03/11/2010 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

          SCR 12-FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS DAY                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON  announced that the  next order of  business would                                                              
be SENATE CONCURRENT  RESOLUTION NO. 12, Proclaiming  September 9,                                                              
2010, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:53:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KEVIN MEYER,  Alaska  State Legislature,  explained  that                                                              
SCR 12  proclaimed September  9, 2010,  as Fetal Alcohol  Spectrum                                                              
Disorder  Day  (FASD).   He  shared  that  FASD day  was  observed                                                              
internationally.   He  pointed  out that  Alaska  had the  highest                                                              
rate  of FASD  in  the United  States.   He  noted  that FASD  was                                                              
caused  by prenatal  exposure  to alcohol,  and  could "result  in                                                              
permanent  brain  damage, birth  defects,  learning  disabilities,                                                              
behavioral problems,  and most tragically, the loss  of individual                                                              
potential."   He  directed attention  to the  millions of  dollars                                                              
spent  for lifetime  medical and  residential  treatment costs  by                                                              
the  state.    He expressed  frustration  that  this  was  totally                                                              
preventable.    He stated  that  SCR 12  was  an effort  to  bring                                                              
attention  and  awareness  to  the  problem  and  the  devastating                                                              
effects on the children.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:55:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR   HERRON   applauded  Senator   Meyer   for   maintaining                                                              
awareness  of FASD.   He referred  to the  earlier testimonies  by                                                              
parents  of  FASD  children  and  directed  attention  to  Alaskan                                                              
businesses and institutions which disregarded FASD.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:56:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER moved  to report  SCR  12 out  of committee  with                                                              
individual  recommendations.   There  being no  objection, SCR  12                                                              
was forwarded from  the House Health and Social  Services Standing                                                              
Committee.