Legislature(1995 - 1996)

01/24/1995 03:00 PM House HES

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
          HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES                          
                       STANDING COMMITTEE                                      
                        January 24, 1995                                       
                           3:00 p.m.                                           
                                                                               
 MEMBERS PRESENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Representative Con Bunde, Co-Chair                                            
 Representative Cynthia Toohey, Co-Chair                                       
 Representative Gary Davis                                                     
 Representative Norman Rokeberg                                                
 Representative Caren Robinson                                                 
 Representative Tom Brice                                                      
                                                                               
 MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                
                                                                               
 Representative Al Vezey                                                       
                                                                               
 COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                            
                                                                               
 Organizational Meeting.                                                       
                                                                               
 WITNESS REGISTER                                                              
                                                                               
 None                                                                          
                                                                               
 ACTION NARRATIVE                                                              
                                                                               
 TAPE 95-1, SIDE A                                                             
 Number 000                                                                    
                                                                               
 The House HESS Committee was called to order by Co-Chair Con Bunde            
 at 3:00 p.m.  Members present at the call to order were                       
 Representatives Bunde, Davis, Toohey and Robinson.  Absent were               
 Representatives Brice, Rokeberg and Vezey.                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE stated there was a quorum present and that today               
 would simply be an organizational meeting.  No bills would be heard           
 today.                                                                        
                                                                               
 Number 054                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced that because he does not like to have                
 meetings without some business, today the committee would elect the           
 vice chair according to Mason's Manual Section 612, which he then             
 read.                                                                         
                                                                               
 Number 072                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE said he would entertain a nomination for                       
 Representative Rokeberg as vice chair of the House HESS Committee.            
                                                                               
 Number 096                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR CYNTHIA TOOHEY asked the chair if it was appropriate to              
 nominate someone without consulting the person (Representative                
 Rokeberg).                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE replied that the nomination had been discussed with            
 Representative Rokeberg.                                                      
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY made a motion to nominate Representative Rokeberg.            
 She asked if Representative Rokeberg was delighted about having the           
 job, and Representative Gary Davis asked if Representative Rokeberg           
 was requesting that the members vote for him as vice chair.                   
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE noted for the record that Representative Brice                 
 arrived at 3:03 p.m. and Representative Rokeberg arrived at 3:04              
 p.m.  He then requested that Co-Chair Toohey place her motion for             
 the nomination of vice chair.                                                 
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY nominated Representative Rokeberg for vice chair              
 for the record and for late arriving members.                                 
                                                                               
 Number 166                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked for any discussion, and Representative Brice             
 stated there were no objections.  Hearing no objections, Co-Chair             
 Bunde concluded that Representative Rokeberg was elected vice chair           
 and welcomed him.                                                             
                                                                               
 Number 179                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced that the committee will meet at 3 p.m. on            
 Tuesdays and Thursdays at this point and then additional meetings             
 will be scheduled as business requires.  He assured members that              
 additional meetings would be scheduled as the session progresses.             
 The meetings will begin promptly at 3 p.m.                                    
                                                                               
 Number 210                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE said he will generally chair meetings dealing with             
 education, and Co-Chair Toohey will chair meetings dealing with               
 issues of health and social services.                                         
                                                                               
 Number 225                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE stated the bill packets will be ready at 3 p.m. the            
 day before the scheduled meeting and can be picked up on top of the           
 file cabinet found in the HESS Committee Room.  He then solicited             
 questions or topics of discussion from committee members.                     
                                                                               
 Number 270                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY reported that a request had been made by one of the           
 legislators from the northern part of Alaska for the HESS Committee           
 to do an overview of the TB epidemic that is occurring within the             
 state.  She felt that it would be to the benefit of the entire                
 legislature to be aware of that epidemic.  She asked to make                  
 arrangements to have the issue addressed.                                     
                                                                               
 Number 282                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE appointed Co-Chair Toohey as a committee of one to             
 make arrangements to have the said overview.                                  
                                                                               
 Number 303                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE CAREN ROBINSON said she remembered that a Dr.                  
 Frasier used to work for the department and she spoke with him                
 years ago about the fact that if a position was cut, that an                  
 epidemic would follow.  She wondered where Dr. Frasier was and                
 stated he would be a good person to contact about the epidemic.               
                                                                               
 Number 333                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY said she didn't think that cutting back his                   
 position caused the epidemic.                                                 
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON replied that the epidemic or the cuts did             
 not occur during the Hickel Administration anyway.  She said Dr.              
 Frasier clearly believed there was a serious problem that needed              
 monitoring.  He had a lot of good information on the subject.                 
                                                                               
 Number 361                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE agreed that current indications were that a serious            
 problem does either exist or will exist.                                      
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE then talked about "housekeeping" topics.  He                   
 reminded committee members that the microphones are very sensitive            
 and to be cognizant of that fact.  He also said that all questions            
 should be asked through the Chair in order to facilitate the job of           
 the committee secretary, Rebecca Wetzel.                                      
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE then introduced committee aide, Lynne Smith, and               
 directed members to ask her questions regarding the work of the               
 committee.                                                                    
                                                                               
 Number 455                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON introduced Carla Timpone, her staff member            
 for the HESS Committee.  She then asked the Chair if there would be           
 any rules established.  She cited the State Affairs meeting that              
 morning in which Representative Jeannette James set out some rules            
 regarding fiscal notes and other specific details.                            
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE answered that generally speaking the HESS Committee            
 would like to have the fiscal notes.  He stated that rules were for           
 the good of the order and to get the state's work done in a timely            
 fashion.  Most committees have the same rules which are distributed           
 throughout the legislature.  Generally speaking, the HESS Committee           
 adheres to the standard rules that most committees have.                      
 Exceptions to the rules are addressed in the HESS Committee.                  
                                                                               
 Number 526                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON continued that another rule established by            
 Representative James for subcommittees was that if there were                 
 subcommittees, it would consist of another person other than the              
 sponsor of the bill.  She asked if such a rule existed in the HESS            
 Committee.                                                                    
                                                                               
 Number 543                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE responded he did not anticipate such a rule.  He               
 added that if a representative was aware of an amendment that he or           
 she would like to propose, the committee would appreciate a 24-hour           
 notice.  He understood that amendments occur constantly and that              
 there would be no limit on amendments, however it would expedite              
 the amendment hearing if there was a 24-hour lead time.                       
                                                                               
 Number 599                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS asked about the absent member of the                
 committee.  He asked if the member was excused.                               
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE replied that Representative Vezey was the absent               
 member.                                                                       
                                                                               
 Number 634                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE stated that Thursday was the next meeting and the              
 committee will be addressing HB 39 which pertains to the authority            
 of paramedics to pronounce death.                                             
                                                                               
 Number 678                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked for other discussion, questions or concerns.             
                                                                               
 Number 725                                                                    
                                                                               
 Hearing none, CHAIRMAN BUNDE adjourned the meeting at 3:12 p.m.               
                                                                               

Document Name Date/Time Subjects