04/11/2013 08:00 AM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

        HB 147-EXTEND AUTISM EARLY DIAGNOSIS TASK FORCE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:25:49 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  announced the  consideration of  HB 147.  "An Act                                                               
extending the reporting date for  and the termination date of the                                                               
Comprehensive Autism  Early Diagnosis  and Treatment  Task Force;                                                               
and providing for an effective date."  He noted that this was the                                                               
first hearing.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:26:14 AM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER,  sponsor of HB 147,  said the purpose                                                               
of the bill is to extend  the reporting date of the Comprehensive                                                               
Autism Early  Diagnosis and Treatment  Task Force to  January 15,                                                               
2015. He  explained that autism  is a neural  behavioral disorder                                                               
characterized  by  diminished  communication and  social  skills,                                                               
which often manifest early in  life. Although it is incurable, it                                                               
is treatable. Studies  show that early treatment  can improve the                                                               
life prospects  of those with  autism, save the state  money, and                                                               
keep families together.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He explained that  the nine-member task force  was established to                                                               
make recommendations to the legislature  for the development of a                                                               
statewide  plan  to  support early  diagnosis  and  treatment  of                                                               
autism. They  were charged with making  recommendations for draft                                                               
legislation  to  provide  coverage  to  the  greatest  number  of                                                               
Alaskans,  for evaluating  the fiscal  effects of  the proposals,                                                               
and for analyzing how the  Patient Protection and Affordable Care                                                               
Act will affect the recommendations.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:27:48 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR OLSON asked what the  task force accomplished in the last                                                               
year.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER  explained  that the  task  force  hasn't                                                               
accomplished  anything  other  than initial  organizational  work                                                               
because  the  members  weren't  approved  by  both  bodies  until                                                               
November 2012.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MICCICHE  remarked that  this is a  group of  very active                                                               
individuals  who have  been working  to help  families struggling                                                               
with autism long  before the task force was formed.  He said it's                                                               
safe to say that they've already accomplished quite a lot good.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEDMAN noted that the expiration had passed.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER   agreed  and  noted   the  retroactivity                                                               
clause.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:29:48 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEDMAN  encouraged the sponsor to  engage the leadership                                                               
team to ensure that the bill doesn't  get held up the last day of                                                               
the session.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER acknowledged the suggestion.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:30:20 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY found no public testimony and asked for a motion.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:30:28 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MICCICHE  moved  to report  HB  147,  28-LS0438\A,  from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note(s).                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY announced  that without  objection, HB  147 moved                                                               
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.