Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
03/25/2025 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): All Alaska Pediatric Patrnership | |
| SJR15 | |
| SCR2 | |
| SB95 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 95 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SCR 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 25, 2025
3:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Forrest Dunbar, Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel, Vice Chair
Senator Matt Claman
Senator Löki Tobin
Senator Shelley Hughes
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): ALL ALASKA PEDIATRIC PATRNERSHIP
- HEARD
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15
Calling on the state's congressional delegation to oppose cuts
to federal spending on Medicaid.
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2
Supporting an all-payer crisis continuum of care and Medicaid
reform; and urging the Governor to direct the Department of
Health and the division of insurance to develop recommendations
for an all-payer model for crisis care.
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 95
"An Act relating to the child care assistance program and the
child care grant program; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 95
SHORT TITLE: CHILD CARE: ASSISTANCE/GRANTS
SPONSOR(s): HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
02/12/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/12/25 (S) HSS, FIN
03/14/25 (S) PRIME SPONSOR CHANGED - SENATE HEALTH
AND SOCIAL
03/14/25 (S) SERVICES COMMITTEE REPLACED SENATE
RULES COMMITTEE
03/25/25 (S) HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SCR 2
SHORT TITLE: SUPPORT CRISIS CARE & MEDICAID REFORM
SPONSOR(s): HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
03/12/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/12/25 (S) HSS, L&C
03/13/25 (S) HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/13/25 (S) Heard & Held
03/13/25 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
03/25/25 (S) HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SJR 15
SHORT TITLE: OPPOSE MEDICAID CUTS
SPONSOR(s): HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
03/19/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/19/25 (S) HSS
03/20/25 (S) HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/20/25 (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/25/25 (S) HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
TAMAR BEN-YOSEF, Executive Director
All Alaska Pediatric Partnership
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented Infant and Early Childhood
Mental Health in Alaska.
CARMEN WENGER, Director of Programs
All Alaska Pediatric Partnership
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented Infant and Early Childhood
Mental Health in Alaska.
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff
Senator Forrest Dunbar
Alaska State Legislature
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a brief overview of SJR 15 on
behalf of the Senate Health and Social Services Standing
Committee.
ANGELA KIMBALL, Chief Advocacy Officer
Inseparable
Alexandria, Virginia
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SJR 15.
THEA AGNEW BEMBEN, Special Assistant
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance,
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SJR 15.
EDNA BEEBE, representing self
Eek, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SJR 15.
LANCE JOHNSON, Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Alaska Behavioral Health Association
Talkeetna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SJR 15.
CARMEN WENGER, Director of Programs
All Alaska Pediatric Partnership
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SJR 15.
ANGELA KIMBALL, Chief Advocacy Officer
Inseparable
Alexandria, Virginia
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SCR 2.
LANCE JOHNSON, Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Alaska Behavioral Health Association
Talkeetna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SJR 2.
TAMAR BEN-YOSEF, Executive Director
All Alaska Pediatric Partnership
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SCR 2.
SONJA KAWASAKI, Senate Majority Legal Council
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an overview of SB 95 and offered
advice.
EVAN ANDERSON, Staff
Representative Zack Fields
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions and provided a sectional
analysis for SB 95.
STEPHANIE BERGLUND, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Thread
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SB 95.
JEN GRIFFIS, Vice President Policy and Advocacy
Alaska's Children Trust
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SB 95.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:33:23 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Hughes, Giessel, Tobin, Claman, and
Chair Dunbar.
^PRESENTATION(S): ALL ALASKA PEDIATRIC PATRNERSHIP
PRESENTATION(S): INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD
MENTAL HEALTH IN ALASKA
3:34:27 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced the presentation Infant and Early
Childhood Mental Health in Alaska by All Alaska Pediatric
Partnership.
