2025-01-27                     Senate Journal                      Page 0096
SB 76                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 76 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                                
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
             "An Act relating to complex care residential homes;                                                               
          and providing for an effective date."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
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, Department of Health                                                                                        
 Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Health                                                                                        
 Fiscal Note No. 3, zero, Department of Health                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 24:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill establishing a new health facility                                                       
license type for “complex care residential homes” to address a gap in                                                           
Alaska’s system of care for individuals with complex needs.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
This bill authorizes the Department of Health (DOH) to license and                                                              
regulate complex care residential homes to serve the health care needs                                                          
of some of the most vulnerable Alaskans - those with complex                                                                    
behavioral and medical, or disability-related needs. By authorizing this                                                        

2025-01-27                     Senate Journal                      Page 0097
new license type, these individuals could receive ongoing care in a                                                             
long-term, home-like environment that is suited to facilitate the                                                               
monitoring and care of each resident.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
This will provide an additional option for the State to meet the                                                                
complex care needs of these individuals, many of whom currently                                                                 
cycle in and out of outpatient facilities or reside at treatment facilities,                                                    
such as the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, which may not be the most                                                             
appropriate clinical setting for them.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The bill leaves the program to be largely determined and set by DOH                                                             
in regulation. The bill does not however, limit complex care residential                                                        
homes to adult residents, making this new type of facility a potential                                                          
means of reducing the use of facilities in other states for children who                                                        
require complex care.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor