Legislature(1999 - 2000)

02/18/1999 03:04 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                                                                                         
                 February 18, 1999                                                                                              
                     3:04 p.m.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
OVERVIEW OF ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT ISSUES AND NEW STRATEGIC PLAN                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
TAPES                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
99-9,  SIDE A & B                                                                                                               
99-10, SIDE A                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIRMAN COGHILL called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Members present were Representative Coghill, Whitaker, Green,                                                                   
Morgan, Kemplen and Brice.  Representative Morgan arrived at 3:20                                                               
p.m.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DON DAPCEVICH, Executive Director, Governor's Advisory Board on                                                                 
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, described the new strategic plan titled,                                                             
"Results Within Our Reach, Alaska State Plan for Alcohol and Drug                                                               
Abuse Services, 1999-2003."  Copies are available on request.                                                                   
Please call (907)465-8920 or 1-888-464-8920.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GREG PEASE, Substance Abuse Directors Association, described and                                                                
distributed an executive summary of the "A Chemical Dependency                                                                  
Treatment Outcome Study" and the draft resolution on Treatment in                                                               
the Criminal Justice System found below.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
LOREN JONES, Director, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, spoke in                                                             
favor of the resolution and gave a division Report.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The draft resolution on Treatment in the Criminal Justice System                                                                
follows:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                          A RESOLUTION                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                      Relating                                                  
cr                   iminal justice system.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     WHEREAS substance abuse, specifically the abuse of alcohol                                                                 
and illegal use of controlled substances, is a major problem in                                                                 
the criminal justice system of the State of Alaska and the                                                                      
nation; and                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     WHEREAS substance abuse is a significant factor that                                                                       
interferes with the rehabilitation of persons convicted of                                                                      
crimes; and                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     WHEREAS lack of treatment of persons convicted of crimes                                                                   
results in an increased rate of recidivism; and                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     WHEREAS repeat offenders place undue financial burden on the                                                               
criminal justice system of the State of Alaska;                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Alaska                                                                 
recognizes the social and financial benefits that accrue to the                                                                 
State when persons convicted of crimes do not repeat those                                                                      
offenses; and be it                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Alaska                                                               
recognizes. that a consistent response to substance abuse by the                                                                
criminal justice system will result in a decreased rate of                                                                      
recidivism; and be it                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     FURTHER RESOLVED that Alaska will provide standardized                                                                     
screening and culturally appropriate substance abuse treatment in                                                               
the corrections system; and be it                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Alaska                                                                  
will provide sanctions for offenders who refuse to cooperate with                                                               
and respond to court-ordered substance abuse treatment while such                                                               
offenders are involved with the criminal justice system.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The Committee took no action.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIRMAN COGHILL adjourned the meeting at 5:04 p.m.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
NOTE:  The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were                                                                  
taken.  A copy of the tapes and log notes may be obtained by                                                                    
contacting the House Records Office at 130 Seward Street, Suite                                                                 
211, Juneau, Alaska  99801-1182, (907) 465-2214, and after                                                                      
adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-first Alaska State                                                              
Legislature, in the Legislative Reference Library.                                                                              

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