governor's
Task Force on Tort Reform where Senator Ellis was impressed with
Mr. Burns. From that experience, Senator Ellis believed that Mr.
Burns would make a good regent.
SENATOR LEMAN informed the committee that he was visited by some
UAA students today who were concerned with appropriations for
periodicals at the UAA Library in order to maintain its
accreditation. Senator Leman referred the students to the regents.
Senator Leman encouraged Mr. Burns to work within the budget
constraints. MIKE BURNS stressed that the funding of the books is
an important issue for accreditation. Mr. Burns understood that in
the past two years, money has been moved from that area and has
been placed into instructional programs. The highest spending
priority is what effects the students and accreditation is vital.
Mr. Burns said that Peter was being robbed to pay Paul.
SENATOR ELLIS commented that 18 years ago when he was a member of
the UAA Student Government Senate he was sent to Juneau to lobby
for books and periodicals for the UAA Consortium Library.
MIKE BURNS pointed out that the aforementioned technology fee would
add to the internet capability and help with the periodicals, but
does not add hard copies of books.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN , SENATOR LEMAN , SENATOR WARD , and SENATOR ELLIS
noted that they all had accounts with Key Bank.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN said that he was concerned about the lack of
knowledge by the Legislature with regard to what the university
needs and does for Alaska. Chairman Wilken said that he would work
on that during the interim. Chairman Wilken believed that the
university and the Legislature should have a banking relationship
with the Legislature as the banker. Chairman Wilken has observed
in his 16 weeks with the Legislature, that the university and the
Legislature do not talk nor do they understand the needs of one
another. Chairman Wilken stressed the need for the university
system to be held in the same esteem as the K-12 education; that is
a goal.
Chairman Wilken read the following statement which conveyed his
concerns, "It is becoming increasingly difficult to meet the Board
of Regents', Governor's, and Legislature's goals to provide a
quality and affordable education for Alaskans and promote Alaska
jobs and economic development." He said that if there are goals of
those three groups, he had not seen those goals and he bet that
none of the three groups know the others' goals. Chairman Wilken
said that determining what the Regents, the Governor, and the
Legislature want is a place to begin.
SENATOR WARD commented that Wendy Redman has been the glue holding
the three groups together. Senator Ward pointed out that Senator
Wilken had been designated to work with the university through the
interim to present information back to the next legislative
session.
Number 406
ELSA DEMEKSA , UA Board of Regent nominee, informed the committee
that she was a local business owner and mother of two children.
Ms. Demeksa has been a resident of Alaska for about 19 years. With
a son that will be ready for college in about three years, Ms.
Demeksa has a personal interest in the university. Ms. Demeksa
noted her degree in English Literature and graduate work in Mass
Media. Ms. Demeksa has served on several boards and just completed
a five year term on the Alaska State Board of Parole. Ms. Demeksa
said that she had the time, willingness, and energy to commit to
the university.
SENATOR WARD commented that after talking with people in the halls
about Ms. Demeksa, everyone has spoken very highly of her.
SENATOR LEMAN asked if Ms. Demeksa had any vision for the
university in the future. With the money constraints, Senator
Leman mentioned the possibility of consolidation of rural campuses
and what the main campuses would offer. He asked if Ms. Demeksa
had any thoughts on that. ELSA DEMEKSA felt that the status quo
needs to be challenged. The reduction in funding from the
Legislature indicates the need to streamline and re-examine the
structure of the university. Ms. Demeksa believed that the
university needs to review other sources of funding and perhaps,
the community could play a larger role.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN asked Ms. Demeksa if he could count on her to
encourage and participate in the discussion between the Board of
Regents and the Legislature. ELSA DEMEKSA replied, absolutely.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN thanked the nominees and noted his intent for the
letter of confirmation to be signed and forwarded to President
Miller.
SB 164 AUTHORITY OF EMERGENCY MED TECHS
Number 478
CHAIRMAN WILKEN announced that SB 164 was the final order of
business before the committee. Chairman Wilken noted that there
was a committee substitute for consideration.
SENATOR WARD moved that CSSB 164(HES) be adopted.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN explained that the CS changed lines 6-8 to require
that to be covered by this statute a current EMT identification
card must be on the person. Chairman Wilken pointed out that lines
10-13 on page 2 address the enforcement issue. This is just like
the fire fighter code in that an EMT cannot enforce the law, the
EMT can take the name of the person disobeying instructions and
pass that name to the troopers. The troopers decide whether
prosecution is in order in a particular situation.
SENATOR WARD said that he had no problem as long as the person
claiming to be an EMT was clearly identifiable.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN noted that people are almost always in uniform, but
if not the person is now required to carry identification.
TOM DEAN encouraged passage of CSSB 164(HES).
CRAIG LEWIS said that he was present for questions.
Number 511
SENATOR LEMAN moved to report CSSB 164(HES) out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN asked if there was anything else to come before the
committee.
SENATOR WARD noted that he had a suggestion from the public. The
suggestion was to take 10 million acres of State of Alaska land and
place that into an educational endowment for K through university
level. The 10 million acres would have a formula for development
to develop so many acres per year or else the land would transfer
back to the state. The person that suggested this is a miner.
SENATOR LEMAN commented that he had supported several land grant
proposals for the university and would be open to looking into the
concepts.
SENATOR WARD interjected that this suggestion emphasized the need
to lease, develop, or explore on a phased basis or the land reverts
back to the state over a 20 year period.
There being no further business before the committee, the meeting
was adjourned at 9:45 a.m.
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