3:34:55 PM
TAMAR BEN-YOSEF, Executive Director, All Alaska Pediatric
Partnership (A2P2), Anchorage, Alaska, Co-presented Infant and
Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) in Alaska. She explained
that they are presenting the Alaska Infant and Early Childhood
Mental Health Needs Assessment, conducted in 20232024, which
has recently been published and shared. She also noted that A2P2
is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to the health and wellness of
Alaska's children and those who care for them.
3:35:47 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF moved to slide 2, Partnerships, and stated that
A2P2 has partnered with public and private sectors for 30 years.
Since 2018, Help Me Grow Alaska has served over 5,000 families
in 80 communities, primarily children ages 08, highlighting
significant early childhood needs. She said the report aims to
explain infant and early childhood mental health and why related
funding issues cannot be addressed in isolation.
3:37:26 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF moved to slide 3, Report Sections, and stated that
the report provides an overview of infant and early childhood
mental health, including current services in Alaska, workforce
and professional development gaps, and funding. The report also
places these issues within the broader early childhood system
and concludes with recommendations.
3:38:14 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF moved to slide 4, Project Overview and stated that
the report was developed in collaboration with the Mental Health
Trust and stakeholders to identify needs and opportunities to
improve supports for pregnant mothers, infants, and early
childhood mental health. Methods included analysis of statewide
data, surveys of early childhood coaches and mental health
consultants. Interviews and focus groups with state and program
leaders were also used.
3:39:07 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF moved to slide 5, Awareness of IECMH in Alaska,
and noted that even pediatricians and policymakers have limited
awareness of infant and early childhood mental health and the
services it includes, which creates barriers for families
seeking care. These services often support parents or providers
rather than directly treating the child, and the relative
newness of the term adds complexity to funding and system
coordination.
3:40:38 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF moved to slide 6, Defining Infant and Early
Childhood Mental Health (IECMH), stated that infant and early
childhood mental health refers to a young child's ability to
form secure relationships, manage and express emotions, and
learn and explore within the context of family, community, and
culture. Infant and early childhood mental health encompasses
all factors that influence a child's development and engagement,
including home and childcare environments and prenatal
influences such as maternal mental health.
3:41:40 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF moved to slide 7, IECMH Services and Supports in
Alaska, and was asked a question.
3:41:46 PM
SENATOR TOBIN noted that understanding attachment is central to
infant and early childhood mental health. She asked for examples
to help explain how attachment affects foster children under age
six and influences their long-term outcomes.
3:42:29 PM
CARMEN WENGER, Director of Programs, All Alaska Pediatric
Partnership, Anchorage, Alaska, co-presented Infant and Early
Childhood Mental Health in Alaska. She explained that infant and
early childhood mental health is often described as early
relational health, which focuses on how children form secure
attachments with caregivers. She said these caregivers may
include parents, relatives, childcare providers, or others, and
strong early relationships help establish the foundation for
secure attachments throughout life.
3:44:14 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF gave an example of her children who behave well in
school but act out at home because they feel safe and secure in
that environment. For children in foster care who move
frequently, the lack of stable attachments can prevent them from
developing a safe place to regulate emotions, leading to
exhaustion and behavioral challenges.
3:46:00 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF continued discussing slide 7, IECMH Services &
Supports in Alaska, and stated that IECMH services are offered
across various early childhood settings, but availability and
access are uneven statewide. Families often must advocate
persistently for support, and those in crisis may forgo services
due to long wait times and the stress of navigating the system.
3:47:24 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked what age is considered early childhood.
MS. BEN-YOSEF replied that prenatal to 8 years old is considered
early childhood. She explained that frameworks for early
childhood vary by age range, but focusing on prenatal to age
eight is important to support key transitions from infancy to
early care and then into K12. In Alaska, these transitions are
often uneven, with gaps in service eligibility and data sharing
that hinder continuity of support.
3:49:43 PM
MS. WENGER moved to slide 11, Recommendations, and stated that
the needs assessment outlined six recommendations and cross-
cutting themes. The first calls for a state-level position to
coordinate infant and early childhood mental health services.
