Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
02/21/2018 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB174 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 174 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 174-PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
1:59:08 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of SB 174.
1:59:23 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB 174
said the bill is puts forth a philosophy about identity. It does
not have a fiscal note. People used to say physically and
mentally disabled Alaskans and the bill changes that to Alaskans
with physical and mental disabilities. This bill is about their
active participation in decisions related to their own care.
There are efficiencies associated with that. There are
improvements to their quality of life for these individuals.
2:00:29 PM
KAITLYNN STANSBERRY, Intern, Senator Peter Micciche, Alaska
State Legislature, presented SB 174 on behalf of sponsor. She
said SB 174 is the product of input from over 200 people across
Alaska, including the Alaska Mental Health Trust, the Governor's
Council on Disabilities and Special Education, and the Key
Coalition of Alaska. All persons deserve to be treated with
respect and dignity. Persons with physical and mental
disabilities actively participating in the programs they use
enhances their quality of life and treatment. They thrive when
participating in the social and economic environment of their
homes, communities, and Alaska. SB 174 enables the Department of
Health and Social Services (DHSS) to take a more flexible
approach to the application of programs, allowing Alaskans with
physical and mental disabilities to participate actively in the
systems of their care. These systems of care are the programs
they use daily. SB 174 provides a unifying vision to assure that
available resources, whether great or small, are allocated and
applied in a manner that maximizes the contributions of Alaskans
experiencing disabilities in their communities.
SENATOR BEGICH said he was very pleased to see the bill. He
asked what the phrase flexibility means so that it could be put
on the record and encourage employers to take advantage of it.
SENATOR MICCICHE said he could say what it means to him, but it
will be more meaningful coming from people who are going to
testify.
SENATOR BEGICH said he'd also like the testifiers to discuss the
different ways this will increase economic opportunity for the
state.
2:03:29 PM
CHAIR WILSON opened public testimony.
2:03:50 PM
LIZETTE STIEHR, Executive Director, Alaska Association on
Developmental Disabilities (AADD), supported SB 174. She said
the Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities is a trade
association, a professional association that represents 47 dues-
paying organizations, all of whom provide home and community-
based services for individuals who experience intellectual or
developmental disabilities. The association has been an active
and strong supporter of this shared vision, which brings a
renewed energy and excitement to the work of the provider
community. The shared vision reminds them of why they dedicated
their professional lives to this field. She mentioned that it is
a challenging time for legislators, who are dealing with fiscal
constraints, which roll down into the field and the services
offered in Alaska. The provider world is feeling many changes,
including SB 74, Medicaid reform. It seems so many things are
going away or being reduced. It has been a trying time, but the
shared vision work has been a ray of sunshine and a place of
excitement and enthusiasm. She loves the question of what does
flexible mean. It means people have a right to direct services
they would like to have, not just what has been traditionally
offered or has been a system of support. The economic impact is
that they work with what people would like to have in their
lives, they want to be in the community. One way inclusion
happens is through unpaid or natural supports that then
economically helps the community through inclusion and the price
of services. She thanked Senator Micciche for sponsoring the
bill. She said those in the field are very excited about it.
2:07:50 PM
MICHELE GIRAULT, Board Member, Key Coalition of Alaska,
supported SB 174. She said she is a guardian of two individuals
who experience disabilities. She appreciated Senator Micciche
reaching out to create a value-driven bill that puts into
statute their vision of what life should be like for those who
experience disabilities. It is really people first. Regardless
of fiscal impact, the idea is that Alaskans will support those
among them who experience disabilities in a way that honors
their desire and right to have meaningful lives. Flexibility
means that in these dynamic times all the different departments
of the state work together to support people, whether someone
has intellectual, behavioral, or mental health challenges.
People might need more of one kind of support and less of
another. From a consumer's point of view, flexibility means a
person may need a support in one moment and then can later let
go of that support. The bill puts into statute a framework that
allows departments and stakeholders to come together to assure
individuals will have opportunities to create meaningful lives
for themselves. This is one of the platform issues for Key
Coalition in their planned visit next week.
2:10:40 PM
JIMAEL JOHNSON, Program Officer, Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority, supported SB 174. She said the trust exists to
advocate on behalf of trust beneficiaries and to prioritize
policies, practices, and funding for strategies that help
improve the lives of beneficiaries. The beneficiary population
includes Alaskans with mental illness, addiction, Alzheimer's,
dementia, traumatic brain injury, and individuals with
intellectual or developmental disabilities. The trust advocates
for crucial services for the most vulnerable population through
community-based services. Community-based services, especially
when person centered and directed, reduce the level of need for
costlier institutional care. The goal of the trust is to be a
catalyst for change and improvement in the state's continuum of
care. SB 174 is a visionary framework to increase opportunity
and improve the quality of life for individuals, their families,
and full communities. It elevates the person experiencing
disability to more actively participate and determine their own
community-based care and thus more fully direct their lives and
wellness.
