Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/03/2000 09:05 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 313(FIN) am
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; and providing for
an effective date."
Co-Chair Torgerson noted that during consideration of the
FY 01 operating budget, SB 312, the Committee had
previously adopted a committee substitute 1-LS1305\G to SB
313 as a workdraft. He explained the committee substitute
had removed all reference to capital projects from the
legislation. He said the intent of this meeting was to
consider the capital projects receiving funding from the
Mental Health Trust Authority (MHTA).
JEFF JESSE, Executive Director, Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority, Department of Revenue, gave detail on the items
listed on the Mental Health Capital Projects, HB 313
spreadsheet. [Copy on file.]
Senior Services Data Integration Project - Department of
Administration
Mr. Jesse stated that MHTA funds would be used to help fund
this new project. He explained the project was to assist
the Division of Senior Services to increase efficiency of
the division's operations.
Telepsychiatry Video Communication System Equipment -
Department of Corrections
Mr. Jesse told the Committee this project was a
continuation of a $75,000 FY 00 project that the trustees
are involved in. He said the requested funds would assist
the department in upgrading their system. He remarked that
the Department of Corrections was a leader in utilizing
video conferencing technology to increase their ability to
provide psychiatry counseling and supervision to inmates in
all the correctional facilities from the central mental
health office in Anchorage. He spoke about how this project
has been showcased at national conferences as a model
program. He added that the program reduces professional and
travel costs for the state. He congratulated the department
for instituting this program using equipment that has a low
"band width" and noted this upgrade would increase the band
width to further increase the program's effectiveness.
Alaska Psychiatric Institute 2000: Replacement of Existing
Facility - Department of Health and Social Services
Mr. Jesse stated this was a continuation of the Trustees'
process of setting aside MHTA funds to further assist the
state in making the transition from the current Alaska
Psychiatric Institute (API) into the new facility, which he
hoped the negotiations with the charter would be concluded
shortly. He stated that the MHTA was working in tandem with
the federal funds secured through the assistance of US
Senator Ted Stevens.
Alaska Psychiatric Institute Stop-Gap Repairs - Department
of Health and Social Services
Mr. Jesse bemoaned, "unfortunately this is not a new
project at all." He continued that the stopgap repairs have
been an on-going concern although the MHTA has been able to
secure a matching program to utilize Alaska Housing Finance
Corporation (AHFC) receipts. He explained the intent of
this project is to keep the facilities operating as long as
possible or until the new facility was available for
occupancy.
Coordination and Resource Sharing Among Mental Health
Services Providers - Department of Health and Social
Services
Mr. Jesse shared that this was an exciting new project for
the MHTA. He explained that through the auspices of the
Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education
the proposal was to review how the state operates with all
the beneficiary nonprofit groups and providers. He said the
project hopes to identify whether efficiencies could be
gained and how the programs could become more results
based. Another intent, he added was to identify whether any
services can be integrated and the savings of which could
be reinvested into further services for the beneficiaries.
He summarized that this project was to improve the
infrastructure of the mental health grant system.
Senator Leman thought this item seemed more like an
operating item than a capital project and asked what
specifically would be provided with the $100,000.
Mr. Jesse replied that the governor's council proposed
convening a "think tank" of representatives of the four
boards involved with the MHTA to develop a list of areas
within the grant structure and the service provision system
to submit to an independent contractor. This contractor, he
continued would evaluate and make a series of
recommendations as to how the MHTA could improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of that system.
Mr. Jesse suggested the reason this project was classified
as a capital project was because it was unclear whether the
work could be completed in one fiscal year. He said the
MHTA thought that listing this as a capital project would
give the greatest flexibility.
Senator Green asked if it would be possible under the
governing federal mandate to streamline and merge some of
these services into one group rather than break them down
by the four distinct constituency groups.
Mr. Jesse said that was one of the goals of the project, to
identify what areas have such flexibility. He cautioned
that some programs have strict specific membership
requirements and missions from the federal government.
Fairbanks - Reopen Fahrenkamp Residential Facility -
Department of Health and Social Services
Mr. Jesse explained the goal of this project was to use the
center for its original purpose, as a residential
diagnostic treatment center for adolescents. He relayed
that for many years, the facility has been used as office
space and adolescent outpatient care by the Fairbanks
Mental Health Center. However, he stressed there is a
desperate need for residential services for this
population. He noted this is a matching funds program
between the trust and the state using AHFC receipts in
order to make the physical modifications to the portion of
the center that will house the adolescents and to but
necessary equipment.
Fairbanks Community Mental Health Center Relocation -
Department of Health and Social Services
Mr. Jesse pointed out that this project exclusively
utilizes MHTA funds to assist the center, which is
currently located in the Fahrenkamp facility and has been
paying only one dollar per year as rent. Because of the
plan to reconvert the Fahrenkamp to a residential facility,
he explained that these funds are to relocate the mental
health center and to pay additional rental costs for the
first year. He stated that the hope in the next year was to
include the increased operating costs due to space rental
into their operating budget. Otherwise, he added the center
would need to reduce its service capacity.
Housing Modifications for Mental Health Trust Beneficiaries
- Department of Health and Social Services
Mr. Jesse talked about how this continuing project
continues the relationship that the trust has developed
with the AHFC to identify ways to deliver housing
modifications for beneficiaries. He described some of the
people served, such as Alzheimer patients needing their
house modified so they could remain in their home. He
stressed that this has been a successful project in handing
out relatively small grants.
