02/21/2000 01:35 PM Senate HES

         SCR 15-ALCOHOL-RELATED BIRTH DEFECTS AWARENESS                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. HOLLY HEMMING, legislative intern for Senator Lincoln, made the                                                             
following statement.  SCR 15 proposes that Alaska establish two                                                                 
awareness weeks for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) - one during the                                                               
week previous to Mother's Day and one previous to Father's Day.                                                                 
FAS is the number one cause of birth defects and mental retardation                                                             
in America and in Alaska.  It is the only birth defect that is                                                                  
completely preventable.  The estimated lifetime cost to the State                                                               
of each FAS child is between $1.4 and $2.0 million.  Approximately                                                              
10 FAS children are born in Alaska every year, and an estimated 400                                                             
people with FAS live in Alaska right now, at a cost to the State                                                                
of about $560 million a year.  People with fetal alcohol effects                                                                
(FAE) lack the physical appearance of FAS but they have the same                                                                
damage to their brain and organs and FAE can be just as serious.                                                                
The weeks of Father's Day and Mother's Day are appropriate dates to                                                             
recognize the role and responsibility of parents in FAS.  She                                                                   
pointed out that committee packets contain an article that                                                                      
discusses the in utero alcohol damage that can happen after one                                                                 
drink and other information on FAS and its effects.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LINCOLN added that FAS and FAE have been talked about as a                                                              
children's syndrome to date, but she has met adults in Alaska with                                                              
FAS and FAE - a sorry predicament because help is not available for                                                             
those people.  Unfortunately, Alaska does not have legislation that                                                             
addresses ways to alleviate FAS and FAE.  SCR 15 only makes the                                                                 
public throughout Alaska aware of this totally preventable                                                                      
syndrome.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being no further testimony or questions, SENATOR ELTON moved                                                              
SCR 15 out of committee with individual recommendations.  There                                                                 
being no objection, the motion carried.