03/27/2009 01:15 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB133 | |
| SB101 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 133 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 101 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 27, 2009
1:34 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bettye Davis, Chair
Senator Joe Paskvan, Vice Chair
Senator Joe Thomas
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Fred Dyson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 27
"An Act relating to tuition waivers for a child who was in
foster care; relating to eligibility for foster care and subsidy
payments for a hard-to-place child; and amending the definition
of 'child' in certain statutes."
HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 101
"An Act relating to questionnaires and surveys administered in
the public schools."
MOVED SB 101 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 133
"An Act creating a statewide electronic health information
exchange system; and providing for an effective date."
MOVED CSSB 133(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 27
SHORT TITLE: FOSTER CARE AGE LIMIT/TUITION WAIVER
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DAVIS
01/21/09 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/09
01/21/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/09 (S) HSS, L&C, FIN
03/11/09 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/11/09 (S) Heard & Held
03/11/09 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
03/18/09 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/18/09 (S) Scheduled But Not Heard
03/27/09 (S) HSS AT 1:15 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 101
SHORT TITLE: STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DAVIS
02/06/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/06/09 (S) EDC, HSS
03/11/09 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 211
03/11/09 (S) Heard & Held
03/11/09 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/18/09 (S) EDC RPT 1DP 2NR
03/18/09 (S) DP: DAVIS
03/18/09 (S) NR: OLSON, HUGGINS
03/18/09 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 211
03/18/09 (S) Moved SB 101 Out of Committee
03/18/09 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/25/09 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/25/09 (S) Heard & Held
03/25/09 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
03/27/09 (S) HSS AT 1:15 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 133
SHORT TITLE: ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFO EXCHANGE SYSTEM
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) PASKVAN
03/02/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/02/09 (S) HSS, FIN
03/16/09 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/16/09 (S) Heard & Held
03/16/09 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
03/27/09 (S) HSS AT 1:15 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
JAKE HAMBURG, staff to Senator Paskvan
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained changes in the committee
substitute for SB 133.
PAUL SHERRY, President/CEO
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 133.
BILL STREUR, Deputy Commissioner
Medicaid and Health Care Policy
Department of Health and Social Services
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 133.
TOM OBERMEYER, staff to Senator Davis
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of SB 101 and an
explanation of changes in the CS for SB 27.
MIKE LESMAN, Community Relations Manager and Legislative Contact
Department of Health and Social Services
Office of Childrens' Services (OCS)
POSITION STATEMENT: Was neutral on SB 27.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:34:39 PM
CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:34 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Thomas, Paskvan and Davis.
SB 133-ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFO EXCHANGE SYSTEM
1:35:03 PM
CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SB 133.
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute
for SB 133, labeled 26-LS0489\ S, as the working document.
CHAIR DAVIS objected for purposes of discussion.
SENATOR PASKVAN said this amendment is in conformance with what
the members expressed interest in.
CHAIR DAVIS asked if Senator Paskavan would explain the
amendment to those who are present.
SENATOR PASKVAN deferred to his aid, Jake Hamburg.
1:36:31 PM
JAKE HAMBURG, staff to Senator Paskvan, advised that Paul
Sherry, Rebecca Madison [Alaska eHealth Network] and the deputy
commissioner are on line to answer questions as needed. He said
there were three changes made to the original bill based on
discussions during the last committee hearing.
· First, new language on page 4, lines 7-10 provides the
department with added flexibility while maintaining
multiple stakeholder representation. Under that new
language, the department has the option to designate one
entity or a combination of entities to fulfill the purposes
of Section 2.
· Second, the department's duties were clarified by adding
Section 18.23.305 in the CS on page 4, beginning at line 22
through page 5, line 2.
· Third, there was a request for more specific member
representation to sit on an advisory or governing board for
the designated entity and that can be found on page 4,
lines 11-21 addressing more specific governing board
membership requirements.
The privacy protections outlined in the original bill were
preserved and are unchanged.
