Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/24/2001 03:08 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 255-STATEWIDE SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL [Contains discussion of SB 198, the companion bill] CHAIR DYSON announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 255, "An Act establishing the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council; and providing for an effective date." REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN PORTER, Alaska State Legislature, came forth as sponsor of HB 255. He stated: It is devastating to lose someone to suicide at any age, but it is especially tragic to lose a young person who has so much to live for. Suicide is preventable. In 1999, the United States Surgeon General issued "A Call to Action" to prevent suicide. The report made 15 recommendations categorized in the areas of awareness, intervention, and methodology. House Bill 255 is another step in answering both the state's and the national call to action. House Bill 255 will establish a statewide suicide prevention council made up of 14 private and public members representing rural and urban Alaska. Two members from both the House and the Senate would sit on the council. The governor would appoint ten members, including experts in substance abuse and mental health, as well as people who have been directly impacted by suicide and who would work with youth across the state. Suicide is an ongoing epidemic in many parts of the state. In rural Alaska and in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, the numbers are at an all-time high. We all must work together to reduce the toll suicide is having on the people of our state. The council will focus on finding ways to reduce suicide rates, broaden public awareness of the suicide warning signs, and enhance suicide prevention services and programs throughout the state. Each March the council will submit a report to the legislature and the governor with its findings and recommendations. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER stated that he has spent a lot of time in law enforcement, and when these tragedies occur [he would be among] the first to respond. He said that has made a lasting impression on his life, to the extent that he was on the board of Crisis, Inc., in Anchorage after retiring from the police department. He remarked that it is an unfortunate fact of life that the emphasis of these types of tragedies is cyclic. While progress was being made in this area in Alaska, other types of critical events have occurred, and the emphasis and attention that this should get have diminished. Number 0515 REPRESENTATIVE JOULE asked if there are any differences between this bill and the bill that is coming over from the Senate. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER answered that they are companion bills. REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL stated that the House State Affairs Standing Committee heard a bill that had House and Senate members on another board. He said there was debate on whether that would be appropriate. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER remarked that the wording has been constructed in the bill so that the members and the board would be advisory. He said the advisory designation overcomes the difficulty of having two commissions. REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL remarked that the bill states that the advisory board would have terms of four year, while the [House members of the] legislature only have two-year terms. He asked if it was intended that the members would only serve out the time that they are in the legislature. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER responded that Representative Coghill was correct. He stated that every two years the presiding officer would have the option of appointing new members. Number 0646 KAREN PERDUE, Commissioner, Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS), came forth and stated that suicide is a very big problem in Alaska. She said Representative Bunde had mentioned that the Attorney General convened a special conference on suicide in 1999, and in gathering that material together [the Attorney General] highlighted the fact that suicides actually account for [more] deaths in America than homicide. She noted that in 1988 the state legislature took the leadership on suicide [prevention] under Senator Willie Hensley. Out of that effort came the existing available programs. REPRESENTATIVE JOULE asked how many positions within the department specifically deal with suicide. COMMISSIONER PERDUE answered that [DHSS] does not have an individual who is exclusively devoted to this work. She said an earlier piece of this support did give [DHSS] some resources to begin working directly with the communities that are most at risk. As a result, [DHSS] will have, for the first time, someone available to work on suicide at the local level. This bill, she said, will give [DHSS] the ability to have the council staffed with a coordinator who focuses on the planning. CHAIR DYSON stated that he has seen at least one similar effort in the past five years that has been successful, which was when [DHSS] put the right person in to work on the FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) and FAE (fetal alcohol effect) problem. Number 0857 REPRESENTATIVE WILSON remarked that, like Representative Porter, when she worked with the ambulance squad she was one of the first on the scene when something like this has happened. She said it is devastating for the people involved, as well as for the people who come upon the scene. She stated that she is surprised to learn that this is an ongoing epidemic in many parts of the state, such as rural Alaska and the Matanuska- Susitna Valley. CHAIR DYSON asked Commissioner Perdue if she anticipates that the Denali Commission or other sources might be able to financially help out. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER answered that Jeff Jessee of the [Alaska] Mental Health Trust has already indicated interest in participating and furnishing half of the fiscal note. He added that when this kind of idea reaches fruition, it is presented with a fiscal note that has the ability for successful implementation. Number 1001 REPRESENTATIVE JOULE remarked that he would like to thank Representative Porter for bringing this legislation forward. He stated: Sometimes when you're young in life you think nothing ever happens to you. Then you get on in your years and you start reflecting back, and a whole lot had happened. ... You were just so busy in it. ... I had the unfortunate experience of losing a member of my family to suicide. And you talk about a life-changing experience. ... There's a tarnish that goes along with it to those of us who are survivors. ... Very seldom do we ever hear about those attempts, which are so many more numerous than those that [are] completed, and where there is such hopelessness for people. ... Something that is oftentimes a permanent solution ... could be, if the right resources are in place, a temporary problem. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA stated that she has worked on crisis lines and has worked with quite a few people who have been suicidal. She said the rate of suicide in the state is horrifying, especially in rural Alaska. She remarked that it is unbelievable because all living things seek to continue living; therefore, the fact that here are so many people who want to stop [living] says something deeper about what needs to be fixed. REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL stated that page 5, line 14, mentions strengthening existing and building new partnerships between public and private [entities]. He said it would be his hope that the faith-based community be included in that discussion, because all the things that go along with suicide are not just economic or alcohol- and drug-related, but certainly get right to the spirit of the person. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER responded that [the Senate] has already made that adjustment [in SB 198]. Number 1270 CHAIR DYSON asked if it would be appropriate to adopt a conceptual amendment to include that in the bill. THOMAS WRIGHT, Staff to Representative Brian Porter, Alaska State Legislature, responded that the Senate has added a member to the council from the faith-based community. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER stated that he would think that a conceptual amendment mirroring that language would be in order. Number 1303 REPRESENTATIVE WILSON made a motion to adopt conceptual Amendment 1, to add a member of the faith-based community to the board in a similar fashion to what has been adopted in the Senate Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee [SB198]. There being no objection, conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted. REPRESENTATIVE JOULE moved to report HB 255, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 255(HES) moved from the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|