Legislature(2003 - 2004)
04/04/2003 09:01 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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SENATE BILL NO. 124
"An Act relating to grants for alcoholism and drug abuse
programs; and providing for an effective date."
This was the second hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
Co-Chair Wilken reminded of a question posed at the previous
hearing regarding a spreadsheet titled "SB 124/HB 167 Increase
Local Match Requirement for Substance Abuse Grants (Revised 3/12)"
[copy on file], asking why some programs were exempt from the match
requirement.
AT EASE 9:03 AM / 9:09 AM
KAREN PEARSON, Acting Director, Division of Alcoholism and Drug
Abuse, Department of Health and Social Services distributed a
spreadsheet titled, "Type of Grant" dated 4/4/03 [copy on file.]
She noted this spreadsheet contains the same information as the
original handout, although sorted by program.
Ms. Pearson detailed the spreadsheet beginning with the ASAP
programs, which do not "have a match" because these are court
programs for misdemeanor referrals related to alcohol abuse. She
furthered that the CAASA grants require a ten-percent match and are
"more prevention related" programs. All of the suicide prevention
grants are exempt from match requirements, she said, as well as
most of the Community Prevention Services grants. She shared that
some of the Community Prevention Services grants do require a
match, based on "special circumstances", exampling that the Mothers
Against Drunk Driving (MADD) organization has the ability to
provide a portion of the matching funds. She informed that all the
Outpatient Treatment Services grants require a match, the
percentage of which is based on the program's ability to generate
revenue. She was unsure the reason the Central Peninsula General
Hospital program within the Residential Treatment Services grant
category was the only program in this group with a ten-percent
match requirement. She continued that the Family Recovery Camp
grants had no match and Rural Human Service Systems grants were
"again holding harmless". She listed the Rural Woman and Children,
Services for Families-Women with Children, and Services for
Families-Youth grants as retaining the ten percent match
requirement, because they serve "such high risk groups."
Co-Chair Wilken asked if the programs categorized on the
spreadsheet as "10%(A)" are "held at the ten percent" with the
remaining programs increased from ten percent to 25 percent.
Ms. Pearson affirmed that those listed as 10%(A) and 10%(B) retain
the ten-percent requirement. She defined the 10%(A) as a
"prevention grant" or a grant of less than $30,000.
Co-Chair Wilken recalled Senator Taylor's question at the previous
hearing regarding the proposed 25 percent match requirement of
Sitka Prevention and Treatment Services, Inc. in comparison to
other recipients of the Prevention Services grant program,
including a domestic violence program in the Municipality of
Anchorage, that would require only a ten-percent match.
Ms. Pearson explained the domestic violence program receives a
"prevention oriented" grant and is therefore exempt from a match
requirement. She was unable to explain why other prevention grants
in amounts greater than $50,000 were not exempt, characterizing the
situation as an anomaly.
Senator B. Stevens pointed out that the Sitka Prevention and
Treatment Services, Inc. program receives a $68,000 Services for
Family-Youth grant with a ten-percent match requirement.
Co-Chair Wilken clarified the information listed on both
spreadsheets is identical, although organized differently.
Ms. Pearson affirmed.
Senator Taylor spoke to the increased tax imposed on alcoholic
beverages the previous session with the intent to fund alcohol
abuse prevention and treatment. He questioned the reductions to
these programs one year later.
Co-Chair Green countered, "You'll find that in the overall HSS
(Department of Health and Social Services) budget, that will not be
the case.)
Co-Chair Green offered a motion to report SB 124 from Committee.
Senator Taylor objected for the purpose of discussion. He asked for
an accounting of the proposed increased funding to alcohol and
substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.
ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Health and Social Services, testified that the
spreadsheet lists all grant programs administered by the
Department.
Senator Taylor asked if funding for alcohol and substance abuse
treatment programs would increase or decrease.
Mr. Lindstrom informed, "A number of budget items are pending" and
added that this legislation does not reflect all funding for
treatment programs.
Ms. Pearson pointed out the grants listed on the spreadsheet
reflect the amounts awarded the previous year. She stated that a
"significant" increase of $4 million is proposed for FY 04 for
women and youth services and a "net increase" of funding for
prevention and treatment programs.
Senator Taylor removed his objection to the motion to report the
bill from Committee.
Without objection SB 124 MOVED from Committee with individual
recommendations and four fiscal notes from the Department of Health
and Social Services: #1 -$112,600 Alcohol Safety Action Program; #2
-$125,400 CAPI Grants; #3 -$1,255,300 Alcohol/Drug Abuse Grants; #4
-$118,400, Rural Services/Suicide Prevention.
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