04/27/1994 08:40 AM House FIN

  SB 250    An Act relating to  the Older Alaskans  Commission                 
            and staff of the commission;  changing the name of                 
            the  Older  Alaskans  Commission   to  the  Alaska                 
            Commission on Aging and extending the  termination                 
            date  of the  commission; relating  to the  Alaska                 
            Pioneers'  Homes  Advisory   Board;  relating   to                 
            services and  programs  for  older  Alaskans;  and                 
            providing for an effective date.                                   
                                                                               
            HCS CS SB 250 (FIN) was reported out  of Committee                 
            with a "do  pass" recommendation  and with a  zero                 
            fiscal note  by the  Department of  Administration                 
            dated 1/14/94.                                                     
  SENATE BILL 250                                                              
                                                                               
                                4                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
       "An Act relating  to the Older Alaskans  Commission and                 
       staff of the commission; changing the name of the Older                 
       Alaskans Commission  to the Alaska  Commission on Aging                 
       and extending  the termination date of  the commission;                 
       relating  to the Alaska Pioneers' Homes Advisory Board;                 
       relating to services  and programs for older  Alaskans;                 
       and providing for an effective date."                                   
                                                                               
  Commissioner Usera pointed  out that SB  250 was one of  the                 
  three pieces of  legislation introduced  by the Governor  as                 
  part of a plan  to improve and reorganize state  services to                 
  Alaska's seniors.                                                            
                                                                               
       1.   Re-name  the  Older  Alaskans  Commission  as  the                 
            Alaska Commission on Aging.                                        
       2.   Reduce the number of mandatory annual meetings for                 
            both  the  Commission and  the  Board in  order to                 
            reflect current practices and fiscal resources.                    
       3.   Add the chairperson of the  Commission on Aging to                 
            the Pioneers' Homes Board.                                         
       4.   Establish 8 year maximum terms for Pioneers' Homes                 
            Board  members, allow current  members to serve up                 
            to  8  more  years, and  transition  the  board to                 
            staggered terms.                                                   
       5.   Clarify that  the Commission on  Aging administers                 
            programs through its executive director.                           
       6.   Clarify  that  the  Commission   sets  policy  for                 
            administration   of   its  programs   and  selects                 
            recipients for grant awards.                                       
       7.   Allows  the  Commission flexibility  to  reduce or                 
            waive  local  "match"  requirements  for  grantees                 
            operating "pilot  projects" when the waiver  is in                 
            the public's interest.                                             
                                                                               
  Commissioner  Usera  stated  that  the  Department  supports                 
  Amendment #1 which  would provide a  vote for the  executive                 
  branch agencies who  sit on the Boards as well as a vote for                 
  the Chairman of the Older Alaskan's Commission.                              
                                                                               
  PAT DENNY,  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OLDER  ALASKAN'S COMMISSION,                 
  DEPARTMENT  OF  ADMINISTRATION,  testified  that  the  Older                 
  Alaskan's Commission was anxious to see that the Chairman of                 
  the Pioneer's Home Board and three members of  the executive                 
  branch  be given the opportunity to fully participate in the                 
  work of the Commission.                                                      
                                                                               
  CONNIE   SIPE,  DIRECTOR,   DIVISION  OF   SENIOR  SERVICES,                 
  DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, summarized that there would be                 
  no amendments  or changes to the Longevity Bonus through the                 
  proposed legislation.                                                        
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                5                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Representative Martin MOVED to adopt Amendment #1.                           
                                                                               
  (Tape Change, HFC 94-143, Side 2).                                           
                                                                               
  There being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted.                                    
                                                                               
  Representative Martin MOVED  to report HCS  CS SB 250  (FIN)                 
  out of  Committee with  individual recommendations and  with                 
  the  accompanying fiscal note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it                 
  was so ordered.                                                              
                                                                               
  HCS CS SB 250 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do                 
  pass" recommendation  and with  a  zero fiscal  note by  the                 
  Department of Administration dated 1/14/94.