02/13/2012 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB127 | |
| HCR20 | |
| Presentation: Alaska Youth Policy Summit | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HCR 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 127 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 13, 2012
1:35 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bettye Davis, Chair
Senator Kevin Meyer
Senator Fred Dyson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Dennis Egan
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 127
"An Act establishing September 9 each year as Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day."
- MOVED SB 127 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20
Designating February 2012 as American Heart Month.
- MOVED HCR 20 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION: ALASKA YOUTH POLICY SUMMIT
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HCR 20
SHORT TITLE: AMERICAN HEART MONTH
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) P.WILSON
01/25/12 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/25/12 (H) HSS
01/31/12 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
01/31/12 (H) Moved Out of Committee
01/31/12 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
02/01/12 (H) HSS RPT 4DP
02/01/12 (H) DP: DICK, MILLER, HERRON, KELLER
02/03/12 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
02/03/12 (H) VERSION: HCR 20
02/06/12 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/06/12 (S) HSS
02/13/12 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 127
SHORT TITLE: FETAL ALCOHOL DISORDERS AWARENESS DAY
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MEYER
04/14/11 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/14/11 (S) HSS
02/13/12 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
KATE BURKHART, Executive Director
Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Alaska Mental Health Board
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 127.
BECKY ROONEY, Staff
Representative Peggy Wilson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HCR 20 on behalf of the sponsor.
DR. BOB URATA, Family Physician
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 20.
AMANDA METIVIER, Director
Alaska Youth Policy Summit
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the presentation of the
Alaska Youth Policy Summit.
SLADE MARTIN
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the presentation of the
Alaska Youth Policy Summit.
FHERRON HINES
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the presentation of the
Alaska Youth Policy Summit.
STEPHANIE KILPIETZ MCPEEKS
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the presentation of the
Alaska Youth Policy Summit.
REBECCA SHIER
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the presentation of the
Alaska Youth Policy Summit.
ILINA SAUCEDO
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the presentation of the
Alaska Youth Policy Summit.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:35:06 PM
CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Dyson, Meyer, and Chair Davis.
SB 127-FETAL ALCOHOL DISORDERS AWARENESS DAY
1:35:37 PM
CHAIR DAVIS announced that the first order of business would be
SB 127.
SENATOR KEVIN MEYER, sponsor, introduced SB 127, which would
proclaim September 9 as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Awareness Day. He said that FASD is caused by prenatal exposure
to alcohol. FASD Day is observed internationally on September 9.
He noted that in previous years he had introduced FASD Awareness
Day and he felt that now was the time to put it into statute. He
explained that the bill supports a good effort to bring
attention to a condition that has a devastating effect on
Alaska, which has the highest rate of FASD in the nation. He
pointed out that FASD can result in brain damage, birth defects,
learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and the loss of an
individual's potential; however it is preventable. He stressed
that education is key to solving the problem of FASD.
CHAIR DAVIS opened public testimony.
1:39:02 PM
KATE BURKHART, Executive Director, Advisory Board on Alcoholism
and Drug Abuse, Alaska Mental Health Board, testified on behalf
of the boards in support of SB 127. She spoke of the advantages
of having a day that highlights the risks of FASD. She shared
statistics regarding risky behavior during pregnancy. Alaska has
one of the highest rates of binge drinking among women of child-
bearing age. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance Survey, women from 18-44 consumed five or more
drinks in one sitting in the past 30 days at a rate of 18 to 26
percent. She termed the bill "imperative to prevention efforts."
SENATOR DYSON moved to report SB 127 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, SB 127 was reported from the
Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
CHAIR DAVIS commented on the importance of the legislation. She
referred to a handout about things a person should know about
FASD.
SENATOR DYSON pointed out that years ago there was no awareness
of the dangers of FASD. He stressed that it is preventable. He
shared a personal story about one woman that has had seven FASD
children. He spoke of the difficulties experienced by children
with FASD. He suggested ways to support those with FASD.