Mental Health Grants - Essential Program Equipment -
Department of Health and Social Services
Mr. Jesse told the Committee that the trust had originally
proposed this on-going project as a 50-50 matching program
with the state. However, he said that the Governor's Office
was only able to identify $50,000 of general funds to make
available. He stressed that the trust deemed these grants
particularly to smaller mental health centers, are
essential to maintaining their capacity to operate. He
listed computers and software as some of the items
purchased using these grant funds.
Mental Health Grants - Facilities Renovation and Deferred
Maintenance - Department of Health and Social Services
Mr. Jesse continued that this project is similar to the
previous in that it is an on-going program also proposed to
have a 50-50 general fund match, but that this does not
have the adequate general fund money to meet the match. He
explained the grants are used by non-profit organizations
for facility renovation and deferred maintenance. He
asserted these projects are a good investment in
maintaining the infrastructure of the mental health
program.
Spirit Camp Facility Development - Department of Health and
Social Services
Mr. Jesse explained this new project to assist what has
already been proven to be an effective culturally
appropriate way to allow local Native communities to take
responsibility for their own programs. He stated this
project helps communities develop programs that build upon
the cultural values and strengths of those communities
rather than simply imposing a more Anglo approach. He told
of efforts made on a smaller scale, saying that this is the
largest culturally relevant treatment project undertaken by
the trust.
Transitional Housing for Recovering Substance Abusers -
Department of Health and Social Services
Mr. Jesse stated that the purpose of this project is to
assist substance abusers who have completed treatment but
still need some supervision during a transition period into
their independent living situations.
Mental Health Trust Land Development and Value Enhancement
- Department of Natural Resources
Mr. Jesse stated that this is a continuing project and a
permanent part of the MHTA land office, to hire contractors
for subdivision sales, timber sales. He said the
contracting-out of these services is done in lieu of hiring
additional staff.
AHFC Beneficiary and Special Needs Housing - Department of
Revenue
Mr. Jesse explained this is also a continuing project, but
at a smaller amount this year. He stressed that this is a
critical part of the mental health program. He spoke of
"tremendous strides" the trust has made in the ability to
deliver treatment. However, he qualified the treatment
system often does not give full consideration to all the
facets of a person's life that are necessary to be
independent and become productive members of society. He
identified the need for developing safe, affordable housing
as one of the most critical items for successful recovery.
Senator Green asked if this was temporary housing.
Mr. Jesse replied that a variety of mechanisms have been
used to provide housing. He referred to a "Structured
Production Model" of developing supported housing. He
explained that in the past, the operational side of the
mental health program had operational money but didn't know
how to develop a housing project. On the other hand, he
pointed out, AHFC knew about housing but not how to deliver
necessary support. This project is to blend the two groups
together to supply adequate housing facilities and also
deliver services, according to Mr. Jesse. He added that
this project includes a plan to assist beneficiaries into a
home ownership situation. He stated that research shows
that an investment in home ownership is a powerful mental
health tool.
Senator Green suggested attaining additional support from
the residents. She asked if the housing provided included
monitoring to ensure the participants were safe and getting
necessary treatment.
Mr. Jesse affirmed.
AHFC Homeless Assistance Program
Mr. Jesse stated this is also a continuing project and is
instrumental in getting services to the most difficult to
serve populations in the state. He told of how many of
these people are not only unconnected with the normal
mental health services systems, but that they "often don't
want to be a member of the club." He detailed the
difficulties this segment of the population has in getting
employment and meeting other aspects of self-sufficiency.
Senator Phillips asked how many people are served in this
program.
Mr. Jesse began his response.
AT EASE 9:26 AM / 9:28 AM
Mr. Jesse did not have the exact data with him but noted
the performance measures for this project rely heavily on
how many people are served by the program. He said he would
supply the data to the Committee.
Senator Phillips asked for a breakdown showing the
different regions of the state.
Co-Chair Torgerson asked if this funding request would
supply the same level of support as the previous year.
Mr. Jesse replied that the $250,000 AHFC funding amount was
the same as the previous year and that the $200,000 of
MHTAAR receipts is new.
Coordinated Transportation and Vehicles - Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities
Mr. Jesse then told of this successful partnership project
that also utilizes federal transportation funds. He
described different non-profit groups each having a van to
serve only those in their mental health program. He said
this was because of the difficulties involved in
determining who would own, maintain and operate these
vehicles. The intent of this program, he explained, was to
combine the use of these vehicles to serve more than one
non-profit entity. He said that this project provides up-
front money to allow communities to establish a local
coordinated transportation system. He added that the
funding would also be used to purchase new vehicles where
necessary.
Planning for Juneau Senior Daycare Center $100,000
Mr. Jesse explained this item does not appear on the
spreadsheet because the governor had determined there was
not an adequate general fund match for the construction
costs. Mr. Jesse stated that the trustees want to utilize
MHTAAR funds for the planning process in anticipation that
once the community is able to develop a plan and identify
more accurate costs, there may be a variety of fund
mechanisms available to build the facility.
Co-Chair Torgerson asked if the witness was working with a
Committee member to propose such an amendment to the
budget.
Mr. Jesse believed so.
Co-Chair Torgerson announced a committee substitute would
be prepared to reflect the items on the spreadsheet and he
explained the amendment procedure.
Co-Chair Torgerson ordered the bill HELD in Committee.
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