Legislature(2007 - 2008)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/08/2007 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 8, 2007
1:37 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Meyer called the House Finance Committee meeting to
order at 1:37:41 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Les Gara
Representative Mike Hawker
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Mary Nelson
Representative Bill Thomas, Jr.
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Jeff Jesse, Executive Director, Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority; Dr. William Doolittle, Chair, Alaska Mental
Health Trust Authority; Laraine Derr, Board Member, Alaska
Mental Health Trust Authority
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
None
GENERAL SUBJECT(S):
OVERVIEW: Presentation by the Alaska Mental Health Board of
Directors
The following overview was taken in log note format.
Handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee
through the 25th Legislative Session, contact 465-6814.
After the 25th Legislative Session they will be available
through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.
TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION
1:37:46 PM JEFF JESSE, Introduced the members of the Board.
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR,
ALASKA MENTAL
HEALTH TRUST
AUTHORITY
1:39:27 PM DR. WILLIAM Introduced members of the advisory
DOOLITTLE, group.
CHAIR, ALASKA
MENTAL HEALTH
TRUST
1:40:47 PM Mr. Jesse Referred to a handout entitled "Alaska
Mental Health Trust Authority" (copy on
file.) He addressed the key terms of
the Mental Health Trust Lands
Settlement, as shown on page 2 of the
handout. He explained that the trust
resources act as a catalyst for change
to improve the mental health system.
There was a separate appropriation bill
as a result of the settlement. He
stated that the Trust is a
comprehensive plan for mental health
programs. The settlement released
Mental Health Trust Lands for
development. He encouraged the
legislature to look at the terms of the
settlement with a fresh perspective
this session.
1:45:51 PM Mr. Jesse Refreshed the committee as to the
Trust's beneficiaries as listed on page
3. He reviewed the makeup of the
advisors to the trust on page 4.
1:46:11 PM Mr. Jesse Explained who the advisors to the Trust
are: Alaska Mental Health Board;
Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug
Abuse; Governor's Council on
Disabilities and Special Education;
Alaska Commission on Aging;
Commissioners of the Departments of
Health and Social Services, Natural
Resources, and Revenue; Alaska
Traumatic Brain Injury Board, Suicide
Prevention Council. He explained the
guiding direction for Trust program
investment and shared successes from
the Therapeutic Court System seen on
page 5.
1:49:24 PM LARAINE DERR, Referred to page 8 and explained the
BOARD MEMBER, Trust distributable income and
ALASKA MENTAL expenditure recommendations for Trust
HEALTH TRUST Funds.
AUTHORITY
1:51:38 PM Ms. Derr Returned to page 6 to explain the land
and resources FY06 principal and income
revenue by resource.
1:52:35 PM Representative Spoke to controversial issues regarding
Stoltze land development and wondered about
improving public relations surrounding
that matter.
1:54:12 PM Mr. Jesse Agreed that there are often clashes
surrounding development projects. He
related a timber situation in
Petersburg and how an agreement was
worked out. There needs to be a public
relations campaign regarding the land
development and the connection to the
beneficiary that it will benefit.
Representative Stoltze thought there
would continue to be a clash of values.
Mr. Jesse opined that the Trust is a
good mechanism for the dialogue needed.
1:56:32 PM Ms. Derr Addressed Representative Stoltze's
concern. The emphasis from the board
is on the benefit to the beneficiaries.
1:57:25 PM Ms. Derr Referred to page 7 - Spendable Income
From Trust Land. It is a review of the
income generated from the lands. In
FY06 the projected income was $2.6
million and the actual income was
$3.546 million, as corrected. The
projected income for FY07 is again $2.6
million but the expectation is to
exceed $3 million.
1:58:19 PM Mr. Jesse Reminded the committee to keep the
operational environment in mind. With
the addition of Medicaid, the mental
health program is nearly $300 million.
