05/06/2001 11:34 AM House FIN

CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 198(HES)                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing the Statewide Suicide Prevention                                                                      
     Council; and providing for an effective date."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HALFORD,  SPONSOR,  testified   in  support  of  the                                                                   
legislation. He  explained that  the resolution is  an effort                                                                   
to increase  awareness, coordination  and efforts  in suicide                                                                   
prevention. Suicide is the most  unreported cause of the loss                                                                   
of life  and is in epidemic  proportions in rural  Alaska and                                                                   
the  Matsu Valley.  He  observed  that the  last  coordinated                                                                   
effort was in 1988.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Bunde  acknowledged  the problem  and  questioned                                                                   
what would  be done  to "turn the  corner" on the  challenge.                                                                   
Senator Halford  observed that  there are serial  suicides in                                                                   
rural areas.  He noted that those  that don't feel  like they                                                                   
have  options are  lost.  One  of the  problems  is that  the                                                                   
things that are  done to make people feel better  may elevate                                                                   
the  individual so  that  someone else  that  feels lost  may                                                                   
think that  suicide may be the  answer. He stressed  the need                                                                   
for the collective will and wisdom  of many people to address                                                                   
the  problem. He  emphasized that  the solutions  have to  be                                                                   
home grown and that it will take a lot of listening.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hudson spoke in  support of the  legislation.                                                                   
Representative Croft  felt that the composition  of the board                                                                   
provides  a  broad spectrum  of  requirements  for  different                                                                   
segments of the society outside  of government. He noted that                                                                   
the  Council  would  include   young  people,  clergy,  rural                                                                   
persons,  and those  that  have experienced  the  death of  a                                                                   
member of their family.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator Halford  noted that  the Administration  assisted` in                                                                   
the formation of the Council.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster  MOVED to report CSSB 198  (HES) out of                                                                   
Committee with the accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CSSB  198 (HES)  was REPORTED  out  of Committee  with a  "do                                                                   
pass" recommendation  and with a previously  published fiscal                                                                   
note (#2 - HSS).