02/12/2008 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES

HB 276-EXTEND ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
[Contains discussion of HB 279]                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:59:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON announced  that the next order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 276,  "An Act extending  the termination  date of                                                               
the Alaska  Commission on Aging;  and providing for  an effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:00:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ANDREA DOLL,  Alaska State  Legislature, speaking                                                               
as the  sponsor of  HB 276,  informed the  committee that  HB 276                                                               
will extend  the sunset  provision for  the Alaska  Commission on                                                               
Aging (ACoA).   She advised  that, five  years ago, the  ACoA was                                                               
moved  from  the  Department  of   Administration  (DOA)  to  the                                                               
Department of Health  and Social Services (DHSS) and  some of the                                                               
commission's responsibilities were  changed.  Representative Doll                                                               
added  that  HB 279  was  recommended  by  the auditors  and  was                                                               
written to enact the conforming language to reflect this move.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:01:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON noted that HB 276 extends the sunset to 2016.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:02:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH asked when  the last time the statewide                                                               
plan was adopted.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:02:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN  ALPER, Staff  to Representative  Andrea  Doll, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, stated  that the plan was  adopted in 2007 and  is a                                                               
four-year plan dated 2008 to 2011.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:03:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FAIRCLOUGH noted  that  there is  support in  the                                                               
legislature for  shorter timeframes so that  the effectiveness of                                                               
programs  can  be  measured;  nevertheless,  she  said  that  she                                                               
supports  the reauthorization  of the  ACoA.   She then  recalled                                                               
that a  former member  of the commission  raised the  question of                                                               
access  to  facilities  for  the aging  population.    She  asked                                                               
whether  the commission's  planning process  addresses access  to                                                               
facilities and long-term care.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:03:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DOLL  referred  the  question  to  the  executive                                                               
director.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:04:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON asked for a motion.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:04:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER  moved to report  HB 276 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 4:04 p.m. to 4:05 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being  no objection, HB 276  was reported out of  the House                                                               
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.