The challenge is to use $23 million to
enhance a $300 million program. The
trustees decided to focus on five
areas. He reviewed the five focus
areas shown on page 9.
1:59:11 PM Mr. Jesse Turned attention to Bring the Kids Home
(BTKH) depicted on page 10. Mr. Jesse
maintained that this issue is the most
complex area of the Trust. A work
group was convened between the Trust,
DHSS, and the Tribes to deal with BTKH.
It is essential to engage the tribal
entities in order to partner and keep
costs down.
2:02:20 PM Mr. Jesse Shared the Seven Indicators of Progress
on BTKH - page 11. These strategies
are frequently re-evaluated.
2:03:16 PM Mr. Jesse Pointed out that building the
infrastructure to serve kids in-state
takes time. Page 12 shows the progress
of Medicaid RPTC Recipients: Custody
vs. Non-Custody.
2:04:44 PM Mr. Jesse Explained the graph on page 13
depicting Existing and Projected Out-
of-State (OOS) Non-Custody Youth vs.
In-State Bed Capacity. The bottom line
shows that RPTC bed capacity will begin
to increase in FY07. The next step is
to plan for home-based and community-
based out patient support systems. An
education subcommittee was formed to
address this issue. He blamed "family
issues" for the reason behind needing
these beds, so services are being
planned to deal with those issues.
2:08:31 PM Representative Expressed concern about poor parenting
Kelly and early preventative measures. Mr.
Jesse related the substance abuse
treatment program solutions and spoke
about a housing trust to alleviate
homeless situations. He suggested
other training programs that may help.
2:11:46 PM Mr. Jesse Highlighted Trust Beneficiary Projects
shown on page 14. The goal is to build
up grass roots projects and
beneficiary-focused organizations
through grants, technical assistance,
and supports.
2:12:56 PM Representative Spoke of a program in Fairbanks that
Kelly was very effective. He wondered about
the small numbers handled by the
Therapeutic Courts. Mr. Jesse said
that the numbers are increasing, but
reminded the committee that they are
"frequent fliers" and have committed
the majority of the offenses.
2:15:07 PM Dr. Doolittle Shared statistics related to
Therapeutic Courts.
2:15:52 PM Mr. Jesse Shared an overview of the programs and
services of the Trust Beneficiary
Projects - page 15. These are early
intervention programs.
2:16:53 PM Mr. Jesse Addressed Justice for Persons with
Disabilities - page 16. The Department
of Corrections is the largest mental
health provider. He shared the goals
of the programs for incarcerated Trust
beneficiaries. He explained how
incarcerated beneficiaries are pre-
qualified for services upon release.
2:20:17 PM Mr. Jesse Spoke to the accomplishments of the
Trust as listed on page 17. He
discussed the process of developing a
Mental Health Court in Palmer.
2:22:49 PM Mr. Jesse Shared the Critical Next Steps - FY08
for the Justice Initiative, shown on
page 18.
2:24:07 PM Mr. Jesse Talked about Affordable, Accessible,
Safe Housing - page 19. The goal is to
increase the availability of a
continuum of affordable housing
options. The strategy is to improve
housing and support services models to
assist beneficiaries in maintaining
stable housing.
2:26:01 PM Mr. Jesse Addressed programs and services for
affordable, accessible, safe housing -
page 20. Predevelopment services were
pooled and partnerships developed.
2:27:25 PM Mr. Jesse Noted the policy and data agenda for
housing on page 21.
2:27:55 PM Representative Asked how much of the Mental Health
Gara Court is funded by the Trust. Mr.
Jesse replied that the Anchorage Mental
Health Court is funded by state general
funds. The Palmer Mental Health Court
is funded by the Trust.
2:28:43 PM Representative Asked if housing is analyzed on a
Thomas regional basis. Mr. Jesse replied that
it is. He explained an example with
regard to regionalization. He
described how SEARHC and Juneau Youth
Services partnered to fund beds in the
correct amount and location.
2:31:31 PM Co-Chair Asked how many beds have been built.
