03/28/1994 03:00 PM House HES

  HB 378 - REVISE OLDER ALASKANS COMMISSION                                    
                                                                               
  Number 711                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked Commissioner Usera to address the bill.                    
                                                                               
  Number 712                                                                   
                                                                               
  NANCY USERA, Commissioner, Department of Administration                      
  (DOA), testified in support of HB 378.  She stated that HB
 is a companion piece to two other proposals that compose                 
  Governor Hickel's "seniors package."  She explained that the                 
  legislation addresses many of the "housekeeping" issues for                  
  the development and efficient operation of the Division of                   
  Senior Services, which was created through administrative                    
  order.  The new division houses both the Older Alaskans                      
  Commission and the Pioneer Home Advisory Board.  She                         
  explained that the proposal would "clean up" several                         
  statutes associated with the merging of the commission and                   
  the board.                                                                   
                                                                               
  COMMISSIONER USERA further stated that the legislation would                 
  change the name of the Older Alaskans Commission to the                      
  Alaska Commission on Aging, which is consistent with the                     
  nomenclature that is common to federal matching funds.  She                  
  indicated that the committee substitute (CS) was the result                  
  of a difference of opinion regarding who should appoint the                  
  chairman of the two boards.  She indicated that there would                  
  be better advocacy for the groups if the governor appointed                  
  the chairman.  She said many of the senior's organizations                   
  supported the chairman being elected from the body.  She                     
  further indicated, as amended, the legislation was supported                 
  by all the senior's organizations in the state.                              
                                                                               
  COMMISSIONER USERA said the bill will facilitate the one                     
  stop shopping services that the state is trying to foster                    
  for seniors.                                                                 
                                                                               
  Number 770                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked if there were any questions.                               
                                                                               
  REP. OLBERG asked Commissioner Usera if the legislation had                  
  "anything to do with the Division of Senior Services?"                       
                                                                               
  COMMISSIONER USERA said yes.  The Division of Senior                         
  Services houses both commissions, but because of the changes                 
  to their respective statutes, having them in a single                        
  division required housekeeping measures.  She also indicated                 
  that the proposal would make the chairman of each board a                    
  member of the other board.  She felt this would coordinate                   
  the two boards.                                                              
                                                                               
  Number 796                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. B. DAVIS asked if there was further testimony or                        
  discussion.                                                                  
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked for further discussion.  There was none.                   
                                                                               
  REP. B. DAVIS made a motion to pass the CS for HB 378 out of                 
  committee with individual recommendations and accompanying                   
  fiscal note.                                                                 
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY objected and then asked for a brief at-ease.                      
                                                                               
  Number 817                                                                   
                                                                               
  (Chair Bunde took a brief at-ease from 3:34 p.m. to 3:36                     
  p.m.)                                                                        
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE indicated that there was an objection and called                 
  for the vote.  Reps. Bunde, G. Davis, Vezey, Kott, Olberg,                   
  B. Davis, Nicholia, and Brice voted Yea.  There were no Nay                  
  votes.  Chair Bunde stated that CSHB 378 was so moved.  He                   
  then brought HB 431 to the table.