1:38:35 PM
CHAIR DAVIS removed her objection.
CHAIR DAVIS advised that there are people who have signed up to
testify via teleconference and she would like to allow them to
speak before moving the bill out.
1:39:30 PM
PAUL SHERRY, President/CEO, Alaska Native Tribal Health
Consortium (ANTHC), Anchorage, AK, said that ANTHC has worked
with the department since the last hearing on this bill to
clarify these roles and the provision for the stakeholder
involvement. They appreciate what they understand as the
department's readiness to move forward with this and urge the
legislature and the department to move expeditiously to take
advantage of stimulus funds in this area. They also continue to
encourage the department to work closely with the Alaska eHealth
Network, which has put a couple of years of advance work into
this process and is ready to move the effort forward
collaboratively.
CHAIR DAVIS said John Sherwood and Mike Lesman from the
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) are also
available to speak to the bill.
1:41:00 PM
BILL STREUR, Deputy Commissioner, Medicaid and Health Care
Policy, Department of Health and Social Services, Juneau, AK,
said the department supports movement toward electronic health
records, health information exchanges and health information
technology in general; this is the future of health care in the
State of Alaska. The stimulus bill provides a rare opportunity
for the state to receive significant financial assistance from
the federal government, but the state has to follow certain
rules and guidelines for that money. The department has worked
very closely with the bill sponsor and others in the community
to ensure they have the latitude to meet those guidelines. They
remain concerned with the distribution of downstream costs, but
believe they can be fairly distributed as the program develops.
The CS has addressed the department's concerns and they support
this bill.
1:42:06 PM
CHAIR DAVIS came back to the bill and said she was ready to
entertain a motion.
1:42:17 PM
SENATOR THOMAS moved to report CS for SB 133 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, CSSB 133(HSS) moved from committee.
At ease from 1:42 p.m. to 1:44 p.m.
SB 101-STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS
1:44:34 PM
CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SB 101.
TOM OBERMEYER, staff to Senator Davis, said SB 101 is the "Act
relating to questionnaires and surveys administered in the
public schools." This bill addresses specifically the Youth Risk
Behavior Survey (YRBS) that is administered in schools
throughout the state and the nation. Alaska is one of three or
four states that require active consent, which means that
schools have to send notice of the test to parents and obtain
signed permission from them to administer the survey. The change
in this bill is simply from active to passive consent so the
survey can be administered without [written] parental consent
two or more weeks after the required notification has been sent
to parents. Parents are given the opportunity to review the
survey if they wish; if they decide not to allow their children
to take the survey, they must complete a denial of permission
form in writing and provide it to the teacher or principal.
Another safeguard is included in this bill for students sitting
for the survey who find that they do not want to answer some or
all of the questions. Section 3, page 2 allows students to
refuse to answer specific questions or it refuse to participate
in the survey at the time it is given.
The purpose of this is to ensure that the state has adequate
information for the Health and Social Services and the school
districts about matters related to the significant causes of
mortality and morbidity during youth and adulthood in Alaska.
The survey includes questions about such things as tobacco,
alcohol, drug abuse, sexual behavior, diet and nutrition, and
exercise.
CHAIR DAVIS asked Mr. Obermeyer to explain why this change to
passive permission is important.
1:47:36 PM
MR. OBERMEYER explained that the state must have 60 percent
participation by students in the YRBS for the data to be
validated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Alaska has failed to achieve that participation level in 3 out
of the last four surveys administered in the past 10 years. The
primary reason appears to be fact that Alaska requires active
parental consent. In the interests of the health and education
of youth in this state, the sponsors decided this change was
necessary and would still provide sufficient opportunity for
parents and/or students to opt out of the survey.
CHAIR DAVIS noted that this bill has been supported by almost
all of the non-profit organizations that use this data as well
as by the school districts; it was heard and passed out of the
Education Committee and Senator Davis said she is ready to move
it out of this committee as well.
