Legislature(1993 - 1994)

03/31/1993 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                                      
                         March 31, 1993                                        
                            3:00 p.m.                                          
                                                                               
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
  Rep. Cynthia Toohey, Co-Chair                                                
  Rep. Con Bunde, Co-Chair                                                     
  Rep. Gary Davis, Vice Chair                                                  
  Rep. Al Vezey                                                                
  Rep. Pete Kott                                                               
  Rep. Harley Olberg                                                           
  Rep. Bettye Davis                                                            
  Rep. Irene Nicholia                                                          
  Rep. Tom Brice                                                               
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
  None                                                                         
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
  Confirmation hearing - State Board of Education                              
                                                                               
            APPOINTMENT PASSED TO FULL HOUSE                                   
                                                                               
  *HB 195:  "An Act authorizing youth courts by which to                       
            provide for peer adjudication of minors who have                   
            allegedly committed violations of state or                         
            municipal laws, renaming the community legal                       
            assistance grant fund and amending the purposes                    
            for which grants may be made from that fund in                     
            order to provide financial assistance for                          
            organizations and initial operation of youth                       
            courts, and relating to young adult advisory                       
            panels in the superior court."                                     
                                                                               
            HEARD - NO ACTION                                                  
                                                                               
  *HB 22:   "An Act establishing the Alaska Children's Health                  
            Corporation and the Alaska Healthy Start Program;                  
            relating to insurance; and providing for an                        
            effective date."                                                   
                                                                               
            HEARD - NO ACTION                                                  
                                                                               
  (* First public hearing.)                                                    
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
  REP. JOE SITTON                                                              
  Alaska State Legislature                                                     
  Courthouse, Room 609                                                         
  Juneau, Alaska 99801                                                         
  Phone:  (907) 465-2327                                                       
  Position statement:  Prime sponsor of HB 195                                 
                                                                               
  VALERIE M. THERRIEN                                                          
  Fairbanks North Star Borough, Attorney                                       
  Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly, Member                                
  779 Eighth Ave.                                                              
  Fairbanks, Alaska 99701                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 452-6194 work                                                  
  Phone:  (907) 456-8113                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  RANDALL HINES                                                                
  Division of Family and Youth Services                                        
  Department of Health and Social Services                                     
  P.O. Box 110630                                                              
  Juneau, Alaska 99811-0630                                                    
  Phone:  (907) 465-3187                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  CAREN ROBINSON                                                               
  League of Women Voters                                                       
  P.O. Box 33702                                                               
  Juneau, Alaska 99803                                                         
  Phone:  (907) 586-1107                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  BLYTHE MARSTON, President                                                    
  Anchorage Youth Court, Inc.                                                  
  3001 McCollie Ave.                                                           
  Anchorage, Alaska 99517                                                      
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  BRYAN CLARK                                                                  
  Anchorage Youth Court                                                        
  1981 Commodore                                                               
  Anchorage, Alaska 99507                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 344-4486                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  JESSE KICHL                                                                  
  Anchorage Youth Court                                                        
  6301 Trapper Tract                                                           
  Anchorage, Alaska 99516                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 345-3394                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  ROBERT BUTTCANE, Immediate Past President                                    
  Anchorage Youth Court                                                        
  2600 Providence Drive                                                        
  Anchorage, Alaska 99508                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 562-2285                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  SHARON LEON                                                                  
  5205 Strawberry Road                                                         
  Anchorage, Alaska 99502                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 274-5986                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  JON EALY                                                                     
  Anchorage Youth Court Bar Association                                        
  5245 E. 147th Ave.                                                           
  Anchorage, Alaska 99516                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 345-7119                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  MARY BRISTOL, Social Studies Teacher                                         
  Anchorage School District                                                    
  3305 Glenn Don Drive                                                         
  Anchorage, Alaska 99504                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 333-6725                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  ROBERT OWENS, Immediate Past President                                       
  Anchorage Bar Association                                                    
  P.O. Box 105035                                                              
  Anchorage, Alaska 99510                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 276-5152                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  JOSHUA WALTON, Member                                                        
  Anchorage Youth Court                                                        
  P.O. Box 221166                                                              
  Anchorage, Alaska 99522                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 248-1323                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  JUSTIN WALTON, Member                                                        
  Anchorage Youth Court                                                        
  P.O. Box 221166                                                              
  Anchorage, Alaska 99522                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 248-1323                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  BRYAN MERRELL, President                                                     
  Anchorage Bar Association Young Lawyer section                               
  17613 Rachel Circle                                                          
  Eagle River, Alaska 99577                                                    
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  MARIGH HUGHES, Partner                                                       
  Hughes, Thorsness, Gantz, Powell & Brundin                                   
  509 W. Third Ave.                                                            
  Anchorage, Alaska 99501                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 263-8359                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  ROY HENDERSON, Rehabilitation counselor and instructor                       
  Juvenile Diversion Program                                                   
  Alaska Coalition to Prevent Shoplifting, Inc.                                
  P.O. Box 213-649                                                             
  Anchorage, Alaska 99521                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 338-5548                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  JANE DEMMERT, Program coordinator                                            
  Fairbanks Native Association, Inc.                                           
  201 First Ave., Suite 200                                                    
  Fairbanks, Alaska 99701                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 452-1648                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  STEVE PRAEDEL, Attorney                                                      
  Assistant Legal Advisor                                                      
  Anchorage Youth Court                                                        
  715 L St.                                                                    
  Anchorage, Alaska 99501                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 279-4529                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 195                          
                                                                               
  STOWELL JOHNSTONE                                                            
  4822 Loretta Lane                                                            
  Anchorage, Alaska 99507                                                      
  Phone:  (907) 562-4818                                                       
  Position statement:  Appointee to State Board of Education                   
                                                                               
  PAULA TERRELL                                                                
  Aide to Rep. Joe Sitton                                                      
  Alaska State Legislature                                                     
  Courthouse, Room 609                                                         
  Juneau, Alaska 99801                                                         
  Phone:  (907) 465-2327                                                       
  Position statement:  Answered questions on HB 195                            
                                                                               
  REP. JIM NORDLUND                                                            
  Alaska State Legislature                                                     
  Courthouse, Room 606                                                         
  Juneau, Alaska 99801                                                         
  Phone:  (907) 465-4968                                                       
  Position statement:  Prime sponsor of HB 22                                  
                                                                               
  STEVE LEBRUN                                                                 
  Aetna Health Plans                                                           
  1501 Fourth Ave.                                                             
  Suite 1600, Century Square                                                   
  Seattle, Washington 98101                                                    
  Phone:  (206) 467-2803                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 22                           
                                                                               
  KAREN PERDUE, Member                                                         
  Health Resources and Access Task Force                                       
  P.O. Box 73209                                                               
  Fairbanks, Alaska 99707                                                      
  (907) 456-5780                                                               
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 22                           
                                                                               
  SHERRIE GOLL, Lobbyist                                                       
  Alaska Women's Lobby; KIDPAC                                                 
  P.O. Box 22156                                                               
  Juneau, Alaska 99802                                                         
  Phone:  (907) 463-6744                                                       
  Position statement:  Testified in support of HB 22                           
                                                                               
  PREVIOUS ACTION                                                              
                                                                               
  BILL:  HB 195                                                                
  SHORT TITLE: AUTHORIZING YOUTH COURTS                                        
  BILL VERSION:                                                                
  SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) SITTON,Ulmer,Willis,Foster,                    
  Brown,B.Davis,Olberg,Porter                                                  
                                                                               
  TITLE: "An Act authorizing youth courts by which to provide                  
  for peer adjudication of minors who have allegedly committed                 
  violations of state or municipal laws, renaming the                          
  community legal assistance grant fund and amending the                       
  purposes for which grants may be made from that fund in                      
  order to provide financial assistance for organization and                   
  initial operation of youth courts, and relating to young                     
  adult advisory panels in the superior court."                                
                                                                               
  JRN-DATE    JRN-PG                     ACTION                                
  03/03/93       519    (H)   READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)                  
  03/03/93       519    (H)   HES, JUDICIARY, FINANCE                          
  03/12/93       628    (H)   COSPONSOR(S): WILLIS, FOSTER,                    
                              BROWN                                            
  03/12/93       628    (H)   COSPONSOR(S): B.DAVIS, OLBERG                    
  03/19/93       716    (H)   COSPONSOR(S): PORTER                             
  03/24/93              (H)   HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106                      
  03/31/93              (H)   HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106                      
                                                                               
