02/21/2013 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB67 | |
| SB36 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 36 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 67 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 21, 2013
9:06 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Fred Dyson, Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel, Vice Chair
Senator John Coghill
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Bill Wielechowski
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 67(MLV)
"An Act establishing March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans
Day; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 67(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 36
"An Act relating to missing vulnerable adult prompt response and
notification plans."
- MOVED SSSB 36 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 67
SHORT TITLE: VIETNAM VETERANS DAY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) THOMPSON
01/16/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/13 (H) MLV
02/07/13 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
02/07/13 (H) Moved CSHB 67(MLV) Out of Committee
02/07/13 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
02/08/13 (H) MLV RPT CS(MLV) NT 7DP
02/08/13 (H) DP: GRUENBERG, SADDLER, HIGGINS,
REINBOLD, HUGHES, FOSTER, LEDOUX
02/13/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
02/13/13 (H) VERSION: CSHB 67(MLV)
02/15/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/15/13 (S) STA
02/21/13 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 36
SHORT TITLE: MISSING VULNERABLE ADULT RESPONSE PLAN
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) ELLIS
01/25/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/25/13 (S) STA, JUD
02/08/13 (S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS
02/08/13 (S) STA, JUD
02/21/13 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of CSHB 67(MLV).
NATHAN ZENCEY, staff
Senator Johnny Ellis
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced CSHB 67(MLV) on behalf of the
sponsor.
SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SSSB 36.
MICHAEL VANVLEET, Social Work Intern
Warrior Transition Unit
Soldier and Family Assistance
Fort Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support SSSB 36.
PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, Board Member
Alzheimer's Research
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support SSSB 36.
DULCE NOBRE, Executive Director
Alzheimer's Resource Agency of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support SSSB 36.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:06:03 AM
CHAIR FRED DYSON called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Giessel and Stedman, and Chair Dyson.
Senators Wielechowski and Coghill arrived shortly thereafter.
HB 67-VIETNAM VETERANS DAY
9:06:10 AM
CHAIR DYSON announced that the first order of business would be
HB 67 [CSHB 67(MLV) was before the committee.]
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON, sponsor of CSHB 67(MLV), noted
that the bill is an Act that establishes March 29th of each year
as Vietnam Veterans Day. He read the following sponsor
statement:
In 2012, the United States Senate and the President
designated March 29, as Vietnam Veterans Day. This
year marks the 40th anniversary of the withdrawal of
U.S. combat and combat-support units from Vietnam.
On March 29, 1973, all U.S. troops withdrew from
Vietnam, marking an end of the 10 year United States
military involvement. Upon their return, Vietnam
Veterans were not greeted with parades or triumphant
speeches such as the ones delivered at the end of each
of the World Wars. Instead, Vietnam veterans returned
home to silence, and in some cases, to abuse for
having served their country during a controversial
war.
House Bill 67 would dedicate March 29th of each year
as Vietnam Veterans Day in Alaska to commemorate the
military service of American men and women in Vietnam.
The day may be observed by suitable observances and
exercises by civic groups and the public.
I want to thank the committee for hearing HB 67 today.
CHAIR DYSON asked if the vote was unanimous in the House.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON said it was.
CHAIR DYSON understood that there was extensive testimony at
that time.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON said there was. Several Vietnam Veterans
testified. He shared his own experience in the army during the
Vietnam era.
CHAIR DYSON asked if anyone wished to testify. No one wished to
testify.
CHAIR DYSON asked if there was any negative testimony regarding
the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON said there was none.
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report CS for HB 67, labeled 28-
LS0308\U, from committee with individual recommendations and the
attached zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB
67(MLV) was reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee.
9:10:40 AM
At ease
SB 36-MISSING VULNERABLE ADULT RESPONSE PLAN
9:22:14 AM
CHAIR DYSON reconvened the meeting and announced the hearing of
SB 36. [SSSB 36 was before the committee.] Present were Senators
Coghill, Wielechowski, Stedman, and Chair Dyson.
SENATOR COGHILL moved to adopt SSSB 36, labeled 28-LS0338\N, as
the working document before the committee. There was no
objection.
NATHAN ZENCEY, staff, Senator Johnny Ellis, sponsor of SB 36,
thanked the committee for hearing SSSB 36. He noted that a
similar version of the bill passed the Senate last year 20 to
zero. He read the following sponsor statement:
This bill would ensure that the Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs works together with the
Department of Public Safety to develop plans for state
and local law enforcement to quickly notify the media,
the public, and other law enforcement agencies when a
vulnerable adult goes missing. A Silver Alert program
here in Alaska, we believe, would establish clear and
consistent lines of communication and develop
efficient procedures for citizens, law enforcement,
and media outlets to follow in this situation.
We believe the preparation in this bill will ensure we
maintain an efficient system for activating rapid
searches and media alerts for a senior citizen with
Alzheimer's disease or dementia, or an adult with
mental disabilities when they are missing, even when
law enforcement agencies may be burdened by high
response demands in other areas or if they may lose
experienced officers to retirement or turnover.
Thirty-eight other states have established Silver
Alerts or even more extensive missing persons response
programs. Despite this, Alaska has still not taken the
opportunity to design a dedicated response and
notification program for our senior citizens and
disabled adults when they go missing. We believe that
due to the rapidly growing senior population here, it
is imperative that we establish this program to allow
our seniors and disabled adults to continue to live
and retire here, which they are increasingly choosing
to do alongside their families and children.
We have seen what this program can do in other states.
Just this past August, the Mississippi Highway Patrol,
which operates the Silver Alert in Mississippi,
praises their Silver Alert program for helping them
save just three lives in a month.
SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS, sponsor of SB 36, thanked the committee
for hearing the bill.
CHAIR DYSON asked Senator Ellis if he had seen Senator Coghill's
amendment.
SENATOR ELLIS said no.
9:26:36 AM
At ease
9:28:00 AM
CHAIR DYSON asked if there was any negative testimony.
SENATOR ELLIS said there was no opposition. There is bi-partisan
support and strong interest group support across the state.
There was some question about the definition of "vulnerable
adult" which will be addressed. He said that 30 other states
have this program in place and it is time for Alaska to do so,
too.
CHAIR DYSON opened public testimony.
SENATOR COGHILL voiced no opposition to the bill.
9:29:39 AM
CHAIR DYSON reported his conversation with Lieutenant Dial from
the Division of Public Safety who stated that the division's
handling of Silver Alert calls would not impact their budget. He
stated that Lieutenant Dial has no problems with their zero
fiscal note.
SENATOR ELLIS noted that he has also spoken with Lieutenant
Dial. He said he plans to work with Senator Coghill to clarify
the definition concerns.
9:30:49 AM
MICHAEL VANVLEET, Social Work Intern, Warrior Transition Unit,
Soldier and Family Assistance, testified in support of SSSB 36.
He related that the individuals in the Warrior Transition Unit
would qualify for, and benefit by, the Silver Alert.
9:33:20 AM
PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, Board Member, Alzheimer's Research,
testified in support of SSSB 36. He maintained that the Silver
Alert will be of benefit to many Alaskans.
9:35:06 AM
DULCE NOBRE, Executive Director, Alzheimer's Resource Agency of
Alaska, testified in support of SSSB 36. She related that
wandering behavior is common for Alzheimer's patients and those
with dementia. Nationwide, statistics show that of those
individuals who wander, only one-third survives if they are not
found within 24 hours. In Alaska wandering can be fatal due to
extreme weather. She spoke in strong support of SSSB 36.
9:36:50 AM
CHAIR DYSON asked who pays for the unit that the senior will
carry.
SENATOR ELLIS clarified that it is a phone alert system, not a
device.
9:37:33 AM
SENATOR STEDMAN moved to report SSSB 36, version N, from
committee with individual recommendations and the attached zero
fiscal notes. There being no objection, SSSB 36 was reported
from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
CHAIR DYSON commented that most people have to deal with this
issue. He thanked people for their work on this issue.
9:38:36 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dyson adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee at 9:38 a.m.