SB 10-EXTEND SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL  3:52:44 PM CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 10 "An Act extending the termination date of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council; and providing for an effective date." 3:53:19 PM SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, bill sponsor, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, said SB 10 extends the termination date of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council. Members of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) have been in the capitol the last several weeks to talk about suicide and highlighting that talk is an important aspect of prevention. In the U.S. there are about 12 suicides per 100,000 people whereas the Alaska rate is roughly double that number. For Alaska Native males there are 52 suicides per 100,000 and someone who serves in the armed services is twice as likely to die by suicide as a civilian. He continued the introduction of SB 10 speaking to the following sponsor statement: Senate Bill 10 would extend the termination date of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council to 2027, ensuring another eight years of support for suicide prevention efforts in Alaska. The Council would otherwise be terminated on June 30, 2019. According to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Section of Epidemiology, the suicide rate in Alaska increased by 13 percent between 2012 and 2017, making suicide the leading cause of death for Alaskans between the ages of 10 and 64. As a matter of public health, the state has a responsibility to address this disturbing trend and must actively continue to pursue strategies to prevent suicide in Alaska. The Statewide Suicide Prevention Council was created in 2001 and consists of 14 public and private members, including four state legislators. Under AS 44.39.350, the Council is statutorily responsible for: ? Advising legislators and the Governor on ways to improve Alaskans' health and wellness by reducing suicide; ? Improving public awareness of suicide and risk factors; ? Enhancing suicide prevention efforts; Working with partners and faith-based organizations to develop healthier communities; ? Creating a statewide suicide prevention plan and putting it in action; and ? Building and strengthening partnerships to prevent suicide. The Council holds public meetings, publishes a 5-Year State Suicide Prevention Plan, and works with schools and community groups to provide resources that educate Alaskans on how to prevent suicide. Last year, the Council partnered with the Alaska Community Foundation and Alaska Children's Trust to continue the GCI Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Nine grants were funded in 2017 across the state, totaling $100,000. The Council also helped secure funding for a 5-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to create the Alaska Native Collaborative Hub for Resilience Research, which will help Alaska Native communities share knowledge, guide research, and identify culturally-relevant suicide prevention strategies in rural Alaska. [He noted this is one reason for the large fiscal note.] Terminating the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council would jeopardize the state's efforts at addressing this heartbreaking, but preventable, issue. I respectfully ask for your support of SB 10 this year. 3:56:20 PM SENATOR MICCICHE disclosed that he serves as one of the legislative representatives on the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council. He said there is no question that the council supports this extension because suicide is a very serious issue in the state. He said there is a lot of work to do to reduce the rate. CHAIR SHOWER commented on the heartbreaking statistics of suicide among active duty and veteran members of the armed services. He stated wholehearted support for SB 10. He asked Ms. Curtis to go through the audit. 3:59:09 PM KRIS CURTIS, Legislative Auditor, Legislative Audit Division, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, explained the purpose of the sunset audit was to determine whether this council is serving the public interest and should be extended. Overall the audit found the council operated in the public interest by actively broadening awareness of suicide prevention and coordinating the efforts of other suicide prevention entities. Additionally, the council fulfilled its statutory duty by issuing the 2018-2022 Suicide Prevention Plan and is working closely with stakeholders to refine the plan's strategies, resources, and indicators. The division recommends an 8-year extension for the council, which is the maximum allowed in statute. She directed attention to Exhibit 2 on page 4 that shows the council is completely funded by general fund appropriations. In FY 18, the council expended just under $600,000. Exhibit 5 on pages 9-10 has a detailed list of the council's activities during the audit period. It shows that the council is very active. MS. CURTIS said the audit made two administrative recommendations for improvement, beginning on page 12 of the audit. Recommendation No. 1: The council's executive director should develop and implement procedures to ensure public notices for meetings are published timely and accurately. The audit found five of 18 meetings between July 2014 through March 2018 were not public noticed or not public noticed properly. This was caused by a lack of written procedures. Recommendation No. 2: The council chair should develop and implement written procedures to ensure performance evaluations are completed annually for the council's executive director. Statutes require annual evaluations. The audit found that just two of four audits were completed. It was unclear why the evaluations did not take place. MS. CURTIS said the responses to the audit start on page 23. Both the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) commissioner and the council chair agree with the recommendations. 4:01:51 PM SENATOR COGHILL asked if the evaluations were done properly but not timely. MS. CURTIS said that's correct. SENATOR COGHILL asked if there were extenuating circumstances to the lapse in public notice. MS. CURTIS replied it was just an oversight by staff. CHAIR SHOWER noted the positive responses to the recommendations. 4:02:32 PM BEVERLY SCHOONOVER, Acting Executive Director, Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, Juneau, reported that the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council was established by the legislature in 2001 and serves as an advisory council to the legislature and governor regarding awareness and prevention. There are 13 volunteer members of the council appointed by the governor and four ex officio members appointed by the legislature. There is one staff member. She said most of the council's activities involve collaboration among stakeholders, supporting outreach and educational plans through the Suicide Awareness Prevention and Postvention grant program, advocating for federal and local funding, and providing technical assistance. One example of statewide coordination efforts was the completion of the five year suicide prevention plan titled "Recasting the Net. Promoting Wellness to Prevent Suicides in Alaska." Hundreds of Alaskans participated in creating the plan. The number one goal is that Alaskans accept the responsibility for preventing suicide. All Alaskans are responsible for working together to prevent suicide and reduce the risk of suicide statewide. She summarized that the council brings people together to talk about suicide, evaluate prevention efforts, and to advise agencies, the governor, and the legislature on ways to promote wellness and reduce suicide in Alaska. She highlighted that no other organization performs the statewide coordinator function. She asked the committee to support SB 10 to extend the council. CHAIR SHOWER said he would add his name as a cosponsor. 4:05:27 PM CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on SB 10. 4:05:57 PM DEBEN DAS, Board Member, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, stated that his wife has suffered from mental illness for about 40 years and he has been volunteering at NAMI-Fairbanks to help her, to help himself, and to help others who are in a similar situation. He said he has experienced the close link between mental illness and suicide in his family. The Statewide Suicide Prevention Council is particularly helpful in improving the health and wellness of Alaskans, enhancing public awareness of suicide, and providing guidance. He stated support for SB 10 as a board member of NAMI Fairbanks. 4:08:49 PM JANE ANDRENE, Alaska Public Health Association (APHA), Juneau, stated that APHA is a 150 member statewide organization of public and behavioral health professionals that strongly supports SB 10 to extend the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council. She said it is vitally important for Alaska to have a central council that coordinates and collaborates on the issues associated with suicide. She also voiced support for the fiscal note, particularly the research project. 4:09:56 PM SAM TRIVETTE, Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition, Juneau, stated that he has been involved with the coalition and the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council for about 11 years. He and his wife have participated in statewide conferences and regional trainings with the council. The council has linked them with very valuable national experts and resources that they would not have known about otherwise. He said suicide will always be here but we need to continue to work to reduce the numbers. He is pleased to report that the council is fulfilling its mission. When he testified the first time the audit recommended abolishment. He recounted the problems the council had in the past and highlighted the positive signs. He said he is heartened that the number of people calling the statewide crisis line has quadrupled in recent years. That tells you that people are starting to open up and reach out for help, he said. Furthermore, the council has developed a model to improve suicide awareness and prevention programs in the schools in Alaska. "I think they're doing a better job than we've ever done," he said. CHAIR SHOWER agreed that the need will continue to be there. 4:13:37 PM BARBARA FRANKS, Chair, Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, Ninilchik, stated that she is or has been associated with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the NAMI Board, and the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) Board but she is removing those hats to speak as the mother of a child who died by suicide and whose husband died of cancer two days later. At that time there were no 800 numbers to call, websites to access, or books that talked about what to do if someone in your family had thoughts of suicide. She said the fact that the previous speakers are from different entities is evidence of cooperative work to follow the national strategic plan. She encouraged continued outreach and support for SB 10. 4:16:07 PM SHARON FISHEL, Education Specialist, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), Juneau, stated that she is the staff that oversees the school-based suicide prevention services. She was available to answer questions. 4:17:14 PM MONIQUE ANDREWS, representing self, Eagle River, stated that while she is a member of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, she is testifying as a mother and a member of the Alaska Army National Guard. She talked about the council's collaborative efforts to focus on youth as the most vulnerable population. She stressed that the efforts of the council are instrumental in ensuring that prevention services continue to be available for youth. She said we want children to develop resiliency skills. Some of these children may join the military when they grow up, she said, and we want them to be as equipped as possible to take on that huge responsibility. That is only done through efforts that start early. She said she supports the council as a mother whose child needs to learn resiliency skills from all sides. At home and at school we all need to be talking the same language, she said. 4:20:14 PM JAMES BIELA, Lead Field Advocate, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) - Alaska Chapter, Newtok, stated that AFSP and the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council (SSPC) are aligned with the national strategy for suicide prevention as well as the American Indian and Alaska Native National Suicide Prevention Strategy Plan. SSPC is also aligned with the goal of AFSP to reduce suicide at least 20 percent by 2025. He said he has worked with the SSPC since the Alaska Chapter of AFSP was formed in 2010. He cited statistics of suicide rates nationally, in Alaska, and the military. He reported that the council has helped him in his work with elders and youths on suicide prevention and healing and to increase participation in AFSP International Survivor Suicide Loss Day. He stated that AFSP strongly supports SB 10 and the continuation of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council. 4:22:46 PM BRENDA MOORE, Chair, Alaska Mental Health Board, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Anchorage, stated that she is also a member of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council. She described how the council has changed over the years to the point where it now "has some momentum." When she started with the council suicide prevention wasn't well understood, particularly with tribal organization. This changed through partnering with the Alaska Federation of Natives to hold local and statewide summits. These summits resulted in an active regional suicide prevention coalition. The council collaborates and coordinates with the coalition and the Division of Behavioral Health prevention grantees. She noted that the council now has a member who represents the military. She emphasized the importance of the work the council does to coordinate the efforts of the various entities. She urged the committee to support SB 10. 4:26:17 PM CHAIR SHOWER closed public testimony on SB 10. 4:26:25 PM At ease 4:26:48 PM CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and solicited a motion. 4:26:59 PM SENATOR COGHILL moved to report SB 10, version A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and SB 10 moved from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.