Legislature(2013 - 2014)BUTROVICH 205
02/21/2013 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB67 | |
| SB36 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 36 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 67 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 36-MISSING VULNERABLE ADULT RESPONSE PLAN
9:22:14 AM
CHAIR DYSON reconvened the meeting and announced the hearing of
SB 36. [SSSB 36 was before the committee.] Present were Senators
Coghill, Wielechowski, Stedman, and Chair Dyson.
SENATOR COGHILL moved to adopt SSSB 36, labeled 28-LS0338\N, as
the working document before the committee. There was no
objection.
NATHAN ZENCEY, staff, Senator Johnny Ellis, sponsor of SB 36,
thanked the committee for hearing SSSB 36. He noted that a
similar version of the bill passed the Senate last year 20 to
zero. He read the following sponsor statement:
This bill would ensure that the Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs works together with the
Department of Public Safety to develop plans for state
and local law enforcement to quickly notify the media,
the public, and other law enforcement agencies when a
vulnerable adult goes missing. A Silver Alert program
here in Alaska, we believe, would establish clear and
consistent lines of communication and develop
efficient procedures for citizens, law enforcement,
and media outlets to follow in this situation.
We believe the preparation in this bill will ensure we
maintain an efficient system for activating rapid
searches and media alerts for a senior citizen with
Alzheimer's disease or dementia, or an adult with
mental disabilities when they are missing, even when
law enforcement agencies may be burdened by high
response demands in other areas or if they may lose
experienced officers to retirement or turnover.
Thirty-eight other states have established Silver
Alerts or even more extensive missing persons response
programs. Despite this, Alaska has still not taken the
opportunity to design a dedicated response and
notification program for our senior citizens and
disabled adults when they go missing. We believe that
due to the rapidly growing senior population here, it
is imperative that we establish this program to allow
our seniors and disabled adults to continue to live
and retire here, which they are increasingly choosing
to do alongside their families and children.
We have seen what this program can do in other states.
Just this past August, the Mississippi Highway Patrol,
which operates the Silver Alert in Mississippi,
praises their Silver Alert program for helping them
save just three lives in a month.
SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS, sponsor of SB 36, thanked the committee
for hearing the bill.
CHAIR DYSON asked Senator Ellis if he had seen Senator Coghill's
amendment.
SENATOR ELLIS said no.
9:26:36 AM
At ease
9:28:00 AM
CHAIR DYSON asked if there was any negative testimony.
SENATOR ELLIS said there was no opposition. There is bi-partisan
support and strong interest group support across the state.
There was some question about the definition of "vulnerable
adult" which will be addressed. He said that 30 other states
have this program in place and it is time for Alaska to do so,
too.
CHAIR DYSON opened public testimony.
SENATOR COGHILL voiced no opposition to the bill.
9:29:39 AM
CHAIR DYSON reported his conversation with Lieutenant Dial from
the Division of Public Safety who stated that the division's
handling of Silver Alert calls would not impact their budget. He
stated that Lieutenant Dial has no problems with their zero
fiscal note.
SENATOR ELLIS noted that he has also spoken with Lieutenant
Dial. He said he plans to work with Senator Coghill to clarify
the definition concerns.
9:30:49 AM
MICHAEL VANVLEET, Social Work Intern, Warrior Transition Unit,
Soldier and Family Assistance, testified in support of SSSB 36.
He related that the individuals in the Warrior Transition Unit
would qualify for, and benefit by, the Silver Alert.
9:33:20 AM
PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, Board Member, Alzheimer's Research,
testified in support of SSSB 36. He maintained that the Silver
Alert will be of benefit to many Alaskans.
9:35:06 AM
DULCE NOBRE, Executive Director, Alzheimer's Resource Agency of
Alaska, testified in support of SSSB 36. She related that
wandering behavior is common for Alzheimer's patients and those
with dementia. Nationwide, statistics show that of those
individuals who wander, only one-third survives if they are not
found within 24 hours. In Alaska wandering can be fatal due to
extreme weather. She spoke in strong support of SSSB 36.
9:36:50 AM
CHAIR DYSON asked who pays for the unit that the senior will
carry.
SENATOR ELLIS clarified that it is a phone alert system, not a
device.
9:37:33 AM
SENATOR STEDMAN moved to report SSSB 36, version N, from
committee with individual recommendations and the attached zero
fiscal notes. There being no objection, SSSB 36 was reported
from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
CHAIR DYSON commented that most people have to deal with this
issue. He thanked people for their work on this issue.