Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/30/2002 04:43 PM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 160(JUD)
"An Act requiring the reporting of induced terminations of
pregnancies."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COGHILL, sponsor of the bill, informed the
Committee this legislation would require physicians to report a
termination of a pregnancy to the State's Bureau of Vital
Statistics within 30 days and require the Bureau to publish an
annual report of the findings. He stated this data is valuable for
numerous reasons including: policy decisions based on abortion
data, related health policy decisions, and teen pregnancy issues.
Representative Coghill explained that Section 1 of the legislation
establishes the procedures for the reporting. He conveyed that
these procedures are fashioned after similar legislation in place
in many other states.
Representative Coghill stated subsection (d) of Section 1 defines
the information that would be included in the annual statistic
report produced by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. He noted that
the names of the physician, the facility where the abortion
occurred, and the name of the community the woman resided in would
not be included in the report. He specified that the aggregate
statistical information would be reported according to federally
defined standards regarding induced termination of pregnancies.
Representative Coghill informed the Committee that Sections 3 and 4
of this legislation authorize the Bureau of Vital Statistics to
report specified information regarding induced termination of
pregnancies.
Representative Coghill commented that Section 8 of the bill
contains a new paragraph addressing the difference in reporting of
a stillborn or miscarriage pregnancy and an induced abortion.
Representative Coghill conveyed that the State's House of
Representatives supports this legislation.
Co-Chair Kelly asked, "how broad is this information": specifically
whether it would contain demographic information.
Representative Coghill responded there is a model reporting form
included in the members' packets [copy on file] that reflects the
types of information the report would include such as: "the
education level, the race, the gestational period." He stated the
report would supply a limited, but not regional, demographic
profile.
Co-Chair Donley asked the vote tally of the House of
Representatives in passing this bill.
Representative Coghill replied it passed unanimously.
Senator Leman asked if information specifying the reason for the
abortion would be available as that type of medical information
"could be helpful to future lawmakers" in "establishing social
policy in this State."
Representative Coghill stated that "just the type of pregnancy, the
gestational period that it's in, and those types of things" would
be identified according to public policy. He continued that he is
not sure if asking "the motive" behind a termination of a pregnancy
would be allowed or would need to be worded in such a manner that
the resulting information would be too broad as to not be useful.
Senator Leman responded this information exists on a nationwide
level, and suggested this legislation could require this
information specifically for Alaska.
Representative Coghill stated that Alaska is included in the
averages of the national reports, and stated this legislation would
provide similar information for the State.
Co-Chair Donley asked if the sponsor supports the Department of
Health and Social Services $90,000 fiscal note accompanying this
bill as, he opined, it is one of the largest fiscal notes to come
before the Committee this year.
Representative Coghill replied "it could be zeroed out" as the
Center for Disease Control (CDC) "does have funding available for
information gathering in these circumstances." He furthered that
the Department indicates it would need to hire an additional
"quarter person per quarter" to fulfill the additional duties this
legislation would incur; however, he opined, other funding could be
sought.
Co-Chair Donley offered a motion to replace the Department of
Health and Social Services' $89,400 fiscal note with a Finance
Committee zero fiscal note.
Senator Leman noted the Department has demonstrated the ability to
secure funding for projects that the Legislature has not supported;
therefore, he agrees the Department "would have the ability to
absorb" the expenses this legislation might incur.
Senator Hoffman objected and stated that contrary to the
Department's FY 02 budget, the FY 03 budget might not allow for
this absorption.
A roll call was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Senator Austerman, Senator Leman, Senator Olson, Co-Chair
Donley, Co-Chair Kelly
OPPOSED: Senator Hoffman
ABSENT: Senator Wilken, Senator Green, Senator Ward
The motion PASSED (5-1-3)
The motion to allow a zero fiscal note to accompany the bill was
ADOPTED.
Senator Leman "moved to report HB #160 from Committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying adjusted fiscal
note."
There being no objections, CS HB #160(JUD) was REPORTED from
Committee with a zero fiscal note, dated 5/01/02 from the
Department of Health and Social Services.
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