Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/22/2000 01:34 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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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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