Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/05/2022 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB173 | |
| SB193 | |
| SB204 | |
| HB85 | |
| SB98 | |
| SB199 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 173 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 193 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 204 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 98 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 199 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SENATE BILL NO. 98
"An Act relating to medical assistance for recipients
of adult foster care services; establishing an adult
foster care home license and procedures; and providing
for the transition of individuals from foster care to
adult foster care homes."
9:25:04 AM
Co-Chair Bishop relayed that it was the first hearing of SB
98 during the current session. The committee had heard the
bill and had opened and closed public testimony on April 7,
2021. The committees attention was to consider a proposed
CS, hear a bill reintroduction, and then set the bill
aside.
Co-Chair Stedman MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee
substitute for SB 98, Work Draft 32-GS1708\G (Foote,
4/2/22).
Co-Chair Bishop OBJECTED for discussion.
Ms. Shine addressed explained that the proposed CS took a
slightly different approach than Version A of the bill that
came to committee. The CS removed adult foster home and
added adult home care, which would extend opportunities
for participation beyond individuals aging out of foster
care to include other adults with disabilities. The change
would also add a new service and a license placement type
of adult home care for adults with disabilities and
seniors. The CS also proposed to change the Department of
Health and Social Services to the Department of Health
in applicable areas because of Executive Order 121 [an
order passed by the governor in 2022 that would divide the
Department of Health and Social Services into two
departments aligned by functionality]. The CS proposed an
effective date of July 1, 2022, to coincide with the
effective date of the executive order.
Co-Chair Bishop WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The CS for SB 98 was
ADOPTED.
9:26:53 AM
AT EASE
9:27:01 AM
RECONVENED
JOHN LEE, DIRECTOR, SENIOR AND DISABILITY SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. He thanked
the committee for hearing the bill. He thanked Co-Chair
Bishop's office for working to amend the bill in ways that
he thought would strengthen home and community-based
services. He discussed working towards increasing the reach
of the bill to more individuals with disabilities. He
discussed working with stakeholders on the concept of
expanding the bill to include others and create more
options to remain in home and community-based settings.
Mr. Lee continued his testimony. He suggested that changes
would make services less expensive, have a less demanding
workforce expectation, and would be open to more providers.
He noted that there was work to be done on regulation and
he was confident that the bill would create a setting to
serve the population as well as allow for many seniors to
stay in local communities. He summarized that the change
would create a small economic opportunity in rural areas.
He noted that the new adult home care services would be
less expensive than some services, but more expensive than
others. He emphasized that aside from new additional staff
needed to monitor the new service, the amendments to the
bill were cost neutral. Research conducted by the
department had shown that savings from the bill would
offset additional costs.
9:31:30 AM
ANTHONY NEWMAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SENIOR AND DISABILITY
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES (via
teleconference), addressed a Sectional Analysis (copy on
file):
Section 1: Adds a new section to AS 47.07, Medicaid
Assistance for Needy Persons, to create a new program-
adult home care services for individuals. Adult home
care services will be available for individuals at
least 18 years of age or older who are enrolled in a
home and community-based waiver.
The Department of Health will develop regulations
establishing the standards and rates of the program
and providing an efficient process to allow existing
foster homes to transition into the new adult home
care license.
Section 2: Amends AS 47.32.010(b) to add a new
setting, "adult home care homes," that shall be
subject to the centralized licensing functions of the
Department of Health.
Section 3: Adds a new section to AS 47.32 that defines
the conditions under which the department may license
an adult home care home. A person may be licensed to
operate such a home for up to two persons aged 18 or
older who are enrolled in home and community-based
waiver services. This section requires the department
to streamline the application process necessary for
the person to be approved as an adult home care home
provider and requires that the department approve
variances of building code requirements to the extent
permitted by state, local, or federal law.
Section 4: Amends uncodified law by adding a new
section that requires the Department of Health to
submit for approval by the United States Department of
Health and Human Services an amendment to the state
medical assistance plan, waivers, or an 1115
demonstration waiver as necessary to allow eligible
individuals to receive adult come care services and
other long-term care services that are not
duplicative.
Section 5: Amends uncodified law adding a new section
related to the conditional effect of section 4 and the
required state plan amendments submitted to the United
States Department of Health and Social Services.
Requires the department to notify the revisor of
statutes of the approval of state plan amendments.
Section 6: Effective date related to the requirement
for the department to provide notification of the
revisor of statutes of approval of state plan
amendments.
