03/09/2000 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 fourth hearing on this bill in the Senate                                                                          
Finance Committee. The committee substitute before the                                                                          
members was 1-LS0468\G.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
LESLEE OREBAUGH, Alaska Caregivers Association, testified                                                                       
via teleconference from Anchorage to thank Senator Mike                                                                         
Miller, Senator Johnny Ellis, Senator Wilken and the Senate                                                                     
Finance Committee for their efforts on this bill.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MONTA FAYE LANE, President, Alaska Caregivers Association,                                                                      
testified via teleconference from Fairbanks thanking the                                                                        
Committee for listening to the plight of the assisted living                                                                    
homes and the low reimbursement rate. She stressed that this                                                                    
was a very important industry for Alaskans.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
IRENE PAYTON, Member, Long Term Care Committee, American                                                                        
Association of Retired Persons, testified via teleconference                                                                    
from Fairbanks of learning about the role that assisted                                                                         
living homes play. She said the legislature has a lot to                                                                        
learn about how the system is working. She stated this                                                                          
legislation was a great beginning.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Amendment #1: This amendment reduces the minimum daily rates                                                                    
of payment to assisted living homes as proposed in the bill                                                                     
from $50 to $42.25 and from $75 to $51.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Parnell moved for adoption.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Torgerson explained the dollar amounts more                                                                            
accurately reflect the actual amount that would be funded                                                                       
House Finance Committee's version of the FY 01 operating                                                                        
budget. He stressed his desire was to move the bill to the                                                                      
other body in such a position where it would garner support.                                                                    
He noted there was not an updated fiscal note that reflected                                                                    
this reduction, but that the amount would be about half that                                                                    
of the current $1,248,800 fiscal note.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Parnell asked if the sponsor supported the                                                                             
amendment.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Torgerson said the sponsor wanted the bill to be                                                                       
adopted into law and understood the steps necessary to have                                                                     
that happen.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Without objection, the amendment was ADOPTED.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Amendment #2: This amendment changes the effective dates of                                                                     
the bill from the year 1999 to 2000.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Parnell moved for adoption.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Torgerson explained the technical amendment to                                                                         
bring the language into compliance with the current year as                                                                     
opposed to 1999, when the bill was first introduced.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There was no objection and the amendment was ADOPTED.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Parnell offered a motion to moved from Committee,                                                                      
CS SB 73 (FIN) 1-LS0468\G as amended with individual                                                                            
recommendations and forthcoming fiscal note from the                                                                            
Department of Administration and $711,500 fiscal note from                                                                      
the Department of Health and Social Services.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The bill MOVED FROM COMMITTEE without objection.