2:13:06 PM
MAGGIE WINSTON, Chair, Governor's Council on Disabilities and
Special Education, supported SB 174. She said she works at a
center for independent living and most importantly, she is a
person who experiences a significant disability. A flexible
system can literally mean the difference for her getting out of
bed in the morning or being able to go to work. This vision
enables person-directed care and culture. This is super
important, especially for individuals who experience
disabilities. It gives more control in living the life she
directs and she chooses. They have in statute the verbiage that
enables them to be flexible and live a normal, autonomous life.
SENATOR MICCICHE noted that Ms. Winston who was before the
committee two weeks ago was the inspiration for the bill. Some
physical limitations may seem debilitating, but they are not an
impediment to absolute success in one's life. They are not
asking for more resources. They are asking for more self-
directions so people like Maggie can continue to thrive and
inspire the rest of Alaskans.
2:15:48 PM
DAVE LEWIS, System Advocate, Independent Living Center,
supported SB 174. He said they support the bill and what
everyone else said previously.
2:16:27 PM
MICHEAL BAILEY, Chief Financial Officer, Hope Community
Resources, supported SB 174. He said the systems and service
delivery are often siloed, specialized, and governed by their
own regulations. This limits flexibility. This unified vision
engages a collaborative system of paid and unpaid supports to
enhance abilities, not just to address disabilities. This bill
allows flexibility in being able to adjust without a regulation
rewrite. As they do that they are better stewards of state
funds. His daughter's team won the Anchorage School District
middle school Battle of the Books competition. A member of the
team has a physical disability and listens to audio books. She's
a valuable member of the team and an inspiration to other
people. Her team members were her natural supports. That is an
example of what they want to promote. The approach in SB 174
moves away from some traditional medical models to more
integrated, meaningful lives and upholds person-centered
directives from the federal government that are necessary to
access Medicaid funds. This bill benefits everyone, regardless
of the level of financial support available, by promoting
partnerships and new models of support guided by a value-driven
philosophy. People have heard the saying it takes a village to
raise a child. It takes a community to help Alaskans with
disabilities lead meaningful lives.
2:19:08 PM
PATRICK REINHART, Executive Director, Governor's Council on
Disabilities and Special Education, supported SB 174. He said
they view this as a culture change. A few years ago, they pushed
through similar aspirational language in statute around
employment first. They wanted people with disabilities and the
people who support them to look at the opportunities to lead a
meaningful life through employment. It takes a long to make a
culture change and shift in a large system of services and
supports like they have in Alaska. A few years later, they are
starting to see a cultural shift occurring. When people are
making plans of care for people with significant disabilities,
the question "What do you want to do when you grow up" is asked
more often. This also is a cultural shift--more and more they
are looking to the individual about their hopes and dreams and
desires, which also means allowing them to take some risks.
People with developmental disabilities need the same
opportunities to take risks. The bill puts it back on the
individual's plate and that comes with responsibilities to
direct their own care and lives.
2:21:29 PM
CHAIR WILSON closed public testimony.
SENATOR GIESSEL thanked Senator Micciche for moving the dial for
Alaskans with disabilities. Patrick Reinhart talked about the
challenge of self-determination and decision making, but also
the gratification of being able to do that. It reminds her of
the House bill a few years that let Alaskans with disabilities
participate in the federal program of ABLE accounts. They can
save their own money to use as they see fit. The bill is another
step in that direction, so bravo to Senator Micciche.
SENATOR MICCICHE said folks are thanking him, but he knows they
will pile on as cosponsors in recognition of the capabilities of
those who have challenges.
2:23:12 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if there were amendments. There being no
amendments, he entertained a motion to move SB 174 out of
committee.
2:23:21 PM
SENATOR VON IMHOF moved to report SB 174, version 30-LS1258\D,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal notes.
2:23:35 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced that without objection, SB 174 moved from
the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee with
the understanding that Legislative Legal was authorized to make
any necessary technical and/or conforming adjustments.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 174 30-LS1258 D.pdf |
HHSS 3/29/2018 3:00:00 PM SHSS 2/21/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 174 |
| SB 174 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HHSS 3/29/2018 3:00:00 PM SHSS 2/21/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 174 |
| SB 174 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HHSS 3/29/2018 3:00:00 PM SHSS 2/21/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 174 |
| SB 174 Supporting Documents.pdf |
HHSS 3/29/2018 3:00:00 PM SHSS 2/21/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 174 |
| SB 174 Public Input.pdf |
HHSS 3/29/2018 3:00:00 PM SHSS 2/21/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 174 |