Section 7: Provides for a July 1, 2022 effective date
to align with the effective date of Executive Order
121 and the change of the applicable department to the
Department of Health.
9:34:24 AM
LIZETTE STIEHR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA ASSOCIATION FOR
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, CHUGIAK (via teleconference),
spoke in support of the bill. She expressed gratitude for
the committee's inquiry about expanding the bill to serve
more people. She described that her organization had asked
the same question. She explained that currently group homes
that were allowed to provide services must meet the same
licensing that applied to group and assisted living homes.
She strongly supported a shared vision that believed in a
flexible system that supported individuals toward having
meaningful lives and choice. She thought the bill would
expand living options for people that experienced
developmental disabilities. She loved the fact that the
bill would allow foster children to remain in the same
home.
9:36:20 AM
MICHELE GIRAULT, BOARD RESIDENT OF KEY COALITION AND
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOPE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), testified in support of the bill. She
thought the bill aligned with the shared vision mentioned
by Ms. Stiehr and provided greater flexibility for those
providing services to youth with disabilities. She
discussed current statute and the administrative burden it
caused. She explained that the bill would simplify the
process of allowing a family to transition from a child
license to an adult home care license with the likely
outcome of youth being able to stay in the same home. She
thought the bill would allow for youth to have continuity
of care.
Ms. Girault continued her testimony. She noted that youth
with disabilities had options to stay in the public school
system until the age of 20. She urged the committee to
support the bill. She thought the expanded outreach of the
bill to support additional adults would also provide
benefits.
Senator Wielechowski understood that the statute for long-
term care only included authority for homes for people over
60 and asked if the bill should amend the statute to
include the homes.
Mr. Lee did not think the change Senator Wielechowski
described needed to be made. He asked for additional
testifiers to weigh in on the matter.
Co-Chair Bishop asked if department staff could address the
question.
9:40:17 AM
CRAIG BAXTER, PROGRAM MANAGER, RESIDENTIAL LICENSING,
DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES (via teleconference), addressed Senator
Wielechowski's question. He did not believe the statute
needed to be amended. He thought it might be beneficial to
reach out to someone that dealt with long-term care.
Co-Chair Bishop suggested that Mr. Lee provide a written
response to Senator Wielechowski's before the bill was
heard in committee again.
Mr. Lee agreed to provide the information.
Co-Chair Stedman considered the fiscal notes and observed
that there was an increase in Medicaid services of $168,000
per year. He was curious as to how the department would cap
the amount so that it did not continue to escalate. He
mentioned the slight decrease in state population. He
acknowledged problems controlling costs in health and
social services in the state over the last decade.
Mr. Baxter thought Co-Chair Stedman might be looking at an
old fiscal note as the current fiscal note did not project
any cost increases to Medicaid services.
9:42:28 AM
AT EASE
9:42:47 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Bishop asked if Mr. Lee anticipated forthcoming
updated fiscal notes for the proposed CS.
Mr. Lee answered in the affirmative.
Co-Chair Stedman observed that the fiscal notes in front of
him were dated from March of the previous year. He wanted
to see updated fiscal notes and expressed concerned about
the growth of the department. He mentioned the budget for
the Department of Corrections as an area of concern.
Senator von Imhof thought the bill represented an age-old
conundrum, particularly with legislation related to social
services. She compared the cost of the bill with the
alternatives and considered that sometimes up-front costs
saved more money in the future. She emphasized that the
bill would put people in stable homes. She looked forward
to updated fiscal notes. She was worried about the costs to
the department but also thought the committee should
consider the cost of not passing such legislation.
SB 98 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
9:44:53 AM
AT EASE
9:45:11 AM
RECONVENED
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 98 Explanation of Changes ver A to G 4.2.22.pdf |
SFIN 4/5/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 98 |
| SB 98 Work Draft ver. G 4.2.22.pdf |
SFIN 4/5/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 98 |
| SB 98 Sectional Analysis Version ver. G 4.2.22.pdf |
SFIN 4/5/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 98 |
| SB 193 Explanation of Changes ver. I to G 03.30.2022.pdf |
HL&C 4/25/2022 3:15:00 PM SFIN 4/5/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 193 |
| SB 193 Work Draft ver. G 03.30.22.pdf |
SFIN 4/5/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 193 |
| SB 199 Sectional Analysis ver. I 3.25.22.pdf |
SFIN 4/5/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 199 |
| SB 199 Work Draft ver. I 3.25.22.pdf |
SFIN 4/5/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 199 |
| SB 199 Opposition Asplund.pdf |
SFIN 4/5/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 199 |