The second focuses on public education to create shared
understanding and language around infant mental health, helping
caregivers recognize and seek support. The third emphasizes
workforce training and professional development to ensure
professionals can effectively support families, communicate
consistently, and reduce provider stress and burnout.
3:53:14 PM
MS. WENGER said recommendations four and five focus on expanding
the workforce to support infant and early childhood mental
health, particularly through high-level consultation services
that assist entire classrooms rather than individual children.
She said access to these services is limited, and growing the
behavioral health workforce with specialized training is
essential to meet state plan goals, prevent future higher-level
mental health needs, and ensure a strong continuum of care.
3:55:26 PM
MS. WENGER said that recommendation six emphasizes broad-based
prevention by expanding access to early childhood services,
including high-quality education, home visiting, and supports
that promote both children's mental and behavioral health and
caregiver wellness.
3:56:06 PM
MS. WENGER said since the needs assessment was released in
August 2024, work has begun on several recommendations.
Initiatives include a social marketing campaign, workforce
training through the Preschool Development Grant to certify
infant and early childhood mental health consultants, and a
project to provide rural providers with access to professional
guidance even if full consultation is unavailable
3:57:58 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF moved to slide 12, System Coordination, and stated
that the report was presented to raise awareness of infant and
early childhood mental health and highlight the lack of a
coordinated system in Alaska. She said that infant mental health
is integrated across the broader early childhood sector,
connecting to childcare funding, workforce support, and
prevention of child abuse. She said these all influence
caregivers' ability to support children's learning and
development.
4:00:24 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked whether A2P2 had collaborated with the
Departments of Health and the Department of Family and Community
Services. He asked whether those departments were receptive to
A2P2's work and the report findings.
4:00:54 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF replied that A2P2 partners closely with the
Department of Health through contracts for programs like the
Early Childhood Network and Home Visitors Alliance and receives
some federal grant funding for Help Me Grow. However, upcoming
cuts to prevention funds and broader crises in childcare and
behavioral health make system coordination challenging, though
there is strong agreement among partners on the need to better
define and coordinate early childhood services in Alaska.
4:02:51 PM
SENATOR HUGHES asked how many employees are working for the
organization.
4:03:22 PM
MS. BEN-YOSEF replied that A2P2 began as a hospital partnership
addressing gaps in pediatric care and became a nonprofit in
2015. In 2016, they launched Help Me Grow Alaska, their first
family service program, and have since expanded to a 15-person
staff to meet the growing demand for services.
4:04:52 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked that the committee receive a copy of the full
report.
SJR 15-OPPOSE MEDICAID CUTS
4:04:55 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 15 Calling on the state's congressional
delegation to oppose cuts to federal spending on Medicaid.
4:05:37 PM
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff, Senator Forrest Dunbar, Alaska State
Legislature, provided a brief overview of SJR 15 on behalf of
the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee. She
stated that SJR 15 opposes proposed federal Medicaid cuts,
noting that over 250,000 Alaskans rely on Medicaid. She said
Medicaid funds more than 40 percent of births in the state, and
that such cuts would have severe economic and social impacts.
4:07:03 PM
ANGELA KIMBALL, Chief Advocacy Officer, Inseparable, Alexandria,
Virginia, testified by invitation on SJR 15. She said congress
is considering a Budget Reconciliation Act that would cut
Medicaid, which would severely impact Alaska's mental health and
substance abuse services. Medicaid currently covers over one in
three children, supports foster care, and brings $1.8 billion in
federal funding annually for health and community services;
reductions would strain providers, weaken services, and harm the
state's economy and communities. She urged the committee to
support SJR 15.
4:09:20 PM
THEA AGNEW BEMBEN, Special Assistant, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SJR 15. She stated
that Mayor LaFrance's vision is to create a safe, healthy, and
welcoming Anchorage where families want to stay and others want
to move, helping address workforce challenges and strengthen the
local economy. She listed all that is directly and indirectly
supported by Medicaid. She said the City of Anchorage generates
about 14.4 million in Medicaid receipts to support ambulance
services at the fire departments. She said Medicaid is critical
to this effort, supporting major healthcare employers, small
businesses, early childhood investments, municipal health and
safety programs, first responders, and the expansion of
behavioral health crisis services essential to community well-
being.
