Legislature(2013 - 2014)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/10/2013 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB37 | |
| SB16 | |
| SB38 | |
| SB88 | |
| SB38 | |
| SB24 | |
| SB2 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 37 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 38 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 88 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 37
"An Act extending the termination date of the
Statewide Suicide Prevention Council; and providing
for an effective date."
1:40:06 PM
LAURA PIERRE, STAFF, SENATOR ANNA FAIRCLOUGH, discussed the
bill. She stated the recommendation of Legislative Budget
and Audit (LB&A) to extend the council 6 years to June 30,
2019. The council was comprised of 17 members. Senator
Fairclough served on the council as a Representative and a
Senator. The council made great strides in increasing
meeting attendance and implementing a statewide strategic
plan for suicide prevention outreach across Alaska. The
council's plan was called "Casting the Net Upstream." The
plan promoted the prevention of suicide in Alaska.
Co-Chair Stoltze handed the gavel to Representative
Costello.
Representative Costello appreciated the sponsor's interest
in the issue.
1:41:39 PM
Representative Munoz asked how the $415 thousand in school-
based grants were distributed. She asked to know more about
the projects funded by the grants. Ms. Pierre deferred the
question to Kate Burkhart.
Representative Kawasaki asked about the LB&A audit
suggesting the board's extension. He asked about other
recommendations made in the audit. Ms. Pierre responded
that other audit findings could be discussed by Ms.
Burkhart.
Senator Anna Fairclough joined the meeting.
1:43:27 PM
KATE BURKHART, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STATEWIDE SUICIDE
PREVENTION COUNCIL, replied to Representative Kawasaki's
question first. She stated that the audit made three
recommendations. The first was that the council would
perform an annual review of its executive director in
partnership with the Mental Health Board and the Advisory
Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. She added that LB&A
established a process by which the annual review would
occur. The council worked with its partners to memorialize
the framework of the council leadership.
Ms. Burkhart stated the second recommendation to track and
report council attendance to the governor's office. An
attendance log was created for transmission to the
governor's office, the Speaker of the House and President
of the Senate. The council did not have difficulty reaching
a quorum due to recommendations made in the prior audit.
Ms. Burkhart continued with the third recommendation for
the council to develop and monitor performance measures
that supported statutory duties and annually report
progress. She noted that the council had performance
measures for many years, which had not been transmitted to
the missions and measures language utilized by LB&A or
included in the Department of Health and Social Services
(DHSS) online performance measures. The council was working
with DHSS to translate measures from the state plan into
language discernible by LB&A.
Ms. Burkhart answered Representative Munoz's question. She
shared that the funding available for school-based suicide
prevention came through the council to the Department of
Education and Early Development (DEED). The increment
flowed through the council to allow the partnership between
the council and the department. She added that the first
year's funding would be provided to Alaska's alternative
schools who were participating in a wellness initiative
funded with a grant from the Division of Behavioral Health.
She pointed out that children from alternative schools were
most likely to report depression, suicide attempts and drug
and alcohol use. She noted that 20 percent of school
districts applied for the funding. The proposals were
reviewed and many would be funded. She expressed confidence
that the programs would enhance services in the school
districts.
1:47:43 PM
Representative Munoz asked if groups that were not
affiliated with the school could apply for funding. Ms.
Burkhart replied that the school-based funding stream was
designed to provide funding for suicide prevention. She
mentioned additional options for other entities interested
in suicide prevention funding. An FY 13 capital
appropriation secured funding for small grants up to $5
thousand for community organizations. The Alaska Community
Foundation matched the FY 13 funding.
Ms. Burkhart pointed out the Comprehensive Prevention Grant
Program, which included opportunities for community
coalitions and organizations to apply for prevention
funding.
1:50:23 PM
Representative Gara thanked Ms. Burkhart for her work. He
stated that much of the work was low-cost and outreach
related. He pointed to work to enhance suicide prevention
programs. He asked if he should pay special attention to a
particular increment in the operating budget conference
committee. Ms. Burkhart replied that there was not a
specific FY 14 suicide-prevention increment.
Senator Fairclough appreciated time that the House Finance
Committee had taken on the issue. She spoke to high suicide
rates in Alaska. She stated that the council made
considerable progress during her membership. She credited
Ms. Burkhart with an excellent job.
Representative Costello CLOSED public testimony.
Representative Wilson discussed the replacement fiscal
impact note from DHSS.
Representative Wilson MOVED to REPORT SB 37 out of
committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
SB 37 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with one new fiscal note from Department
of Health and Social Services.
1:54:08 PM
AT EASE
1:56:20 PM
RECONVENED
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