Chenault Mr. Jesse referred to page 13 and said
"200 in the pipeline". There were 520
in FY06 and there will be about 800 by
FY09. Co-Chair Chenault restated the
question as to how many beds exist
today and how many kids have been
"brought home". Mr. Jesse said close
to 30 lower level beds. He could not
put a number on how many kids have been
brought back. Co-Chair Chenault
maintained that the number of kids sent
"outside" has not been reduced. Mr.
Jesse agreed.
2:33:13 PM Mr. Jesse Reported that the governor established
a Council on the Homeless to address
homelessness in Alaska. He referred to
a report called "Keeping Alaskans Out
of the Cold" - page 22. Nearly all
dollars spent for housing are federal
dollars, which end up going to
individuals or families at 70 percent
of average median income or above. He
discussed how the funding is graded.
The homeless do not fall into the 70
percent area, so money is not being
directed effectively. He explained the
difficulties associated with addressing
homelessness. He reported that in
Anchorage in some Title I classrooms,
more than half of the kids that start
the year will be gone by the end of the
year.
2:37:23 PM Representative Noted that the school dropout rate
Thomas seems to be the same number as the
number of kids moving frequently. Mr.
Jesse pointed out that the fastest
growing segment of the homeless
population is families with children.
He reported that over 30 states have
created housing trusts to help address
this issue. He described the logic for
establishing housing trusts and their
goals.
2:40:02 PM Mr. Jesse Spoke of the value of the Gates
Initiative and the process for
establishing an Alaskan Housing Trust.
2:41:45 PM Mr. Jesse Explained why a housing trust is needed
in Alaska - page 23. The current
administration is pursuing a housing
trust. He spoke about funding
possibilities for a housing trust.
2:43:00 PM Representative Asked about the two groups of homeless,
Gara those with, and those without, mental
health issues, and how the trust
addresses those groups. He wondered
how the housing trust works in Seattle.
Mr. Jesse replied that the proposed
housing trust will be designed to serve
all of the homeless and their various
needs. He agreed that some many need
continuous service, others may not.
The Gates Foundation booked five years
of support services to the first year's
money. That insures support services
in the case of declining funding. Many
families were able to be self-
sufficient in that time.
2:46:29 PM Mr. Jesse Turned to page 25 - Workforce
Development. He explained the
coordinated efforts across the system
including recruitment, retention,
training, and Healthcare Workforce
Development.
2:48:28 PM Mr. Jesse Concluded with page 26 - Maintenance of
Medicaid. Medicaid funding is critical
to beneficiaries of the Trust. The
Trust is very interested in working
with the Legislature and understands
that their beneficiaries will suffer if
a sustainable Medicaid program is not
achieved.
2:49:41 PM Dr. Doolittle Noted that there are common threads in
each area.
2:50:01 PM Representative Asked if audits were continuing. Mr.
Hawker Jesse confirmed. He observed that the
Office of Management and Budget does
not support increased appropriations
and that there could be structural
deficits in the near future. He
questioned how interests could be
balanced.
2:52:18 PM Mr. Jesse Stressed the need for a long-term
fiscal plan that does not rely on oil.
As the Medicaid study pointed out, if
early intervention programs are not
invested in, there will be increased
costs down the line, such as in
corrections. The Trust is attempting
to meet the demands placed by the
public and the fiscal realities of the
state.
2:53:48 PM Representative Asked if the missions brought forward
Hawker by the Trust take into consideration
the fiscal situation. Mr. Jesse
stressed that the Trust's
recommendations are conservative.
2:54:49 PM Ms. Derr Agreed that requests are conservative
and are intensely scrutinized.
2:55:20 PM Representative Noted that he would like to discuss the
Kelly Tribal emphasis made during the
Medicaid presentation [2/7/07] and a
race-based system. Mr. Jesse responded
that he would be happy to discuss those
issues.
2:56:20 PM ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:56 PM.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|