Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/14/2023 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB46 | |
| SB21 | |
| SB9 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 46 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 46-BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH
3:32:36 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 46
"An Act establishing the month of March as Brain Injury
Awareness Month."
He stated this was the first hearing and the intention was to
hear the introduction, take invited and public testimony, and
hold the bill for future consideration.
He invited Senator Löki Tobin and Mackenzie Pope to introduce
the bill.
3:32:58 PM
SENATOR LÖKI TOBIN, District I, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 46, introduced the legislation
speaking to the sponsor statement.
Senate Bill 46 would designate each March as Brain
Injury Awareness Month in Alaska. This will help focus
public attention on the prevalence of brain injuries
and highlight ways to prevent these injuries.
Both traumatic and acquired brain injuries can happen
to anyone. These injuries can bring a lifetime of
secondary health conditions, including persistent
concussion symptoms, post-traumatic stress injury,
physical impairment, and developmental delays.
It's estimated that 3.2 to 5 million Americans live
with long-term disabilities due to brain injuries, and
Alaska has one of the highest rates of traumatic brain
injuries in the nation. The Brain Injury Association
of America reports that every 9 seconds, someone in
the U.S. sustains a brain injury. The Department of
Defense reports that over 430,000 service members have
sustained traumatic brain injuries since 2000.
Thousands of lives are impacted every day by brain
injuries even though most traumatic brain injuries are
preventable, especially by wearing a seatbelt when in
a vehicle and wearing a helmet when skiing, biking,
and snow-machining.
Permanently designating each March as Brain Injury
Awareness Month in Alaska will increase public
awareness about the dangers of brain injuries and,
potentially, help prevent future brain injuries among
Alaskans. We ask for your support.
3:36:14 PM
MACKENZIE POPE, Staff, Senator Löki Tobin, Alaska State
Legislature Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis for
SB 46.
Section 1 Amends the uncodified law of the State of
Alaska to add a new section recognizing the importance
of brain injury awareness in the State of Alaska.
Section 2 Amends AS 44.12 by adding a new section to
article 2 establishing the month of March as Brain
Injury Awareness Month in Alaska. This allows schools,
community groups, and other public and private
agencies and individuals to observe Brain Injury
Awareness Month with appropriate activities that
increase the public's awareness of the prevention and
treatment of brain injuries.
CHAIR KAWASAKI turned to invited testimony.
3:37:28 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the committee.
3:37:32 PM
ANNA ZIERFUSS, Acting Chair, Brain Injury Council of Alaska,
Anchorage, Alaska, provided invited testimony in support of SB
46. She paraphrased her prepared testimony.
I am here to testify in support of this bill, which
would primarily make the month of March Brain Injury
Awareness Month. This would lend stability to the
outreach throughout the state and further the message
that this is important in Alaska. The statistics about
brain injury in Alaska paint a grim picture. From 2016
to 2018, Alaska had one of the highest number of
deaths from traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the
nation. The Alaska Native and American Indian
populations had a higher proportion of the brain
injuries from assault, ATV, and snow machine
accidents, and the lowest rate of access to care.
Overall, Alaska has one of the highest rates
nationwide for any type of brain injury. This is seen
in children whose learning is permanently affected; in
teens who are injured in sports and are never properly
diagnosed; in adults who are affected by homelessness
and domestic violence; and in seniors who are
misdiagnosed because of age-related disabilities. All
segments of the population are touched, whether as a
survivor, caregiver, family, or friend. An individual
who gets a brain injury is twice as likely to suffer
another TBI or get addicted to alcohol or drugs.
Eighty-seven percent of adults in the justice system
have had a TBI; 50 percent of the homeless suffered a
TBI before becoming homeless; death by suicide is four
times more likely in individuals who sustain a TBI.
MS. ZIERFUSS conveyed her personal story of being among the 20-
30 percent of individuals who sustained a mild to moderate brain
injury from concussion and did not fully recover. Six years ago
she sustained a moderate concussion after slipping on black ice
and hitting her head. She lived in a haze of pain and fog for
two years before she found a doctor at an urgent care center who
had experience in brain injuries from his time in Afghanistan
and working with veterans. She gave him carte blanche to
experiment on her with medications, nutraceuticals, and
therapies. In year five her doctor tried a new medication. It
masked her pain and haze and gave her more mental energy to get
through the day. She still has severe limitations and the two
things that were integral to her soul - time with her son and
singing, were taken from her.
MS. ZIERFUSS urged the committee to pass SB 46, which would
bring awareness to this issue and be the first step in bringing
more services to Alaska for survivors and their families.