4:13:20 PM
EDNA BEEBE, representing self, Eek, Alaska, testified by
invitation on SJR 15. She gave an example of having to care for
her mom in a village that doesn't have a road system and the
struggles to get to doctor appointments. She expressed concern
regarding the challenges she will face if Medicaid is cut. She
asked the committee to do whatever it takes to protect her
elders by protecting Medicaid.
4:16:26 PM
LANCE JOHNSON, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Alaska Behavioral
Health Association, Talkeetna, Alaska, testified by invitation
on SJR 15. He argued that proposed federal Medicaid cuts would
be catastrophic for Alaska, where nearly 280,000 residents rely
on the program, almost half of them children. Medicaid supports
infant and maternal health, early intervention, physical and
behavioral health care, foster care and OCS services,
corrections, homelessness response, and long-term care through
home- and community-based services. He said Medicaid is a
primary funding source for major hospitals and clinics and the
largest payer of behavioral health services.
4:21:53 PM
MR. JOHNSON stated that significant cuts would force providers
to close, increase emergency room use, homelessness, recidivism,
and untreated mental illness, reduce the health care workforce,
and seriously damage Alaska's economy and health care system.
4:22:32 PM
CARMEN WENGER, Director of Programs, All Alaska Pediatric
Partnership, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SJR
15. She stated that A2P2 has worked for three decades to
strengthen Alaska's health care system through initiatives such
as pediatric subspecialty care, school-based health clinics, and
Help Me Grow Alaska, many of which rely on Medicaid funding. She
said Medicaid supports Alaska's ability to develop innovative,
child-focused health solutions and plays a critical role in
whether families can access and remain connected to services.
She said that disruptions to Medicaid, even short term, would
negatively alter children's long-term health and mental health
outcomes, weaken the state's health care infrastructure, and
limit Alaska's ability to build a strong, sustainable workforce
for the future.
4:25:16 PM
SENATOR TOBIN referenced SJR 15, page 2, lines 12-14, and stated
that Medicaid coverage for eligible Alaska native and American
Indian beneficiaries is funded at a 100 percent federal match.
She asked whether the impacts of proposed Medicaid cuts on those
individuals and services are clearly articulated and addressed.
CHAIR DUNBAR replied that 36 percent of Medicaid enrollees are
Alaska Native. He said those beneficiaries are covered at a 100
percent federal match with no state cost, making the program
particularly beneficial to Alaska, and noted that this could be
highlighted in the language.
4:26:29 PM
SENATOR HUGHES said a testifier mentioned a $880 billion
restructuring reduction while SJR 15, line 29, says a reduction
of $2 trillion over 10 years.
4:27:06 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR said he will verify whether the figure is $880
billion or $2 trillion, as the difference may reflect varying
timeframes.
4:27:10 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR held SJR 15 in committee.
SCR 2-SUPPORT CRISIS CARE & MEDICAID REFORM
4:27:23 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced the consideration of SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION NO. 2 Supporting an all-payer crisis continuum of
care and Medicaid reform; and urging the Governor to direct the
Department of Health and the division of insurance to develop
recommendations for an all-payer model for crisis care.
4:28:19 PM
ANGELA KIMBALL, Chief Advocacy Officer, Inseparable, Alexandria,
Virginia, testified by invitation on SCR 2. She stated that the
legislation requests that the governor direct the Department of
Health and the Division of Insurance to collaborate with
legislators, stakeholders, and public and private payers to
develop recommendations for a peer-model approach to mental
health emergency services. This approach would streamline
billing, reduce inefficiencies, and support flexible solutions
for Alaska communities. Currently, most emergency services,
whether covered by commercial insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid,
are supported by all payers, making these services sustainable.
