02/09/2000 01:35 PM Senate HES

                                                                                                                                
        HCR 15-DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Senate Health, Education and Social                                                                  
Services (HESS) Committee to order at 1:35 p.m. and announced HCR
 to be up for consideration.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. JENNIFER STRICKLAND, aide to Representative Brian Porter, said                                                              
the resolution simply establishes this coming March as                                                                          
developmental disability awareness month.  Representative Porter                                                                
decided to introduce this legislation as a resolution instead of a                                                              
citation to bring broader recognition to the issue.  Passage of                                                                 
HCR 15 will give strength to the efforts of many groups, especially                                                             
the Key Campaign, and promote a greater understanding of the                                                                    
capabilities  of Alaskans with developmental disabilities and the                                                               
challenges they face.  This has been a tradition in Alaska for a                                                                
number of years and coincides with a similar designation on the                                                                 
national level, as proclaimed by President Reagan in 1983.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WILKEN moved to report HCR 15 from committee with                                                                       
individual recommendations and its zero fiscal note.  There were no                                                             
objections and it was so ordered.                                                                                               
CHAIRMAN MILLER announced an at-ease.  He called the meeting back                                                               
to order and said that a person signed up to testify on the                                                                     
previous bill.  He said the committee would take testimony now.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. RENE' GAYHART, Developmental Disabilities (DD) Program,                                                                     
Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, stated                                                                
support for HCR 15.  HCR 15 is important because it recognizes                                                                  
nearly 12,000 Alaskans with DD and their need for life-long                                                                     
supports to be fully included in the community where they live.                                                                 
The Division welcomes the advocacy consumers, the Key Campaign, and                                                             
the Key coalition branch of the DD Program.  They also support the                                                              
efforts of service provider agencies, families, and the Governor's                                                              
Council on Disabilities and Special Education to ensure that more                                                               
Alaskans with DD are able to participate in and contribute to                                                                   
community life.  The programs in her division accomplish the                                                                    
important goals of integration and inclusion in one's community.                                                                
Recognition of March as developmental disabilities awareness month                                                              
will demonstrate the power of community that is exemplified by                                                                  
people with disabilities.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MILLER apologized for missing her testimony when the bill                                                              
was before them.  He then returned to SCR 12.