05/07/2007 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES

        SB 151-NEW DRIVER'S LIC. /PERMIT:CPR/ FIRST AID                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:36:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DAVIS announced SB 151 to be up for discussion.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THOMAS  moved to adopt the  proposed committee substitute                                                               
to  SB  151,  labeled  25-LS0724\M, Version  M,  as  the  working                                                               
document of the committee.   There being no objection, the motion                                                               
carried.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS,  sponsor of SB  115, said  that he had  made brief                                                               
remarks on  the floor about how  the bill was brought  forward by                                                               
request  of the  family  of  a person  who  died.   It's  brought                                                               
forward  in the  hope of  saving lives  in the  future; the  bill                                                               
requires first-aid training prior to  the initial reception of an                                                               
Alaska driver's license  or permit. There are  classes and online                                                               
training  available to  meet this  requirement, and  there is  no                                                               
known opposition.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
He added that  Alaska is a state prone to  natural disasters, and                                                               
hopefully this bill will help save lives.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:40:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JIM  FOSTER,  Chief  Medical  Officer   for  the  Anchorage  Fire                                                               
Department,   said  that   the  cardiac   arrest  survival   rate                                                               
nationwide  is  very  low  but  could be  improved  by  CPR  aid;                                                               
citizens should know how to perform CPR effectively.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:41:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SUZANNE MEUNIER, Alaska Advocacy  Director for the American Heart                                                               
Association, cited  statistics for deaths from  heart attack, and                                                               
explained how  they could be  lowered with  the help of  CPR. She                                                               
talked  about  the   cardiac  arrest  process  and   how  CPR  is                                                               
beneficial, and gave an example  of such a situation. The mission                                                               
of the American Heart Association  is to help increase the number                                                               
of lay-people who can aid in CPR and thus prevent more deaths.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:45:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DAVIS acknowledged that Senator Elton had arrived.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:45:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SHAD ENGKILTERRA,  Southeast director, Red Cross  of Alaska, said                                                               
that Red Cross  classes also teach how to think  in an emergency.                                                               
Alaska is  a large state with  a lot of rural  area and potential                                                               
for danger;  he related  personal stories  about the  benefits of                                                               
CPR training.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:48:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   DAVIS  asked   for  an   explanation  of   the  committee                                                               
substitute.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:48:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATE  HERRING, staff  to Senator  Ellis,  explained the  changes,                                                               
which included  a word in the  title and application of  the bill                                                               
as regards first-time Alaskan license holders.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:49:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS  referenced a previous bill  regarding CPR training                                                               
in schools, and said that SB  151 is a simplified approach to the                                                               
problem with a zero fiscal note.  It won't burden older folks and                                                               
those coming  in from other  states; it  takes the burden  off of                                                               
school districts and equips citizens equally well.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. HERRING explained a final minor language change in the bill.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:51:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THOMAS made  a motion to move CSSB  151(HES), referred to                                                               
as Version M, from committee  with individual recommendations and                                                               
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being no objections, the motion                                                               
carried.