  BILL:  HB  22                                                                
  SHORT TITLE: ALASKA HEALTHY START PROGRAM                                    
  BILL VERSION:                                                                
  SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) NORDLUND,Brown,B.Davis,                        
  Ulmer,Sitton,Finkelstein,Brice                                               
                                                                               
  TITLE: "An Act establishing the Alaska Children's Health                     
  Corporation and the Alaska Healthy Start Program; relating                   
  to insurance; and providing for an effective date."                          
                                                                               
  JRN-DATE    JRN-PG                     ACTION                                
  01/04/93        30    (H)   PREFILE RELEASED                                 
  01/11/93        30    (H)   READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)                  
  01/11/93        30    (H)   HES, LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE                   
  01/15/93        92    (H)   COSPONSOR(S): SITTON                             
  01/20/93       117    (H)   COSPONSOR(S): FINKELSTEIN, BRICE                 
  03/24/93              (H)   HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106                      
  03/31/93              (H)   HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106                      
                                                                               
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
  TAPE 93-53, SIDE A                                                           
  Number 000                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE called the meeting to order at 3:11 p.m. and                     
  noted members present.                                                       
                                                                               
  CONFIRMATION HEARING - BOARD OF EDUCATION                                    
                                                                               
  Seeing that the appointee, STOWELL JOHNSTONE, was not yet                    
  present, CHAIR BUNDE announced his intention to delay the                    
  hearing until such time as the appointee arrived.  He then                   
  brought HB 195 to the table and opened public testimony.                     
  HB 195:  AUTHORIZING YOUTH COURTS                                            
                                                                               
  Number 028                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. JOE SITTON testified as prime sponsor of HB 195.  He                    
  said he was representing the co-sponsors, as well as the                     
  young Democrats and Young Republicans of Alaska.  He read a                  
  sponsor statement that described the Anchorage Youth Court                   
  as a successful way to deal with young offenders, and said                   
  the bill would make it possible for other areas in the state                 
  to duplicate the Anchorage Youth Court by establishing                       
  similar programs under the Department of Health and Social                   
  Services (DHSS).  The bill would allow nonprofit                             
  organizations to operate such courts.  He said the state                     
  could benefit from the volunteer efforts of some youth to                    
  help address criminal behavior in other youths.                              
                                                                               
  (Rep. Brice arrived at 3:13 p.m. and departed at 3:20 p.m.)                  
                                                                               
  Number 171                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE said his experience had shown him that juveniles                 
  have strict conceptions of what is wrong and what is right,                  
  and can be stricter than adults in judging their peers.                      
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY asked if it would be possible to amend the bill                   
  to replace the word "nonprofit corporations" with the word                   
  "person."                                                                    
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON said he had no problem, but the change might                     
  carry legal ramifications.  He said the Anchorage Youth                      
  Court framework required the use of the words "nonprofit."                   
                                                                               
  Number 197                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY noted that the use of nonprofit organization was                  
  good or bad in various cases.  He asked whether the Legal                    
  Assistance and Juvenile Justice Grant Fund referred to in                    
  Section 3 was a new fund.                                                    
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON responded that the bill would change the name of                 
  the existing Legal Assistance Fund.                                          
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY expressed concern over co-mingling of funds.  He                  
  asked why there was a matching grant requirement when such                   
  requirements could also be waived.                                           
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON said that waivers would not be automatic.  He                    
  stated he wanted to give the commissioner of DHSS the                        
  authority to waive the match if he saw fit to do so.  He                     
  said the waiver would be adopted in regulation.                              
                                                                               
  Number 230                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY suggested eliminating language indicating it was                  
  a matching grant, and simply calling the program a grant                     
  program.                                                                     
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON objected, saying the matching grant provision                    
  encouraged community involvement, which he said was a key to                 
  the success of the Anchorage Youth Court.  He added,                         
  however, that he would be willing to eliminate the matching                  
  provisions if that were necessary to get the bill passed.                    
                                                                               
  Number 243                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY asked the scope of the regulations that would be                  
  created under the statute.                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON said the regulations would establish a procedure                 
  by which an entity could apply for a grant, and would                        
  outline departmental overview and monitoring of such grants                  
  to assess their success.  He noted, however, that it was                     
  impossible to control exactly what form the regulations                      
  would finally take.                                                          
                                                                               
