2021-02-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 0293
SB 89                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 89 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                                
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
             "An Act relating to house rules for assisted living                                                               
          homes."                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services                                                          
and Finance Committees.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Health and Social Services                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 17:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Micciche:                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to house rules for                                                              
assisted living homes.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The bill would bring Alaska law into compliance with recent Centers                                                             
of Medicare and Medicaid Services changes related to home- and                                                                  
community-based services. These requirements ensure that assisted                                                               
living homes provide care that is as close to independent community                                                             
living as possible. The bill adds a citation to the Alaska Statutes                                                             
related to setting house rules in assisted living homes. For example,                                                           
assisted living settings may not adopt house rules that unreasonably                                                            
restrict the right of one resident over the right of another resident.                                                          
                                                                                                                                

2021-02-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 0294
Alaska statutes must be in compliance before March 2022 in order for                                                            
the state to continue receiving federal reimbursements for home- and                                                            
community-based waiver services.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor