Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/07/2024 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB189 | |
| HB120 | |
| SCR10 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 189 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 120 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SCR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE BILL NO. 189
"An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska
Commission on Aging; and providing for an effective
date."
9:07:37 AM
SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, SPONSOR, introduced himself and
thanked the committee. He shared that his University of
Alaska Fairbanks Ted Stevens intern would be speaking to
the bill. He noted that the bill would extend the sunset
date for the Alaska Commission on Aging (ACA). The
commission dealt with issues related to seniors. He
mentioned a growing population of seniors in the state. He
thanked the committee for introducing a Committee
Substitute [for SB 170] which removed the sunset date for
the Senior Benefits Program. He noted that the bill was
awaiting consideration in the House.
9:08:51 AM
SENECA ROACH, INTERN FOR SENATOR KAWASAKI, addressed a
sponsor statement for the bill (copy on file):
Senate Bill 189 would extend the Alaska Commission on
Aging for eight years, until June 30, 2032, based on
the recommendations of the Legislative Budget and
Audit Committee. Alaska's senior population is the
fastest growing per capita in the United States, with
the population aged 60 and older growing by 62.3%
between the years of 2010-2021. This drastic increase
in population has come with an increase in the number
of seniors living below the poverty line as the cost
of living has continued to rise. Additionally,
Alaska's senior mortality rate continues to score
higher than the national average in areas such as
senior suicide, fatal falls, and alcohol-induced
deaths. The Alaska Commission on Aging has proved
vital in collecting data and providing solutions to
the many challenges facing this particularly
vulnerable and important group of Alaskans.
The recently completed audit found that the Alaska
Commission on Aging is serving the public's interest
by formulating and approving the comprehensive State
Plan for Senior Services; advocating for older
Alaskans; providing education programs; making
recommendations to the legislature and the governor on
legislation, appropriations, programs and services for
seniors; and serving as a federally recognized
advisory council to satisfy the requirement of the
Older Americans Act, allowing Alaska to receive
federal funding through the Administration on
Community Living.
Senate Bill 189 is supported by the AARP, Access
Alaska, Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska, Anchorage
Senior Activity Center, Coalition of Mat-Su Senior
Centers, Denakkanaaga, Inc., Governor's Council on
Disabilities and Special Education, North Star Council
on Aging, Senior Citizens of Fairbanks, Inc. and many
other organizations.
I would respectfully request your support to extend
this vital commission.
Co-Chair Olson asked if there was any opposition to the
bill.
Ms. Roach was not aware of any opposition to the bill.
Co-Chair Olson was also not aware of any opposition to the
bill.
9:11:29 AM
Ms. Roach addressed a Sectional Analysis (copy on file):
Page 1, Line 5
Deletes "2024" and replaces with "2032"
Page 1, Line 7
This Act takes effect immediately under AS
01.10.070(c)
Ms. Roach continued her testimony noting that without
action, the commission would expire on June 30, 2024. The
commission was originally enacted in 1981 and had been
extended every year. He discussed the commissions intent
to organize the states efforts to aid and support the
states senior population. He described the state plan for
Senior Services, which was released every four years and
provided framework for how the state distributed state
services to seniors including meals, transportation, safety
and protection, adult day services, senior housing,
vocational training, and legal assistance. The commissions
guidance ensured that Alaskas senior programs and services
were directed correctly and efficiently.
Ms. Roach described another primary activity of the
commission, which was a Yearly Senior Snapshot. The
snapshot looked at statistics and underlying trends of the
states senior population. The project gathered data in
reference to population growth, poverty rates, mortality
rates, economic indicators, the number of seniors receiving
benefits, health and safety information, and housing
information related to long-term care and its cost. The
summary of the senior population helped the state
understand underlying dynamics at play, and could help to
tailor government students.
Ms. Roach discussion how the commission helped the state
qualify for federal funding through the Older Americans
Act. The act required states to maintain a single planning
and service area to receive funds for states to help run
senior programs. He asserted that the approximately $5.7
million in funding would not be possible without ACA.
Ms. Roach referenced the Legislative Budget and Audit
Committees sunset review of ACA (copy on file). The audit
concluded that the commission served the publics interest
by helping older Alaskans lead dignified, independent, and
useful lives through advocacy, outreach, and education.
The committee went on to recommend that the commissions
termination date be extended until 2032. She summarized
that the commission acted as a necessary component in the
states senior care system, providing the framework for its
initiatives and the funds to fund them.
9:14:28 AM
Senator Kiehl referenced the state plan that ensured
funding. He asked for highlights of the commissions other
accomplishments.
Ms. Roach thought invited testimony could cite additional
accomplishments. She offered to provide more information at
a later date.
Senator Wilson noted that the sunset had an eight year
extension. He asked if the sponsor felt that eight-year
extensions would continue for a board that had always acted
in the best interest of the public.
Ms. Roach believed an eight-year extension was good for the
senior population and was supported by the sponsor.
Co-Chair Olson noted that the legislative auditor was
available for questions.
9:16:34 AM
JON HAGHEYEGHI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COMMISSION ON
AGING, relayed that he was in strong support of the bill.
He asserted that the extension was not just a procedural
necessity but was a critical step towards addressing the
critical needs of the states senior population. He thought
Alaskan seniors experienced special challenges, including
scarcity of accessible resources and the distance to
resources. He mentioned the ACA and the development of the
state Plan for Senior Services, which he described as a
strategic blueprint that qualified Alaska for federal
funds. He thought support of the bill reinforced the
state's commitment to the states seniors. He mentioned the
growing senior population in the state.
Co-Chair Olson asked for Mr. Hagheyegh to comment on not
having a sunset date for ACA. He deferred to the chair for
comment.
9:19:34 AM
MARGE STONEKING, ADVOCACY DIRECTOR, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
RETIRED PEOPLE - ALASKA, spoke in favor of the bill. She
relayed that ACA had partnered with the American
Association of Retired People (AARP) Alaska in its advocacy
work to make Alaska a better place for aging. She asserted
that ACAs planning and outreach reflected its data
gathering and listening sessions with older Alaskans and
senior providers. See posited that ACAs Senior Snapshot
and comprehensive state plan were invaluable to AARP Alaska
and other organizations serving and advocating for seniors.
She mentioned ACA quarterly meetings around the state,
which provided a public forum that helped the state stay in
touch with how it supported seniors in remaining
independent. She noted that AARP Alaska supported the
reauthorization of the ACA. She cited that the states
senior population was the fastest growing in the nation.
Co-Chair Olson asked the state auditor to comment and
address the eight-year extension.
9:22:09 AM
KRIS CURTIS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF LEGISLATIVE AUDIT,
thought the previous speaker had provided a high-level
overview of whether the commission was serving the publics
interest. She referenced "A Sunset Review of the Department
of Health, Alaska Commission on Aging" (copy on file).The
committee had concluded that ACA was serving the publics
interest and providing an important service. She relayed
that the audit had one recommendation that ACA was
compiling statistics into the Senior Snapshot but was not
evaluating the services. They had provided metrics but no
evaluation. The audit also could not find evidence that the
report was provided to the governor or legislature.
Co-Chair Olson asked if the lack of evaluation was a
disservice to those that were being served.
Ms. Curtis thought the evaluation the adequacy of services
was very important for policy creation, and was part of
statute.
Co-Chair Olson agreed and reflected that the records should
have an impact.
Ms. Curtis thought the recommendation was administrative in
nature and was an easy fix, and noted that ACA was
receptive to the feedback. She thought there was important
information in the audit report. She explained that ACA had
experienced a lot of turnover. She noted that during three
and a half years there was vacancies in key positions, but
offered kudos to ACA for being able to effectively carry
out most of its functions despite the vacancies.
Co-Chair Olson asked about positive and negative aspects of
making the ACA permanent.
Ms. Curtis explained that the purpose of a sunset process
was to make sure that government entities did not exist in
perpetuity and at some point, to evaluate if there was a
continuing need. She added that the sunset also provided
the legislature an oversight mechanism as to how the entity
was operating, including occupational boards with support
from the Division of Corporations, Business and
Professional Licensing. For ACA, the legislature would use
its oversight to look at how the commission was supported
by the Divison of Senior and Disability Services.
Ms. Curtis continued to address Co-Chair Olson's question.
She explained that the downside of making the ACA permanent
would be a lack of an oversight mechanism. She thought the
committee had made significant changes during the last
oversight process, including evaluation of positions.
Without a sunset date, the legislature would lose the
ability for such an evaluation.
9:25:57 AM
Ms. Curtis continued her remarks. She thought the advantage
of having no sunset date for the ACA would be not having
the cost or resources for an audit. She thought it was a
policy decision.
Co-Chair Olson asked if Ms. Curtis recommended continuing
on with a sunset date and not making ACA permanent.
Ms. Curtis relayed that she was neutral.
Senator Merrick asked about the cost of the audit.
Ms. Curtis estimated that for a small board such as ACA
that the audit would take approximately 300 to 350 hours.
The hourly rate for an audit was approximately $88 to $89
per hour.
Co-Chair Olson estimated that the audit would cost
approximately $2,500.
Ms. Curtis replied that the audit would cost approximately
$25,000 every eight years.
Senator Bishop agreed with the auditor. He appreciated the
snapshot of senior services. He thought younger members
might want to pay attention to legislation that affected
the senior population. He thought a deeper look at the
effectiveness of ACA was warranted. He mentioned the
economic status of retirees, including rates of Social
Security and other benefits. He was interested in details
that indicated how many recipients received defined benefit
versus defined contribution plan benefits.
Co-Chair Olson relayed that the committee would address the
fiscal note, which was roughly $450,000 per year. He asked
for the department to comment.
9:28:52 AM
NICOLE WERY-TAGABAN, ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS MANAGER,
DIVISION OF SENIOR AND DISABILITY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, spoke to a new fiscal note from the Department of
Health, OMB Component number 2674. She noted that the
fiscal note was already in the budget for FY 25. The fiscal
note was for $449,000. Of the total, $239,000 came from
inter-agency receipts and $210,000 came from the Alaska
Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA).
Co-Chair Olson asked if the funds were Designated General
Funds (DGF).
Ms. Wery-Tagaban answered affirmatively.
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.
9:30:06 AM
BOB SIVERTSEN, CHAIRMAN, ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING,
KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke in favor of the bill.
He thought the ACA mission worked in developing the state
plan for senior services, which was a statutory requirement
and a testament to the states commitment to guiding senior
services across the state. He mentioned collaboration with
AMHTA, which amplified ACAs impact, particularly in mental
health aspects of senior wellbeing. He considered that the
commission was part of the mechanism through which the
state received Older Americans Act funding for grants
within the state.
Mr. Sivertsen continued his remarks and referenced earlier
comments about a permanent extension. He relayed that the
commission welcomed the review and the audit because it
kept ACA on track and ensured it was providing services to
seniors in a meaningful manner. He mentioned ACAs outreach
and legislative advocacy. He discussed education. He
mentioned organizational partnerships to share information
with seniors on accessing services. He discussed travel
within the state and the challenge that 85 percent of
Alaskans were not on a road system. He mentioned outward
migration from the state and larger issues with senior
health and support.
9:33:27 AM
PAULA PAWLOWSKI, VICE CHAIR, ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of the
bill. She noted that all the commission members were
volunteers, and members tried to represent the entire
state. The commission was currently looking to fill a
position to represent Western Alaska. The commission had
only two employees. She explained that ACA listened,
evaluated, and provided feedback to partners. The mentioned
the state plan required by the federal government, which
took at least a year to assemble. She mentioned the growth
of the aging population, and cited that the 85-plus
population in Alaska was expected to increase by 500
percent by 2023 and 2050. She noted that the states
biggest need was for the 80-plus population and how to
provide seniors with the ability to age in place with
services and dignity.
9:36:28 AM
PAMELA SAMASH, COMMISSIONER, ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING,
NENANA (via teleconference), spoke in favor of the bill.
She thanked the committee and thanked the sponsor. She
emphasized that the senior population was exploding in
the state and needed help, particularly in the Interior and
in rural parts of the state. She relayed that she had
joined the board because she saw the need and wanted to
help. She relayed that she was from Nenana. She described
receiving calls from all over the state from people needing
help. She described the challenge of navigating Medicaid,
Social Security, and food insecurity. She encouraged
members to look over the state plan, which addressed many
areas. She emphasized that the topic affected everyone. She
emphasized that ACA members were volunteers.
9:39:39 AM
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.
SB 189 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.