SCR 2 aims to extend the same model to mental health
emergencies. Over the years, Alaska has built a comprehensive
continuum of mental health crisis services, including crisis
call lines, mobile crisis teams, 23-hour crisis stabilization
centers, and short-term crisis residential centers. These
services save lives, help individuals begin recovery, keep
communities safer, and reduce expensive demands on emergency
departments and hospitals. SCR 2 provides a practical path to
sustain and strengthen this continuum, and support for the
resolution is encouraged.
4:31:09 PM
LANCE JOHNSON, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Alaska Behavioral
Health Association, Talkeetna, Alaska, testified by invitation
on SCR 2. He clarified numbers for SJR 15. He stated that Alaska
has made progress in developing a crisis continuum of care,
including mobile crisis teams and multi-partner response
systems, which are effective in keeping people safe. However,
Medicaid reimbursement rates are low, with only a 9 percent
increase over two years, making these services financially
unsustainable. He said insurance companies, which must comply
with federal parity under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction
Equity Act, are not consistently covering behavioral health
crisis services, including transportation for mental health
emergencies, while medical emergencies are covered. He said to
sustain Alaska's crisis care system, insurance companies must
share costs and be held accountable for adhering to parity
rules. Passing SCR 2 is a start, but further legislation is
needed to align insurance coverage with federal standards and
ensure continued access to crisis and substance use services.
4:36:25 PM
TAMAR BEN-YOSEF, Executive Director, All Alaska Pediatric
Partnership, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SCR
2. She noted that Alaska has made progress under the 1115
Medicaid waiver, including support for mobile crisis teams.
However, low reimbursement rates create gaps in access and are
unsustainable for providers. She said children, especially in
foster care, often remain in adult behavioral health wards due
to a lack of crisis care options. While Alaska's fee-for-service
Medicaid is exempt from federal parity rules, the state could
add parity protections. Passing this resolution is critical, as
the private sector alone cannot fill these gaps and adequate
Medicaid support is essential to achieve the governor's vision
of a safe, affordable, and family-friendly Alaska.
4:38:57 PM
At ease.
4:39:27 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR reconvened the meeting and held SCR 2 in committee.
SB 95-CHILD CARE: ASSISTANCE/GRANTS
4:39:39 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 95
"An Act relating to the child care assistance program and the
child care grant program; and providing for an effective date."
4:40:26 PM
SONJA KAWASAKI, Senate Majority Legal Council, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented an overview of SB 95 and
offered advice. She stated that the legislation would reenact
certain provisions of Senate Bill 189 (2024) related to child
care assistance, providing a procedural fix to ensure the
program remains in effect regardless of a pending lawsuit. The
lawsuit challenges Senate Bill 189 under Alaska's single-subject
rule, art. II, sec. 13, Constitution of the State of Alaska, but
reenacting the provisions would give the child care assistance
program a separate statutory existence and could render the
lawsuit moot. The case is currently in motion, with the
plaintiff having filed for summary judgment and the court
awaiting a response.
CHAIR DUNBAR asked if the committee passes SB 95 without
amendments, will it strengthen the case for mootness, and would
amending it weaken that effort.
4:42:55 PM
MS. KAWASAKI replied that enacting SB 95 in the same form as the
relevant parts of Senate Bill 189 would allow the lawsuit
parties to present clear arguments and enable the court to more
efficiently determine mootness.
4:43:22 PM
SENATOR HUGHES asked whether alternating between "child care"
and "day care" in SB 95 creates any issues or affect the
lawsuit.
4:43:45 PM
MS. KAWAKSAI deferred the question to Mr. Anderson.
4:43:54 PM
EVAN ANDERSON, Staff, Representative Zack Fields, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, answered questions and provided a
sectional analysis for SB 95. He replied that the bill
intentionally reenacts former statutes, alternating between "day
care" and "child care," as a repeated mechanism to implement the
legislative changes.
4:44:35 PM
SENATOR HUGHES asked if the definition of child care in SB 95,
Section 28, is narrow enough.
