Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
02/21/2008 03:30 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR17 | |
| HB274 | |
| HB50 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 274 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SCR 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 50 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SCR 17-BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH: MARCH 2008 3:40:16 PM CHAIR WILSON announced that the first order of business would be SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 17, Relating to establishing March 2008 as Brain Injury Awareness Month. TREVOR FULTON, Staff to Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State Legislature, presented SCR 17 on behalf of Senator McGuire, sponsor. Mr. Fulton stated that resolutions establishing March as Brain Injury Awareness Month have been passed several times in previous years. The bill was presented in the spirit of raising awareness of traumatic brain injury (TBI). He informed the committee that Alaska leads the nation in brain injuries per capita. In addition, TBI is a leading cause of death among children and young adults in the state. Alaska has seven times the national average number of brain injuries per capita; in the Bush communities the number is fourteen times the national average. In fact, 800 TBIs are reported in Alaska each year and an estimated 12,000 Alaskans have suffered a TBI. These injuries are life altering and place a tremendous strain on the victims and their families. Mr. Fulton pointed out that many victims suffer permanent disabilities. Furthermore, as most cases of TBI are preventable, raising awareness of the traumatic consequences will help prevent them. The Brain Injury Association of America recognizes March of each year as Brain Injury Awareness Month and this resolution will comport with the national effort by making March, 2008, Brain Injury Awareness Month in Alaska. Mr. Fulton pointed out that there is an addition to the resolution this year that recognizes that TBIs are on the rise in Alaska, primarily due to the number of returning veterans who have been injured in the service to their country. 3:44:16 PM MR. FULTON further explained that TBI is called a silent epidemic as some victims are not aware of their exact condition. 3:45:00 PM CHAIR WILSON shared that she spoke to U.S. Senator Ted Stevens about the problem of caring for the many injured veterans who are returning home to Alaska. The Senator assured her that more help will be coming for returning veterans. 3:46:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for the implications of the title change: "Traumatic Brain Injury" to "Brain Injury Awareness Month." MR. FULTON explained that brain injuries include other sorts of injuries, not just those sustained through trauma, but injuries through alcohol and substance abuse, and stroke. He opined that the intent is not to exclude other types of injury, even though the focus is on traumatic brain injury. Also, this resolution is drawn to comport with the national recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month. 3:47:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON pointed out that the "whereas" statements do not include other types of injury; therefore, the emphasis is not there. 3:48:26 PM CHAIR WILSON stated that other injuries are covered in the statement, " ... is known in the disability community as the nation's 'silent epidemic'." She asked whether Representative Seaton would like to make an addition to the resolution. 3:49:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON observed that previous resolutions addressed traumatic brain injury and that he was trying to get clarification. 3:49:40 PM RICHARD WARRINGTON, Ambassador, Brain Injury Association of America; Board Member, Alaska Brain Injury Network, responded to Representative Seaton's question and explained that brain injuries are like cancer in that there are many different kinds. He opined that brain injury awareness month includes all sorts of brain injuries. Mr. Warrington said that that he is the survivor of a traumatic brain injury 31 years ago and is still disabled. He urged the committee to pass the resolution to raise awareness; brain injuries occur every 21 seconds and additional awareness may slow this rate of occurrence. 3:51:22 PM T. FRANK BOX, Employee, Access Alaska, informed the committee that he is a survivor of two brain tumors followed by many surgeries and procedures. Mr. Box said that about two percent of the constituents in legislative districts have suffered a TBI. He continued to say that access to properly trained providers is essential for recovery, in fact, every dollar invested in brain injury rehabilitation support saves $35 in future medical costs. Mr. Box opined that building awareness in rural areas is a good investment at no cost. 3:52:55 PM JILL HODGES, Executive Director, Alaska Brain Injury Network, pointed out that her organization keeps coming back in order to continue to listen to the needs of Alaskans who have been affected by TBI. She said that to turn needs into solutions takes a consuming amount of energy from the victim and his or her family. The Alaska Brain Injury Network can take on the role of developing solutions and, thereby, support Alaskans. Ms. Hodges expressed her appreciation to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority for its funding of the Alaska Brain Injury Network. She opined that SCR 17 is one solution. In reference to Representative Seaton's question, she noted that the federal government first passed bills that solely addressed TBI; however, the Brain Injury Association of America recognized that brain injury encompasses all acquired brain injury. In Alaska, survivors of other brain injuries, such as stroke, alcohol abuse, and tumors, should be served, along with survivors of TBIs, in order for programs and services to be equally available for both populations. Ms. Hodges explained that her organization is in contact with hundreds of TBI survivors and that she is speaking for them. She then noted that the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is beginning a new campaign to advocate for seniors and revealed that, nationally, those over the age of 75 have the highest rate of brain injury. In Alaska, the Alaska Commission on Aging (ACoA) is working with the Alaska Brain Injury Network to raise awareness about TBI among the elder population. 3:57:11 PM JEFF IRWIN, Employee, Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL), expressed his support for considering March as traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month and stated that it is very important to better inform the public of this disability and to invest in funding for this issue. Mr. Irwin noted that Alaska has high rates of injury, especially in the rural communities. He spoke of the need to provide better information to the public, better diagnostic tools for health care providers, and more support for the victims of injuries. He stated that TBI is often not readily apparent and is called an invisible disability, and encouraged the committee to make this disability more visible to the community by declaring March as traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month. 3:58:20 PM ANTHONY SIVERSEN, Fisherman, described his life-threatening TBI while working on a fishing vessel five years ago. Mr. Siversen expressed his support of [SCR 17]. 3:59:40 PM CHAIR WILSON closed testimony on SCR 17. 3:59:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER moved to report SCR 17 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. Hearing no objections, SCR 17 was reported out of the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee. 4:01:05 PM
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