3:43:52 PM
ANNETTE ALFONSI, community activist on brain injury issues,
Anchorage, Alaska, provided invited testimony in support of SB
46. She relayed her story about persistent concussion symptoms.
She was looking at graduate school before she was in a rollover
accident in 2012. She sustained a concussion the symptoms of
which became persistent. She was given medication that is
contraindicated for brain injury recovery and subsequently told
that she was not in a category that people care to help.
She described helping to plan annual educational events only to
be told that she could not attend because she was a patient. She
said this contributes to a "don't ask don't tell" mentality of
disability. She now plans events with people who want
multidisciplinary standards of excellence around neurological
wellness in Alaska, and everybody is invited. She described the
website she launched this year that has on-demand credits for
attorneys and occupational therapists. She also described being
the volunteer Alaska partner for the international project for
unmasking brain injury. Alaska stories and associated art about
brain injury can be viewed at the website
unmaskingbraininjury.org. Alaskans with brain injury are not
alone.
MS. ALFONSI spoke about inappropriate and fiscally inefficient
training programs to become a certified brain injury specialist,
the need to offer a shorter work week to people with a brain
injury, and the importance of timely treatment. She emphasized
that there is a place for everyone in the community, even those
with brain injury symptoms. She expressed hope that long-term
brain injury symptoms will become a thing of the past in the
21st Century.
MS. ALFONSI urged the committee to pass SB 46.
3:48:57 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SB 46.
3:49:18 PM
MARIE WILSON, affiliate, Access Alaska, Wasilla, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 46. She relayed her story of getting
a brain injury nine years ago after being hit from behind by a
drunk driver who was speeding. She is grateful for the
opportunity to share her story and know people are listening.
3:51:30 PM
LISA MALONEY, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 46. She is looking at the benefits that can come
from greater recognition and awareness of brain injury. She
realizes that she is surrounded by people who have been affected
by traumatic brain injury and didn't get treatment timely.
3:54:45 PM
PAMELA SAMASH, member Right to Life Interior Alaska, Nenana,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 46. She initially thought the
bill included Alzheimer's but now realizes that TBI can lead to
that disease. She hopes this awareness will lead to more
recognition of and help for special needs children in the state.
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked the sponsor if she had any closing remarks.
3:57:13 PM
SENATOR TOBIN said she'd like Mr. Mason to review the fiscal
note.
3:57:31 PM
MIKE MASON, Staff, Senator Löki Tobin, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, read the following fiscal note analysis for SB
46 that was submitted by the Office of Management and Budget.
This bill establishes March as Brain Injury Awareness
Month. The administration does not anticipate any
programmatic effects to departments as a result of
this legislation; therefore, a zero fiscal note for
all agencies is submitted.
SENATOR MERRICK stated that she was a proud co-sponsor of SB 46.
She asked if there was a reason for selecting March and if other
issues were highlighted for awareness in March.
SENATOR TOBIN answered that the Department of Defense (DoF)
recognizes March as Brain Injury Awareness Month, so this
ensures that the awareness is co-branded in Alaska and on the
military bases in the state. She noted that March also has
noteworthy birthdays, the start of the Iditarod, and the
recognition of Women's History Month.
MR. MASON reminded the committee that resolutions were
introduced for several years proclaiming March as Brain Injury
Awareness Month. But it's such an important issue it was brought
forward as a bill, first last year by former Representative Tuck
and Senator Tobin this year.
3:59:37 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI closed public testimony on SB 46 and held the
bill in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 9 ver A.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 9 |
| SB 9 Supporting Document - LRS Report 19.010m 03.06.23.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 9 |
| SB 9 Sectional Analysis Ver A 03.06.23.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 9 |
| SB 21 Sponsor Statement Version A 1.25.23.pdf |
SFIN 3/12/2024 1:30:00 PM SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 46 Version A 03.08.2023.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 46 |
| SB 46 Research BIAA 2022 Legislative Issue Briefs 3.1.2023.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 46 |
| SB 46 Research Unmasking Brain Injuries 3.1.2023.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 46 |
| SB0021A.PDF |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB21 EBA Presentation.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 21 EBA One-pager handout.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 9 Sponsor Statement 03.06.23.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 9 |
| SB 21 Fiscal note.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 46 Fiscal Note VAR-EXE 03.10.2023.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 46 |
| SB 9 fiscal note.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 9 |
| SB 46 Sponsor Statement 3.1.2023.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 46 |
| SB 46 Sectional Analysis 3.1.2023.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 46 |
| SB 9 Presentation v1.3.pdf |
SSTA 3/14/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 9 |