1:49:38 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report SB 101 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, it was so moved.
At ease from 1:50 p.m. to 1:51 p.m.
SB 27-FOSTER CARE AGE LIMIT/TUITION WAIVER
CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SB 27 and asked Mr.
Obermeyer to provide an overview.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if it is the CS that the committee has
before them.
Mr. Obermeyer confirmed that version E CS for SB 27 is the
working document [having been adopted during the 3/11/09
hearing.]
1:52:03 PM
TOM OBERMEYER said this is "An Act relating to tuition waivers
for a child who was in out-of-home care; relating to out-of-home
care for a child; amending the definition of 'child' in certain
statutes; and relating to out-of-home care transition to
independent living."
This bill provides waivers of tuition and fees, combined with
other assistance to help foster or out-of-home care children
enjoy the opportunity and benefits of a higher education
afforded to others.
Recognizing the severe educational disadvantages of persons
placed in foster or out-of-home care many states have initiated
a variety of college tuition waiver and scholarship programs for
these persons. The University of Alaska at this time has tuition
waivers for only ten students statewide who were in foster care
th
on their 18 birthdays but the need is much greater. In 2006,
data indicated that there are over 2000 children in Alaska in
foster care at any one time; over 5000 live in out-of-home care
with relatives who are in subsidized guardianship programs. The
average stay in foster care in Alaska was 25 months but only 40
percent of children had two or fewer placements. The constant
moving around in foster care and the lack of continued
assistance has impaired the education of most students in foster
care and this program is designed to help remedy some of those
problems.
1:54:11 PM
MR. OBERMEYER mentioned that the primary change between the
original bill and this CS is that the term "out-of-home" care
has replaced the term "foster care" throughout the bill because
there are so many children who have been placed with relatives
under a guardianship program.
CHAIR DAVIS asked if there is anyone online or in the audience
who wishes to testify.
1:55:06 PM
MIKE LESMAN, Community Relations Manager and Legislative
Contact, Department of Health and Social Services, Office of
Children's' Services (OCS), said SB 27 is a piece of legislation
that the department sees great merit in; it has the potential to
help kids who are exiting the foster care system as well as
those who may need to stay another year. However, the
department's position on SB 27 is neutral. He explained that the
department agrees with the results of the most recent federal
Child and Family Services Review, which found that the most
urgent work for OCS to do is on the front end of the foster care
system; it surrounds the safety of children, timeliness of
investigations and the proper assessments of safety and risk. It
has to do with keeping kids in their homes if it is possible to
do that safely and, if kids are removed, reunifying families as
quickly as is possible. One of the key ingredients of that which
the federal government has recognized and the department
acknowledges, is getting to all of the home visits their staff
has to do. So with the intent of focusing on the front end of
the system, they believe there will be correspondingly positive
benefits to the back end, that fewer youth will have these
challenges as they exit care. Right now the Office of Children's
Services is focusing its resources and its attention on safety
and the front end of the system.
1:57:51 PM
CHAIR DAVIS said she recognizes that there is work to do on this
bill but it is a start. While she agrees that it is important
for the department to work on the front end, she feels that if
this bill passes, it will also be of help to them. She commented
that SB 27 and SB 28 also address aspects of this issue, but
making sure these children have educational opportunities is
very important and many of them have no one else to help them.
She appreciates the fact that the department recognizes the
importance of this legislation and is willing to work with the
committee on it; she encouraged the department to make
suggestions on anything they feel will improve the legislation
and to let the committee know if there is anything they believe
is problematic for the department. She hopes the legislature
will come up with a comprehensive package by the time they
finish the 26th legislature, one that incorporates all the
components the legislature is working on this year including:
housing, school transportation, providing for children to finish
the year at their school of origin when they go into foster care
and providing continuing educational assistance.
2:00:29 PM
CHAIR DAVIS closed public testimony on SB 27 and held the bill
in committee.
2:00:46 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Davis adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m.
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