03/02/2000 09:03 AM Senate FIN

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 73(HES)                                                                                
"An Act relating to assisted living homes; and                                                                                  
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This was the third hearing for this bill in the Senate                                                                          
Finance Committee and the first hearing in the year 2000.                                                                       
Co-Chair Torgerson announced that due to time constraints,                                                                      
public testimony would be taken but that there would be no                                                                      
debate at this meeting.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MONTA FAYE LANE, President, Alaska Caregivers Association,                                                                      
testified via teleconference from Fairbanks in support of                                                                       
the bill. She talked about the needs in the assisted living                                                                     
industry.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
DR MICHAEL CARROL testified via teleconference from                                                                             
Fairbanks that this bill directly applies to the community.                                                                     
He spoke of the quality and capacity of facilities saying                                                                       
assisted living was a cost efficient way to care for people                                                                     
compared to nursing homes.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
GARY WARD, Licensing Coordinator, Assisted Living Homes,                                                                        
Division of Senior Services, Department of Administration                                                                       
testified via teleconference from Anchorage about an                                                                            
amendment that the Committee did not have. He explained                                                                         
this amendment relating to AS 47.33 and concerning                                                                              
terminating residential services contracts and temporary                                                                        
management and receivership.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DWIGHT BECKER, Protective Services Coordinator, Division of                                                                     
Senior Services, Department of Administration testified via                                                                     
teleconference from Anchorage to answer questions about the                                                                     
fiscal note that he helped draft.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
KAY BURROWS, Director, Division of Senior Services,                                                                             
Department of Administration testified via teleconference                                                                       
from Anchorage that she would also be available to answer                                                                       
questions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
JEFF JESSEE, Executive Director, Mental Health Trust                                                                            
Authority, Department of Revenue, testified via                                                                                 
teleconference from Anchorage as also available.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Phillips restated conflicted of interest with                                                                           
healthcare related matters citing his employment with                                                                           
Providence Medical Center.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
ALISON ELGEE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of                                                                                
Administration testified in support the bill and referred                                                                       
to documentation to support the rate increase paid by the                                                                       
state to assisted living facilities. [Copy on file.]                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
KARL BRIMNER, Director, Division of Mental Health and                                                                           
Developmental Disabilities, Department of Health and Social                                                                     
Services testified that the division supports the bill                                                                          
also.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Torgerson stated his intent to move bill from                                                                          
Committee soon.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The bill was HELD in Committee.