4:45:15 PM
SENATOR TOBIN stated that a previously released legal memo
helped clarify the definition of child care, though it may not
be included in the current bill packet.
4:45:38 PM
SENATOR HUGHES asked if the definition was adequate.
4:45:44 PM
SENATOR TOBIN replied in the affirmation.
4:46:05 PM
MR. ANDERSON paraphrased the sectional analysis for SB 95:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Section 1. Amends AS 47.05.030(a). This is a
conforming change.
Section 2. Amends AS 47.05.030(a). Corrects the
terminology in existing statute from "day care" to
"child care."
Section 3. Amends AS 47.05.085(a). This is a
conforming change.
Section 4. Amends AS 47.05.085(a). Corrects the
terminology in existing statute from "day care" to
"child care."
Section 5. Amends AS 47.25.001(a). This is a
conforming change.
Section 6. Amends AS 47.25.001(a). Changes the maximum
monthly household income for eligibility to 105
percent of the Alaska Median Income, adjusted for
family size. Also replaces "day care" with "child
care."
Section 7. Amends AS 47.25.011. This is a conforming
change.
Section 8. Amends AS 47.25.011. Corrects the
terminology in existing statute from "day care" to
"child care."
Section 9. Amends AS 47.25.021. This is a conforming
change.
Section 10. Amends AS 47.25.021. Corrects the
terminology in existing statute from "day care" to
"child care."
Section 11. Amends AS 47.25.031. This is a conforming
change.
Section 12. Amends AS 47.25.031. Corrects the
terminology in existing statute from "day care" to
"child care."
Section 13. Amends AS 47.25.041. This is a conforming
change.
4:47:04 PM
MR. ANDERSON continued with the sectional analysis for SB 95:
Section 14. Amends AS 47.25.041. Establishes that the
parent or guardian contribution rate for child care
shall not exceed 7 percent of the family monthly
income.
Section 15. Amends AS 47.25.051(a). This is a
conforming change.
Section 16. Amends AS 47.25.051(b). Corrects the
terminology in existing statute from "day care" to
"child care."
Section 17. Amends AS 47.25.071(b). This is a
conforming change.
Section 18. Amends AS 47.25.071(b). Corrects the
terminology in existing statute from "day care" to
"child care."
Section 19. Amends AS 47.25.051. Requires the
Department to procure a cost-of-care study to set
subsidy rates.
Section 20. Amends AS 47.25.071(b). This is a
conforming change.
Section 21. Amends AS 47.25.071(b). Sets a designation
as a "quality child care facility" as the minimum
standard for the Department to issue grants. Also
corrects the terminology in existing statute from "day
care" to "child care."
Section 22. Amends AS 47.25.071(g). This is a
conforming change
Section 23. Amends AS 47.25.071(g). Requires
prioritization of children from low-income families
when filling available spaces in the facility.
Section 24. Amends AS 47.25.071(h). This is a
conforming change
Section 25. Amends AS 47.25.071(h). Directs the
department to promulgate regulations for criteria used
to designate a facility as "quality."
4:48:19 PM
MR. ANDERSON continued with the sectional analysis for SB 95:
Section 26. Amends AS 47.25.071. Allows the Department
to provide grants to the highest-performing and
highest-quality child care facilities in the state,
and prohibits a child care facility receiving state
grants from denying a child acceptance based on
disability or socioeconomic status.
Section 27. Amends AS 47.25.095(2). This is a
conforming change.
Section 28. Amends AS 47.25.095(2). Adds a definition
of "child care."
Section 29. Amends AS 47.25.095(3). Updates the
definition of "child care facility" to include "day
care.
Section 30. Amends AS 47.25.095(3). Updates the
definition of "child care facility" to include
establishments recognized by the federal government
for the care of children.
Section 31. Amends AS 47.25.095. This is a conforming
change.
Section 32. Repeals Section 31. This is a conforming
change
Section 33. This is a conforming change.
Section 34. Repeals uncodified law associated with the
passage of SB 189 from the 33rd Session. This is a
conforming change.
Section 35. Codifies that the Department shall receive
federal approval for the state plan for the child care
assistance program.
Section 36. Sets a retroactive effective date to July
23, 2024.
Section 37. Sets an effective date for Section 6 as
January 1, 2026, pending approval by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.
Section 39. All other sections of the bill take effect
immediately.
4:49:31 PM
STEPHANIE BERGLUND, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Thread,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 95 and read the
following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Thank you Mr. Chair and members of the committee for
hearing SB 95.
My name is Stephanie Berglund, CEO of Thread- Alaska's
Child Care Resource and Referral organization. Thread
is a 39-year-old nonprofit, providing services
statewide to strengthen access to affordable and high-
quality early childhood education, with focus on child
care. We serve more than 10,000 families, 2,000 early
educators, and over 400 early childhood education
programs each year.
4:49:57 PM
MS. BERGLUND continued with her testimony of SB 95:
Today I am testifying on behalf of Thread but want to
share that we are also proud members of the Alaska
Early Childhood Advocacy Group in support of SB 95.
The Alaska Early Childhood Advocacy Group is a group
of nine non-profits from across the state that have
joined together to advocate for increased investment
and improved policies to support Alaska's children and
families.
The child care sector is fragile. It's long been a
sector with institutional deficiencies- for decades
but has seen increased challenges over the last five
years.
Since 2020, we have seen over 25 percent of the
licensed child care programs close across the state
and of those that are open, they are not able to serve
all the children they would like due to staff
shortages. Thread anticipates more child care programs
closing if we do not see sustainable and meaningful
investment from the state for child care. The child
care workforce is struggling due to low wages and few
benefits at the same time when there is high
competition for qualified workers in Alaska.
Currently, fewer families can access affordable and
quality child care services than ever before.
When we don't have a strong child care sector, we see
our economic infrastructure struggle. Businesses are
not able to recruit and retain quality employees and
families are not able to participate in the workforce
as they want. Our most recent research and data
conducted in partnership with the Alaska Chamber and
the Mckinley Group has shown that businesses are
greatly impacted by families struggling with child
care- including poor attendance and loss in
productivity. Child care challenges for working
families resulting in absences and employee turnover
cost businesses an estimated $152M/annually. When
Alaskans can't work, they don't have the financial
security to support their families, they aren't able
to achieve their self-sufficiency goals and aren't
able to contribute to the economy. This not only
stifles the quality of life for families, but this
also stalls Alaska's growth.
4:51:51 PM
MS. BERGLUND continued with her testimony of SB 95:
SB95 adds needed support for child care and
strengthens the child care assistance and subsidy
programs. While there are many areas of the child care
system that need support, SB95 aims to strengthen
child care assistance by allowing more families
(earning up to the 105 percent of median household
income) to participate in the program and creating
flexibility in child care resources with aim to
support child care programs with the targeted supports
they need.
Changes in child care assistance are needed.
Currently, too few families participate in the program
as they don't qualify or can't access resources under
the current structure. Families utilizing child care
assistance pay a co-pay for services in addition to
the cost differential of tuition fees.
These and other barriers are impacting family's
ability to participate in the workforce. Just over
half of families (51 percent) report that household
members' ability to be employed or work more hours was
impacted by quality, availability, or cost of child
care. This is a large change from the same survey
conducted in 2019, where only 22 percent of families
surveyed reported that child care barriers are
impacting their ability to be employed or work as much
as they would like. This is a 29 percent increase in
families not able to work due to child care. These
findings underscore the need for child care change to
strengthen our collective workforce and economy. This
bill would also create a program to partner with
businesses to create incentives and support them with
developing onsite or near site child care.
4:53:18 PM
MS. BERGLUND continued with her testimony of SB 95:
[Original punctuation provided.]
One lever of change is through SB95 and increasing
Child Care Assistance access and capping copayments
required for families. This bill will allow more
families to qualify and thus allow more families
access to quality child care.
