Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 106
03/24/2016 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB324 | |
| HB280 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 280 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 324 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HJR 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 324-VIOLENT CRIMES COMP BOARD MEMBERSHIP
8:09:57 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 324, "An Act relating to the Violent Crimes
Compensation Board."
8:10:13 AM
COURTNEY ENRIGHT, Staff, Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Alaska
State Legislature, presented HB 324 on behalf of Representative
LeDoux, prime sponsor. She stated that the proposed legislation
would amend the membership of the Violent Crimes Compensation
Board (VCCB) to expand the possibilities for board appointees
and to aid in recruitment. She explained that VCCB asked for
this change because of the difficulty in recruiting and
retaining physicians for the board. In response to Chair Lynn,
she further explained that physicians often have limited time,
and a nurse practitioner has suitable medical knowledge for the
needs of the board.
8:11:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 29-
LS1479\A.1, Bruce, 3/22/16, which read as follows:
Page 1, line 7, following "physician":
Insert ", a physician assistant."
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES objected for purpose of discussion.
8:12:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ opined that the amendment to add
physician assistant to HB 324 would serve to recognize the broad
scope of paraprofessionals [in Alaska] and widen the range and
number of potential applicants that are available for VCCB. She
added that both nurse practitioners and physician assistants
practice independently and provide a high level of care.
MS. ENRIGHT confirmed for Chair Lynn that the proposed
legislation with the amendment would add nurse practitioners and
physician assistants to the range of medical professionals
eligible for appointment by the governor to the seat that now
must be filled by a physician.
8:14:12 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:14 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
8:14:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES withdrew her objection to Amendment 1.
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER withdrew Amendment 1.
8:15:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ moved to adopt Amendment 2, labeled 29-
LS1479\A.1, Bruce, 3/22/16, which read as follows:
Page 1, line 7, following "physician":
Insert ", a physician assistant."
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES objected for discussion, then removed her
objection. [Without further objection, Amendment 2 was treated
as adopted.]
8:15:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked if there were times when the board
was unable to function because of the absence of the physician
board member or if there were times it was functioning without
medical expertise.
MS. ENRIGHT replied that the absence of the medical professional
at board meetings created a challenge for the board to achieve a
quorum, since VCCB is only a three-member board. She added that
the board's discussion of crimes requires a certain depth of
medical expertise, and not having that expertise creates issues.
8:16:37 AM
KATE HUDSON, Executive Director, Violent Crimes Compensation
Board (VCCB), Department of Administration (DOA), cited two
separate year-long periods in VCCB's recent history where it has
been difficult for the board to function. She went on to say
that for a one-year period there was a physician on the board
who was an absentee board member - unable to attend meetings and
not responding to emails. She related another one-year period
in which the board was not able to find a physician to serve on
the board. She expressed the difficulties of coming to
agreements on claims when there are only two board members,
since there are often disagreements and a majority vote is
needed.
8:18:01 AM
CHAIR LYNN asked if VCCB members are paid or receive travel
reimbursement.
MS. HUDSON said that they are volunteers and therefore neither
paid nor receive stipends. She conceded that they receive
travel reimbursement if away from their home town, but that does
not often occur.
8:18:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ referred to a letter from Gerad Godfrey,
Chair, VCCB, in the committee packet, and relayed that in the
letter, Mr. Godfrey explains the importance of a medical
professional serving on the board. Representative Vazquez asked
Ms. Hudson to elaborate.
MS. HUDSON responded that VCCB often looks at cases where
someone has been physically injured as the result of a crime.
She went on to say that the board assesses the appropriateness
of reimbursements for medical treatment, physical therapy, and
prescriptions and, in her opinion, it is imperative that someone
on the board have the medical knowledge to make these
determinations.
8:19:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked Ms. Hudson to describe the duty of
VCCB.
MS. HUDSON stated that VCCB reviews claims - the nature of a
crime and the nature of an injury - and decides eligibility
under the statutes and reasonable expenses. She added that
after those two decisions are made, the board signs an order
form and payment is made.
8:20:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked how many cases were processed in
the past year.
MS. HUDSON responded that through fiscal year 2016 (FY 16) there
were over 960 claims processed - that is, new applications
received - but not all were awarded. She added that there are
usually between 800 and 900 claims per year, and last year had a
record number.
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked if VCCB gets direct referrals from
the district attorney's office.
MS. HUDSON responded in the affirmative and added that referrals
also come from law enforcement, hospitals, victim advocates, and
other sources.
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked Ms. Hudson for the most common type
of claim that VCCB processes in terms of cost and injury.
MS. HUDSON expressed that the question was a difficult one to
answer. She offered that typically many of the claims fall
under two categories. She described the first as assaults of
young men with facial injuries and orbital fractures resulting
in about $10,000 in medical costs. The second category, she
said, is child abuse cases in which payment is for mental health
counseling costing anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.
8:23:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked how VCCB is funded.
MS. HUDSON responded that there are two sources of funding:
one, an appropriation from the permanent fund dividend, which
consists of a small portion of the dividends that are not paid
to incarcerated felons; and two, an annual federal grant under
the Victims of Crime Act.
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked Ms. Hudson what the total funding
was for VCCB for FY 15.
MS. HUDSON responded that in FY 15, the total funding for VCCB
was $2.5 million - $2.1 million for victim payments and $400,000
for operating costs.
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked what the staffing level was for
VCCB.
MS. HUDSON replied that VCCB has three staff, including herself,
and they are located in Juneau.
8:24:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report HB 324, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 324(STA) was
reported from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.