04/28/1998 01:35 PM Senate L&C

                                                                               
       CSHB 451(JUD) - ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY & MOBILITY AIDS                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought CSHB 451(JUD) before the committee as the               
next order of business.                                                        
                                                                               
JENNIFER ADZIMA, a legislative  intern to Representative Joe Green             
who is the prime sponsor of HB 451, said the legislation                       
establishes an express warranty for technologies which assist                  
physically disabled persons.  Assistive technologies and mobility              
aids for physically disabled are not covered by the lemon laws and             
the consumer protection statutes in Title 45.  She noted 11 states             
have passed such laws, and two others, including Alaska, are                   
considering doing so.                                                          
                                                                               
Number 524                                                                     
                                                                               
PATRICK REINHART, Director of the State Independent Living Council             
(SILC), testifying from Anchorage in support of HB 451, said the               
council's  primary responsibility is the development of a state                
plan for independent living and the implementation of that plan.               
He related that SILC requested that the legislation be introduced.             
                                                                               
MR. REINHART said that even though the bill has a zero fiscal note,            
he believes it will end up saving the state money in the long run              
because it is often state agencies that are involved in helping                
people with disabilities with the purchase of some kinds of very               
expensive pieces of adaptive equipment.  When there is no recourse,            
they often end up with pieces of equipment that lie idle and                   
useless, so it will save the state money, as well as the                       
individuals with disabilities.                                                 
                                                                               
Number 542                                                                     
                                                                               
SENATOR MACKIE expressed his appreciation to Mr. Reinhart for all              
of his hard work with Challenge Alaska, as well as his work as                 
director of SILC.                                                              
                                                                               
KEN DEAN of Juneau said he works for Southeast Alaska Independent              
Living (SAIL) and he was appearing before the committee to shed                
some light on the value of the legislation.                                    
                                                                               
MR. DEAN said he purchased his wheelchair six years ago at a cost              
of $13,500.  However, before that, he had a wheelchair which was               
made by a different manufacturer, which he purchased at a cost of              
$9,500.  He had problems with the wheelchair, but was told by the              
manufacturer that Alaska had no lemon law so he was basically out              
of luck.  He said in working for an independent living agency, he              
runs across this type of problem continually because of                        
manufacturers not honoring their nationwide warranties, mainly                 
because the equipment is in Alaska.                                            
                                                                               
TAPE 98-25, SIDE B                                                             
Number 585                                                                     
                                                                               
There being no further testimony on HB 451, CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked               
for the pleasure of the committee.                                             
                                                                               
SENATOR HOFFMAN moved CSHB 451(JUD) be passed out of committee with            
individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so                   
ordered.