04/27/1993 08:35 AM House FIN

  SENATE BILL NO. 146                                                          
                                                                               
       "An Act  amending the  maximum interest  rate on  loans                 
       made under the Alaska Agricultural Loan Act."                           
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Larson noted  that SB 145 establishes  the position                 
  of state medical  examiner within  the Department of  Health                 
  and Social  Services.  It provides that coroners may request                 
  the state medical examiner, under  regulations to be adopted                 
  by the Department,  to conduct  an external and/or  internal                 
  examination  of  the  body  and  to take  other  appropriate                 
  actions to determine the  cause of death and to  certify the                 
  cause of death.                                                              
                                                                               
  Representative Hanley  noted that  SB 146  would reduce  the                 
  number of  state mandated  autopsies and  help decrease  the                 
  budget.  The House Finance Subcommittee on the Department of                 
  Health and  Social Services based their  recommendations for                 
  the department's budget on passage of SB 145.                                
                                                                               
  Co-Chair MacLean  MOVED  to report  CSSB  145 (STA)  out  of                 
  Committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  with  the                 
  accompanying fiscal notes.  Representative Martin questioned                 
  the accompanying fiscal notes.  Representative MacLean noted                 
  that  the   there  are  additional  costs   associated  with                 
  transportation.                                                              
                                                                               
  ELMER LINDSTROM, SPECIAL ASSISTANT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                 
  SOCIAL  SERVICES stated that the fiscal  note adopted by the                 
  Senate Finance Committee  assumed that the House  number for                 
  the  Department's  budget  would  be  taken  in   Conference                 
  Committee.    There  will be  two  new  positions.   One  is                 
  accommodated  in  the   Operating  Budget  adopted   by  the                 
  Conference  Committee.   Members  continued  to  discuss the                 
  Senate  Finance   Committee  fiscal  note.    Mr.  Lindstrom                 
  reiterated that the fiscal note was based on adoption of the                 
  House  Operating  Budget for  the  Department of  Health and                 
                                                                               
                                4                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Social Services.                                                             
                                                                               
  Representative Martin asked the impact  on the Department of                 
  Public Safety's budget.                                                      
                                                                               
  C. E.  SWACKHAMMER, DEPUTY  DIRECTOR,  DEPARTMENT OF  PUBLIC                 
  SAFETY clarified that the backup lists the total cost of the                 
  crime  laboratory.    He  explained  that  approximately  10                 
  percent  of the crime lab's resources go to autopsy support.                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Co-Chair  Larson  reiterated  the motion  to  move  CSSB 145                 
  (STA).  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                         
                                                                               
  CSSB 145 (STA) am was  reported out of Committee with  a "do                 
  pass" recommendation and  with a fiscal  impact note by  the                 
  Senate Finance Committee,  dated 4/20/93; and with  a fiscal                 
  impact note by the Department of Public Safety, dated 4/7/93                 
  and with  a zero  fiscal note  by the  Alaska Court  System,                 
  4/7/93.