02/28/2014 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

           SCR 14-H&SS REGIONAL BEST PRACTICE MODELS                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:52:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEDMAN  announced that the  final order of  business would                                                               
be SCR 14. He said this  is the second hearing on the resolution.                                                               
On February 26 the committee  heard from the sponsor, took public                                                               
testimony,  and  held the  resolution  in  committee. The  intent                                                               
today is to adopt a committee  substitute and look to the will of                                                               
the committee.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KELLY moved  to adopt  the CS  for SCR  14, labeled  28-                                                               
LS1397\N, as the working document.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEDMAN objected for discussion purposes.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:52:29 PM                                                                                                                    
HEATHER  SHADDUCK,  Staff,  Senator   Pete  Kelly,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau,  Alaska, described  changes  in  SCR 14  on                                                               
behalf of  the sponsor.  She said  there are  two changes  in the                                                               
resolution. On  page 1,  line 4,  it used  to say,  "Whereas, the                                                               
rate  of  alcohol-related deaths  in  the  state is  185  percent                                                               
higher."  That  was   based  on  an  older   Alaska  score  card,                                                               
therefore, the  percentage has been  changed to "152  percent" in                                                               
version  N, which  reflects  the latest  score  card. The  second                                                               
change  is on  line  6, "71  percent higher"  is  changed to  "93                                                               
percent higher."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  STEDMAN  removed his  objection.  There  being no  further                                                               
objection, version N was before the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:53:42 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  SHADDUCK related  that the  resolution provides  for natural                                                               
helpers  and the  goal to  create regional  best practice  models                                                               
that the Governor  and the Commissioner can put  into effect. She                                                               
concluded that SCR 14 provides a community-based solution.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:54:28 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  STEDMAN noted  there was  one  zero fiscal  note from  the                                                               
Legislature.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KELLY summarized that the  resolution reflects the desire                                                               
of  the  leadership  team  to  not look  to  government,  but  to                                                               
communities, for solutions. The  leadership team intends to raise                                                               
money from the private sector.  Through the budget process, funds                                                               
will be requested for developing  the best practices and creating                                                               
the networks.  It is  not designed as  a government  program, but                                                               
recognizes the networks  that already exist. The plan  is to find                                                               
the people  who are  addicted, and train  and empower  people who                                                               
care and will reach out to them.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
He shared a story about  the superintendent from Kotzebue who had                                                               
identified a  group of  young people as  those who  others turned                                                               
to.  Previously,  Kotzebue had  six  suicides  per year,  then  a                                                               
leadership team was  formed and the number  of suicides decreased                                                               
to zero.  He said  similar natural helper  groups exist  in other                                                               
regions. This  summer helpers who  can be identified  and trained                                                               
will be identified.  Next, best practices will be identified.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:59:22 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEDMAN said there was public testimony previously.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MARK   HAMILTON,   former-President,    University   of   Alaska,                                                               
Anchorage,  Alaska, provided  information related  to SCR  14. He                                                               
said  community intervention  is so  much better  than government                                                               
programs. A  study shows that  the government agency is  number 9                                                               
or 10 on the  list of who to trust or go to  for help. The elders                                                               
are the natural helper group and will be accepted.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KELLY  described a story  from Representative  Ben Nageak                                                               
regarding  how  to  get  in  people's  faces  when  there  is  an                                                               
important issue.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:01:41 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KELLY  moved to  report the  CS for  SCR 14,  labeled 28-                                                               
LS1397\N,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached zero fiscal note.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEDMAN announced that without  objection, CSSCR 14(HSS) is                                                               
reported from the Senate Education Standing Committee.