1:46:19 PM
SENATOR MEYER brought attention to the fact of alcohol's
devastating effect on pregnancies.
CHAIR DAVIS noted that Senators Ellis and Egan were excused from
the meeting.
At ease from 1:46 p.m. to 1:48 p.m.
HCR 20-AMERICAN HEART MONTH
1:48:24 PM
CHAIR DAVIS said that the next bill before the committee would
be HCR 20.
BECKY ROONEY, staff, Representative Peggy Wilson, introduced HCR
20 on behalf of the sponsor. She read from the following sponsor
statement:
HCR 20 raises awareness of the nation's leading cause
of death: cardiovascular disease. This unfortunate
disease causes an average of one American death every
39 seconds or nearly 2,200 deaths each day. It is the
costliest disease in the nation, with direct and
indirect costs estimated to be $297,700,000 a year.
The American Heart Association's 2020 impact goal
seeks to improve cardiovascular health of all
Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from
cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent
through research, population-level and community-level
interventions, and public health and policy measures
The passage of this resolution would join Alaska and
the American Heart Association in raising awareness of
this disease by celebrating February 2012 as "American
Heart Month" and promoting education and awareness by
encouraging citizens to learn the warning signs of
heart attack and stroke.
1:51:26 PM
DR. BOB URATA, Family Physician, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
support of HCR 20. He pointed out that it is clear that heart
disease and stroke are major causes of death and disability in
the United States, and yet they are diseases that can be
prevented. Avoiding key risk factors and treating those that are
abnormal, are important to reducing these deaths and
disabilities. According to the National Institute of Health, 1.6
million lives have been saved since 1977, and there is an
estimate that the 44 percent decrease in heart disease deaths
was a result of prevention through the reduction of risk
factors.
He shared information about a new threat - obesity - and a study
about the lack of knowledge about the disease. He said that 27
percent of Alaskan high school students are overweight or obese.
Obesity leads to an increase in high blood pressure, diabetes,
and heart disease. In addition, a 2005 study reveals that only
27 percent of respondents knew the signs of heart attacks and
would call 911 first if someone was having a heart attack or a
stroke. He stressed that increasing awareness of risk factors
and emergency care are the first steps toward reducing the risk
of death and disability from cardiovascular disease. He
concluded that HCR 20 is an important step in that direction.
SENATOR MEYER asked how Alaska compares to other states
regarding heart attacks.
DR. URATA said that Alaska does better than most states because
it has a relatively young population. Heart attacks are the
second highest cause of death after cancer.
SENATOR DYSON voiced appreciation for Dr. Urata's efforts. He
wondered if eating a lot of fish helps prevent heart disease.
DR. URATA said that some studies have come to that conclusion.
He suggested eating fish for the Omega 3 oils.
1:56:04 PM
SENATOR MEYER moved to report HCR 20 from committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, HCR 20 moved from the Senate
Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
At ease from 1:57:28 p.m. to 1:57:53 p.m.
^Presentation: Alaska Youth Policy Summit
Presentation: Alaska Youth Policy Summit
1:57:53 PM
CHAIR DAVIS announced that the next order of business would be a
presentation by the Alaska Youth Policy Summit.
AMANDA METIVIER, Director, Alaska Youth Policy Summit (AYPS),
related that AYPS was sponsored by the Alaska Mental Health
Trust Authority, the Alaska Mental Health Board, and the
Advisory Board on Alcohol and Substance Abuse. AYPS is an event
where youth from across Alaska come together to discuss their
experiences with substance abuse, foster care, juvenile justice,
behavioral health, and homelessness. They learn about
legislative policymaking and how to impact change.
2:00:30 PM
SLADE MARTIN, shared his personal experience as a foster child.
He spoke of the positives and negatives of being a foster child.
He shared his story about being gay and his successes with
coming to terms with his sexuality. He talked of his current
experiences and goals as a college student. He requested
continued support of foster parent training and for SB 82, which
would improve the foster care system.
