Legislature(2025 - 2026)ADAMS 519

05/08/2025 10:00 AM House FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Please Note Time Change --
+= SB 57 APPROP: CAPITAL/FUNDS/REAPPROP TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= HB 73 COMPLEX CARE RESIDENTIAL HOMES TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+= HB 28 TEACHER/STATE EMPLOYEE STUDENT LOAN PRGRM TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 80 EXTEND BOARDS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 80(FIN) Out of Committee
HOUSE BILL NO. 73                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to complex care residential homes;                                                                        
     and providing for an effective date."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:27:13 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
EMILY  RICCI,  DEPUTY  COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH,                                                                    
reviewed HB 73.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:29:19 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:29:48 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
KIM  CHAMPNEY,  EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR, ALASKA  ASSOCIATION  ON                                                                    
DEVELOPMENTAL   DISABILITIES,  spoke   in  support   of  the                                                                    
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin  asked about the  bed limit of  15 per                                                                    
home.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Champney responded that the  hope was to leave the limit                                                                    
as open ended as possible.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:35:42 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan  stressed that  she wanted  to provide                                                                    
support for people with a wide range of needs.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:38:38 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PHILLIP   TAFS,   SELF,  ANCHORAGE   (via   teleconference),                                                                    
testified in support of the bill.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:41:18 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
KERMIT  WILSON, EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR, ADVOCACY  BOARD, JUNEAU                                                                    
(via teleconference), testified in support of the bill.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:43:56 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JARED  KOSIN,   PRESIDENT  AND  CEO,  ALASKA   HOSPITAL  AND                                                                    
HEALTHCARE  ASSOCIATION,   ANCHORAGE  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
stated that the association supported the bill.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin  asked how many Alaskans  were waiting                                                                    
for a spot.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Kosin responded  that they did not have  the data broken                                                                    
down to reasonably assess the number.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin asked if he could estimate.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Kosin  responded  that  he would  follow  up  with  the                                                                    
information.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:47:53 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard asked  if he could do it  today to put                                                                    
it on public record.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Kosin responded  that the  assessment of  bed need  was                                                                    
approximately 1,491.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard appreciated  him  putting  it on  the                                                                    
record                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:48:57 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MICHELLE  BAKER,  EXECUTIVE   VICE  PRESIDENT,  SOUTHCENTRAL                                                                    
FOUNDATION,  ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  testified  in                                                                    
support of HB 73.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:52:30 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan  wondered whether the limit  was 16 or                                                                    
60.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Baker responded that it was 16 or less                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin  noted that they were  concerned about                                                                    
the size  being too much and  felt that the goal  was for it                                                                    
to feel like a home based environment.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Baker  responded that the  intent was to create  as much                                                                    
flexibility as allowed within the law.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  noted that  Representative Dan  Saddler was                                                                    
present                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Jimmie asked about village centers.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Baker  responded that  the framework  allowed for  a new                                                                    
license type at the village center.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:56:45 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:57:08 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum  queried the definition of  putting not                                                                    
more than fifteen, and striking it from the language.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Ricci  responded  the  department  was  in  support  of                                                                    
providing flexibility to organizations.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum asked if  there was anything that would                                                                    
prohibit them.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ricci replied  that it would not  inhibit the department                                                                    
of doing the work.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
11:02:53 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Josephson  asked for clarification on  the position                                                                    
of the department.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Ricci responded  that the  department  did not  support                                                                    
integrating kids and adults.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
11:05:18 AM                                                                                                                   
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:08:27 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Josephson stressed  that the removal of  the cap on                                                                    
residents would run opposite to recommendations.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ricci responded that they  had thoughtfully engaged with                                                                    
stakeholders  and   provider  groups  to  ensure   that  the                                                                    
stakeholders would provide the best service.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tomaszewski asked about the timeframe.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ricci responded  that they believed that  Sections 6 and                                                                    
7 could  be removed and a  July 1 date could  be implemented                                                                    
into the legislation.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Tomaszewski  wondered  whether it  would  be                                                                    
better  to  move the  bill  out  of  committee and  have  an                                                                    
amendment on the floor.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:12:55 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative    Allard   queried    the   definition    of                                                                    
"stakeholders."                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ricci  responded that stakeholders meant  anyone who was                                                                    
working  to   meet  the  needs   of  individuals,   and  the                                                                    
complexities of different provider groups.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
11:16:49 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard  understood  that someone  was  in  a                                                                    
homeless shelter who  needed help, care could  be delayed if                                                                    
there were not enough beds                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ricci responded in the affirmative.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard understood that  children could not be                                                                    
with adults.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin asked about the limit of fifteen.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:21:16 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Ricci would  hesitate to  use the  word investors,  but                                                                    
were providers who see a need to offer a service.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin  wondered  why   the  number  15  was                                                                    
originally chosen.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ricci responded  that it was because of the  limit of 16                                                                    
beds or less.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hannan  was in  support  of  the bill  being                                                                    
amended because the subtleties of the bill.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
11:26:06 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Johnson  agreed  that the  committee  should                                                                    
make the changes rather than doing it on the floor.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  stressed that the amendments  would need to                                                                    
be rolled into a committee substitute.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ricci thanked the committee.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HB 73 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
11:29:37 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 80 AMCO Response to HFIN 5.8.25.pdf HFIN 5/8/2025 10:00:00 AM
SB 80