Additionally, child care businesses are currently
reimbursed at child care assistance program rates set
by a market rate survey that is based on the amount
child care businesses charge for care, not what it
actually costs to provide quality care and education.
This creates an unstable foundation for the child care
system. Thread encourages policy makers to keep moving
toward the true cost of care to be used in conjunction
with market rate prices in policy and fiscal planning
for child care supports. Considering the true cost of
providing child care in our policies will inform a
more stable child care system.
SB95 is a great and necessary step for supporting
family's affordability.
Thread is endorsing SB95 as it is a key step toward
more affordable access to care for families. Thread
encourages legislators to consider and pass this bill
this session as it was already passed with strong
support last session. This positive change for the
child care sector cannot come soon enough.
I appreciate the sponsor for bringing this bill
forward and thank the chair and committee for
considering this bill.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify and thank you
for your time and support for the young children and
families in Alaska.
4:54:58 PM
JEN GRIFFIS, Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, Alaska's
Children Trust, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB
95. She read the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
As the statewide lead organization focused on the
prevention of child abuse and neglect, ACT supports
policies that increase economic security for families
and provide foundational early education support for
children. Senate Bill 95 does both by increasing
access to quality, affordable child care for Alaska's
families.
As you know, the policies in SB95 were originally
found in HB89, which passed the legislature last May
as part of SB189. My task today is to walk the
committee through the legislative process of this bill
over the past two years.
Early childhood advocates, including the nine member
organizations of the Alaska Early Childhood Advocacy
Group, as well as representatives from the business
community and the administration, worked closely with
legislators on the development and passage of HB89
during the last legislative session.
HB89 was sponsored by Rep. Julie Coulombe and had 15
co-sponsors, including members from both the majority
and minority caucuses. It also had the strong support
of advocates including Alaska Children's Trust,
thread, Alaska Chamber of Commerce and child care and
after school providers from across the state.
The bill had two hearings in the House Health and
Social Services committee in March and April of 2023
and was moved out of committee with unanimous Do Pass
recommendations. It received one hearing in House
Finance before the end of the session.
The sponsor met with the administration and advocates
during the interim and information from those meetings
was incorporated into an updated version of the
legislation which was introduced in House Finance at
the beginning of the 2024 session.
4:56:38 PM
MS. GRIFFIS continued with her testimony of SB 95:
In January and February of 2024 the legislation, the
legislation was heard in House Finance where it passed
out of committee, where it quickly moved to the House
floor and passed the House 35 to 5 on February 28,
2024.
After being introduced in the Senate, the legislation
was heard in Senate Health and Social Services three
times in March and April where it received some
amendments before being moved out of committee. The
bill was then referred to Senate Finance, where it
received one hearing.
On the final day of the session May 15 2024 the
language from HB89 was amended into SB189 on the floor
of the House. This bill passed the House 33 to 7, was
transmitted to the Senate and passed the Senate 17 to
3. It was not vetoed by the Governor and became law on
October 9, 2024. The funding in the fiscal note was
included in the Governor's budget that was released in
December 2024.
Alaska Children's Trust, along with our partner
organizations in the Alaska Early Childhood Advocacy
Group, remain supportive of the policies of HB89 which
are now represented in SB95. We appreciate the
opportunity to share more about this legislation and
are happy to answer any questions.
4:58:10 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR held SB 95 in committee.
4:58:35 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dunbar adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting at 4:48 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SHSS Presentation IECMH 2025.03.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/25/2025 3:30:00 PM |
|
| SCR 2 Version A 3.12.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/25/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 2 |
| SCR 2 Sponsor Statement 3.13.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/25/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 2 |
| SB 95 Supporting Documents- Historic Document Packet.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM SHSS 3/25/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 95 |
| SB 95 Sectional Analysis 3.25.25.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM SHSS 3/25/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 95 |
| SJR 15 Version A 3.19.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/25/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 15 |
| SJR 15 Sponsor Statement 3.25.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/25/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 15 |