03/28/2024 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

            HB 283-EXTEND ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:22:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  announced that the  final order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 283,  "An Act extending  the termination  date of                                                               
the Alaska  Commission on Aging;  and providing for  an effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:22:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, Alaska  State Legislature, as prime                                                               
sponsor, presented HB  283.  She began by giving  the committee a                                                               
background on the  Alaska Commission on Aging  and emphasized its                                                               
importance  to  Alaskans.    She   explained  that  the  proposed                                                               
legislation  would extend  the Alaska  Commission on  Aging until                                                               
June 30,  2032, based on  the recommendations of  the Legislative                                                               
Budget and  Audit Committee.   She said  that the  commission has                                                               
existed since 1981 and has  been extended every eight years since                                                               
then.  She highlighted that  the Alaska Commission on Aging plays                                                               
a  vital role  in coordinating  state initiatives  to assist  and                                                               
uplift  Alaska's  senior  population.   She  explained  that  the                                                               
Alaska Commission on Aging is  vital in the assurance that Alaska                                                               
carries  out its  federal  mandate  to take  care  of its  senior                                                               
population  under  the   Older  Americans  Act  of   1965.    She                                                               
highlighted that  the commission  helps to collect  snapshot data                                                               
of the health and well-being of  Alaska residents who are aged 60                                                               
years  and  older, as  well  as  basic demographic  and  economic                                                               
statistics  of that  age group.    Representative Dibert  advised                                                               
that  the  summary  of  data  that  the  commission  collects  is                                                               
important to  help the state  understand the  underlying dynamics                                                               
at play  in senior communities  and tailor programs  toward those                                                               
who need  them most.   She emphasized that the  Alaska Commission                                                               
on  Aging is  a  commission that  advocates  for Alaska's  senior                                                               
population and underlined the importance of its existence.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:27:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BOB SILVERTSEN,  Chair, Alaska Commission on  Aging, gave invited                                                               
testimony on HB 283.  He  explained his history in Alaska and his                                                               
role as  chair of the Alaska  Commission on Aging.   He explained                                                               
the  importance  of  the  commission and  its  relevance  to  all                                                               
Alaskans.    He  shared  some  of the  data  collected  from  the                                                               
previously mentioned studies of  the commission and explained how                                                               
those   studies   have   positively  impacted   Alaska's   senior                                                               
population.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:30:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  asked why  the Alaska Commission  on Aging                                                               
has a sunset clause in the first place.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SILVERTSEN  answered  that   it  gives  the  legislature  an                                                               
opportunity to audit the commission's performance.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE recommended that  the audit be performed                                                               
year to  year and asked  Mr. Sivertsen  what his plans  and ideas                                                               
were for the future of the commission.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. SILVERTSEN  acknowledged the recommendation and  replied that                                                               
he wanted to  see term limits on the commission,  as well as more                                                               
thorough administration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:33:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT  introduced Kris Curtis of  the Legislative                                                               
Audit Division to the committee.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
KRIS  CURTIS, Legislative  Auditor,  Legislative Audit  Division,                                                               
Legislative Agencies  and Offices,  gave invited testimony  on HB
.   She briefly summarized  the federal requirements  that the                                                               
State of Alaska  must follow with regard to  its senior relations                                                               
and  explained that  current federal  regulations require  yearly                                                               
reports and summarized audit findings.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:35:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  asked whether  the  Alaska  Commission on  Aging  is                                                               
working to coordinate its services with other state agencies.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. SILVERTSEN  answered that  the commission  tries to  make the                                                               
most efficient decisions for seniors  and said that he works hard                                                               
to  ensure  that  a  relationship   between  the  commission  and                                                               
Alaska's senior citizens is established and maintained.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:39:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JON HAGHAYEGHI,  Executive Director, Alaska Commission  on Aging,                                                               
gave invited testimony on HB 283.   He emphasized that the Alaska                                                               
Commission  on  Aging is  instrumental  in  ensuring that  meals,                                                               
transportation,  and service  needs are  met for  Alaska's senior                                                               
population.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:41:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARGE  STONEKING, Representative,  AARP of  Alaska, gave  invited                                                               
testimony  on HB  283.   She  highlighted the  importance of  the                                                               
annual  senior snapshot  studies  that the  Alaska Commission  on                                                               
Aging performs and  explained that the data in  those studies are                                                               
invaluable to AARP.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:44:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  inquired whether the committee  would hear                                                               
a motion on the proposed legislation.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report  HB 283 out of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no objection,  HB 283 was reported  from the                                                               
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.