03/21/2014 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB263 | |
| HJR25 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| = | HJR 25 | ||
| = | HB 263 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 21, 2014
1:37 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bert Stedman, Chair
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice Chair
Senator Kevin Meyer
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Pete Kelly
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 263(HSS)
"An Act extending the Alaska senior benefits payment program."
- MOVED CSHB 263(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 25(MLV)
Urging the United States Congress to restore the presumption of
a service connection for Agent Orange exposure to United States
Veterans who served in the waters defined by and in the airspace
over the combat zone in Vietnam.
- MOVED CSHJR 25(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 263
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HAWKER
01/21/14 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/14 (H) HSS, FIN
02/04/14 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
02/04/14 (H) Moved CSHB 263(HSS) Out of Committee
02/04/14 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
02/05/14 (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) NT 7DP
02/05/14 (H) DP: SEATON, REINBOLD, PRUITT, KELLER,
NAGEAK, TARR, HIGGINS
02/18/14 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/18/14 (H) Moved CSHB 263(HSS) Out of Committee
02/18/14 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
02/19/14 (H) FIN RPT CS(HSS) NT 10DP
02/19/14 (H) DP: HOLMES, MUNOZ, THOMPSON, EDGMON,
T.WILSON, GUTTENBERG, GARA, COSTELLO,
02/19/14 (H) STOLTZE, AUSTERMAN
02/26/14 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
02/26/14 (H) VERSION: CSHB 263(HSS)
02/28/14 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/28/14 (S) HSS, FIN
03/12/14 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/12/14 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/14/14 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/14/14 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/19/14 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/19/14 (S) Heard & Held
03/19/14 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
03/21/14 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: HJR 25
SHORT TITLE: VIETNAM VETS: SERVICE-RELATED DISEASES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) LEDOUX
02/03/14 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/03/14 (H) MLV
02/18/14 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
02/18/14 (H) Moved CSHJR 25(MLV) Out of Committee
02/18/14 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
02/19/14 (H) MLV RPT CS(MLV) 7DP
02/19/14 (H) DP: GRUENBERG, HIGGINS, SADDLER,
REINBOLD, HUGHES, LEDOUX, FOSTER
03/10/14 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/10/14 (H) VERSION: CSHJR 25(MLV)
03/12/14 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/12/14 (S) HSS, STA
03/19/14 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/19/14 (S) Heard & Held
03/19/14 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
03/21/14 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
CECILE ELLIOT, Staff
Representative Hawker
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of HB 263.
REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE LEDOUX
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HJR 25.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:37:32 PM
CHAIR BERT STEDMAN called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:37 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Micciche, Meyer, and Chair Stedman.
CHAIR STEDMAN reviewed the agenda.
HB 263-EXTEND SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM
1:38:01 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN announced that HB 263 is before the committee. He
noted it was the second hearing on the bill and the intent is to
look to the will of the committee.
CECILE ELLIOT, Staff, Representative Hawker, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided an overview of HB 263. She
related that HB 263 extends the Senior Benefit Program for six
years. If the bill were not to pass, the program would sunset in
June 2015. The program currently serves 11,000 seniors and is
based on income. Seniors who qualify receive payments of $125,
$175, or $205 per month. She said the sponsor feels as though
this is a very important program and serves a vulnerable
population of Alaska.
CHAIR STEDMAN noted one fiscal note from the Department of
Health and Social Services for $23 million in general funds for
FY 15, with estimated costs for the out years. The funding is
already included in the Governor's FY 15 budget.
He said the committee has held public testimony.
1:40:00 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE commented that he strongly supports the bill
and cross-sponsored it today on the floor.
SENATOR MEYER asked why the program is extended for six years.
MS. ELLIOT answered that Representative Hawker felt that it was
important to assure this population that the program would
continue, and to allow enough time to re-assess the state's
financial situation.
SENATOR MEYER noted the program's intent and fiscal
ramifications. He had some reservations about a program this
expensive extending six years.
1:41:49 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report CS for HB 263, version U, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note.
1:42:03 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN announced, without objection, CSHB 263(HSS) is
moved to the next committee of referral.
HJR 25-VIETNAM VETS: SERVICE-RELATED DISEASES
1:42:23 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN announced that HJR 25 was before the committee. He
said the intent is to bring the resolution back for further
review and look to the will of the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE LEDOUX, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HJR 25, read the following statement:
HJR 25 is a step towards fixing a bureaucratic lapse
in our treatment of Vietnam Veterans. Currently, only
soldiers who had boots on the ground during the
conflict are eligible for benefits related to their
exposure to Agent Orange. Basically, HJR 25 fixes
this.
CHAIR STEDMAN noted one zero fiscal note from the Legislature
and announced that public testimony was closed.
1:44:14 PM
SENATOR MEYER moved to report CS for HJR 25, version U, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached zero
fiscal note.
CHAIR STEDMAN announced that without objection, CSHJR 25(MLV) is
moved to the next committee of referral.
CHAIR STEDMAN reviewed the upcoming committee calendar.
1:45:44 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Stedman adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee hearing at 1:45 p.m.
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