Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
04/07/2011 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR7 | |
| HB209 | |
| HB61 | |
| HB33 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SCR 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 209 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 61 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 33 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SCR 7-FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS DAY
3:08:13 PM
CHAIR KELLER announced that the first order of business would be
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7, Proclaiming September 9,
2011, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day.
3:08:40 PM
SENATOR KEVIN MEYER, Alaska State Legislature, reported that
families with children with FASD were recognized internationally
on September 9, at 9:09 a.m. He explained that FASD was caused
by pre-natal exposure to alcohol, and its effects included
permanent brain damage, birth defects, learning disabilities,
and behavioral problems. He confirmed that Alaska had the
highest known rate of FASD in the United States, although it was
totally preventable. He heralded the goal of not drinking
alcohol while pregnant.
3:12:04 PM
JEANNE GERHARDT CYRUS shared that she was a parent of multiple
children with prenatal exposure to alcohol. She expressed her
support for SCR 7. She emphasized the importance for partners,
co-workers, and families of pregnant women to support sobriety
during pregnancy, as the sole cause of FASD was alcohol
exposure, which resulted in a lifelong disability. She observed
that although it was the most common cause of retardation, it
did not qualify for developmental disability services or special
education in the schools. She listed many of the problems to
include mental health problems, disruptive school experience,
inappropriate sexual behavior, and alcohol and drug problems.
She declared the best strategies to be prevention and early
intervention.
3:15:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked for the reasons that FASD kids did
not qualify for special education.
MS. CYRUS replied that diagnosis was not available everywhere,
especially in the rural communities, and that often there was
not awareness by the schools or the parents. She pointed out
that FASD had to be recognized, and then it was often classified
as "other health impaired." She recounted that many FASD issues
were behavioral, and were treated as a discipline issue.
3:17:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON expressed his agreement.
3:18:19 PM
CHAIR KELLER acknowledged the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and
Drug Abuse study, "Economic Costs of Alcohol and Other Drugs in
Alaska, 2005 update." [Included in members' packets]
3:18:47 PM
KATE BURKHARDT, Executive Director, Advisory Board on Alcoholism
& Drug Abuse, Division of Behavioral Health, explained that the
Advisory Board was also a founding member of the FASD
Partnership, and that both organizations supported proposed SCR
7. She declared that SCR 7 was not just about prevention, but
also about identification of and improvement for those lives
affected by FASD. She spoke about an annual partnership event
with the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant & Retailers
Association (CHARR), the alcohol industry, and individual
alcohol retailers for distribution of educational information
and non-alcoholic beverages. She applauded efforts for a
permanent declaration of FASD day.
3:22:04 PM
CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony.
3:22:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DICK moved to report SCR 7 out of committee with
individual recommendations. There being no objection, SCR 7 was
reported from the House Health and Social Services Standing
Committee.