2:03:40 PM
FHERRON HINES, spoke of her experiences in foster care and when
transitioning out of foster care. She testified in support of
funding for transitional independent programs.
STEPHANIE KILPIETZ MCPEEKS, Anchorage, Alaska, testified about
her personal experience in foster care and with mental health
issues. She related the problems she had due to sexual abuse as
a child. She also shared the successes she found and her journey
learning coping skills. She requested support for peer support
and early intervention programs, as well as for foster parent
and parent training.
2:07:30 PM
CHAIR DAVIS asked Ms. McPeeks if she was in foster care.
MS. MCPEEKS said she was back with her mother.
REBECCA SHIER, Anchorage, Alaska, shared her personal story with
foster care. She requested support for SB 82, which includes an
effort to prioritize siblings staying together in foster care.
2:09:22 PM
ILINA SAUCEDO, Anchorage, Alaska, shared her personal story with
substance abuse in her family. She requested support for
evidence-based family therapy and transition independent process
programs.
CHAIR DAVIS said she appreciated the testimony from the members
of AYPS. She noted that the foster care system has changed over
the years, and asked if any of the testifiers were currently in
foster care.
MS. METIVIER explained that three of the testifiers were in
foster care, but have since left the program.
SENATOR MEYER requested that the testifiers share their
experiences in foster care.
MS. SHIER spoke of her foster care as a positive experience. She
agreed that there have been many positive changes recently in
the foster care system.
2:13:52 PM
SENATOR MEYER inquired how many foster children are adopted.
MS. METIVIER reported that there is a high adoption rate for
young children. She noted that SB 82 puts emphasis on
reunification with parents, if possible, but would also ensure
after care for youth who "age out" of foster care.
SENATOR MEYER asked how Alaska does with transitioning foster
children out of the system.
MS. METIVIER related that there were a number of reforms passed
recently that addressed that issue. She shared that there is now
funding for housing support, career and college readiness,
tuition waivers, and other support.
2:16:37 PM
MS. SHIRE reported on how she accessed funding for housing and
tuition.
CHAIR DAVIS asked how many of the presenters were in college.
MS. MCPEEKS shared that she was finishing up high school and
hopes to go to college. She said her goal is to be a trauma
psychologist and she is currently helping with the Alaska Youth
and Family Network.
CHAIR DAVIS asked how she was getting her diploma.
MS. MCPEEKS spoke of a program called SAVE.
CHAIR DAVIS asked if she was in the Anchorage School District.
MS. MCPEEKS said she was. She continued to explain her attempt
to get her high school degree.
2:20:01 PM
MS. HINES related that she is a stay-at-home mom and is also a
child care worker.
CHAIR DAVIS asked further questions about the day care children.
MS. HINES reported on her housing situation. She said she is
working on becoming a licensed day care provider.
CHAIR DAVIS requested more ideas regarding ways the legislature
could help foster children. She suggested that in future
hearings on SB 82, the youth call in to testify in favor of the
bill.
MS. METIVIER commented on the Youth Policy Summit schedule. She
noted that SB 82 is a priority for the Summit. She stated
opposition to SB 125.
CHAIR DAVIS requested a written summary of AYPS's proposals.
MS. SAUCEDO shared her school history. She said she is ready to
return to college.
SENATOR MEYER encourage the youth to continue to speak for their
causes.
2:26:46 PM
MS. MCPEEKS testified in support of the bill for early
intervention for young children.
CHAIR DAVIS encouraged the youth to continue to speak out.
2:30:09 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Davis adjourned the Senate Standing Health and Social
Services Committee at 2:30 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HCR_20Bill.pdf |
SHSS 2/13/2012 1:30:00 PM |
lsncceh |
| HCR_20 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SHSS 2/13/2012 1:30:00 PM |
|
| HCR20 Special report.pdf |
SHSS 2/13/2012 1:30:00 PM |
lsncceh |