04/17/2009 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 123(FIN) am                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An   Act  relating   to  the   membership  and   voting                                                                   
     privileges   of  members   of   the  Statewide   Suicide                                                                   
     Prevention  Council; extending  the termination  date of                                                                   
     the Statewide Suicide Prevention  Council; and providing                                                                   
     for an effective date."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:41:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Steadman spoke  to  the two  fiscal  notes for  the                                                                   
Department of Health  and Social Services: FN1  in the amount                                                                   
of $46.3  thousand to fund  a half position,  and FN2  in the                                                                   
amount of $82.8 thousand for travel and supply costs.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Fairclough  explained  that  the  legislation                                                                   
extends  the  Suicide  Prevention  Council.  She  added  that                                                                   
Alaska has  the worst rates of  suicide in the  nation. Rural                                                                   
Alaskans and  Alaska Natives  have a disproportionately  high                                                                   
suicide rate. The council is working  on a strategic plan for                                                                   
suicide prevention in the state.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:43:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  questioned the  effectiveness of the  council.                                                                   
Representative  Fairclough  answered  that  the  council  has                                                                   
implemented  strategies  of public  outreach  to help  people                                                                   
identify  at risk populations.  She felt  that the  council's                                                                   
operation was dysfunctional solely  because of the structure.                                                                   
The   council  contained   four  voting   members  from   the                                                                   
legislature,  which created a  quorum challenge.  The council                                                                   
was  unable  to  take decisive  action  when  necessary.  She                                                                   
stated that  Senator Davis helped  implement changes  to make                                                                   
the  legislative  members  non-voting  so  a  quorum  can  be                                                                   
reached and solutions can be advanced.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  MOVED to report  CSHB 123 out  of Committee                                                                   
with individual  recommendations and the  accompanying fiscal                                                                   
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CSHB  123 was  REPORTED out  of  Committee with  a "do  pass"                                                                   
recommendation  and  with  two  previously  published  fiscal                                                                   
impact  notes  from  the  Department  of  Health  and  Social                                                                   
Services: FN1 and FN2.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:43:55 AMRECESSED                                                                                                            
3:19:38 PMRECONVENED