  Number 262                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY expressed reluctance to grant regulatory                          
  authority to state agencies.  He cited a legislative effort                  
  to allow an election on the question of whether the                          
  legislature could annul regulations, and said that until                     
  such a provision was in place he was very reluctant to grant                 
  regulatory authority to state agencies.                                      
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked why HB 195 carried a zero fiscal note when                 
  the bill calls for $5,000 grants from the legal assistance                   
  and juvenile justice grant fund.                                             
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON said it was probably not the first time the                      
  legislature had seen a zero fiscal note that may have been                   
  creative.  He said his zero fiscal note was not creative.                    
  He anticipated receiving no more than 10 requests for such                   
  grants.                                                                      
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE said that would cost $50,000.                                    
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON stated that he had been told that the fiscal                     
  note from the Department of Community and Regional Affairs                   
  addressed whether the department would have additional                       
  costs.                                                                       
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked whether the Department of Community and                    
  Regional Affairs could absorb such costs without additional                  
  appropriations.                                                              
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON answered that that was his understanding.                        
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE invited public testimony on HB 195.                              
                                                                               
  Number 310                                                                   
                                                                               
  VALERIE THERRIEN, an ATTORNEY with the FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR                  
  BOROUGH and a BOROUGH ASSEMBLY MEMBER, testified in Juneau                   
  in support of HB 195.  She said the Anchorage Bar                            
  Association (ABA), which supported the Anchorage Youth Court                 
  (AYC), had won a national award for its work with AYC.  She                  
  said those involved in youth courts would prefer the legal                   
  protections afforded by a nonprofit status and that would                    
  probably be the best form to use.  She said it would be                      
  logical to establish the next youth court in Fairbanks, and                  
  the community there could probably come up with a $5,000                     
  match.  She said youth courts help youth gain respect for                    
  the legal system and also provide an alternative to the                      
  juvenile court system that functioned as an effective                        
  deterrent.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 347                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE said he did not intend his comments on matching                  
  grants to mean that municipalities could not come up with a                  
  fair share for matching funds for youth courts.                              
                                                                               
  Number 352                                                                   
                                                                               
  RANDALL HINES, DIVISION OF FAMILY AND YOUTH SERVICES,                        
  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, testified in                       
  Juneau in support of HB 195.  He cited a zero fiscal note                    
  from the Department of Health and Social Services dated                      
  3/11/93.  He said community support from the Anchorage                       
  School District (ASD) and the ABA has helped the Anchorage                   
  Youth Court be a successful model.  He cited "legislative                    
  resolve" number 61 from 1992 which asked the Department of                   
  Health and Social Services to consider starting other youth                  
  court programs in Alaska similar to the one in Anchorage.                    
  He said the department had started that process in Juneau,                   
  Anchorage and Fairbanks, but was facing some drawbacks in                    
  Juneau, which had a small student population.                                
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked if the youth court might not be a usable                   
  tool in smaller communities.                                                 
                                                                               
  Number 371                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. HINES said youth courts would look different in smaller                  
  communities, but could be adapted to those settings.                         
                                                                               
  Number 379                                                                   
                                                                               
  CAREN ROBINSON, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, testified in Juneau                  
  for herself and for the League in support of HB 195, saying                  
  there was great interest in the program in Juneau.  She said                 
  youth court was based on the idea that judgement by peers                    
  prevented young offenders from repeating their offenses.                     
  Such courts also save money, prevent delinquency, and                        
  educate youth about the legal system, she said.  Sentencing                  
  should be appropriate, she stated, and has included                          
  community service, alcohol treatment or payment of                           
  restitution.  She strongly encouraged the bill and said that                 
  almost every community contained organizations willing to                    
  support youth court.                                                         
                                                                               
  (Rep. Toohey arrived at 3:36 p.m.  Rep. G. Davis arrived at                  
  approximately 3:40 p.m.)                                                     
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE invited those testifying to limit their                          
  testimony to two minutes and not to repeat earlier                           
  testimony, if possible.                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 438                                                                   
                                                                               
  BLYTHE MARSTON, PRESIDENT, ANCHORAGE YOUTH COURT, INC.,                      
  testified via teleconference from Anchorage in support of                    
  HB 195.  She described the history of AYC.  She said the                     
  court was unique in that it was run solely by youths with                    
  adult advisors.  She described the qualifications and                        
  training youths had to have to serve in AYC.  She said the                   
  AYC tries cases referred from Juvenile Intake, and it                        
  requires the juvenile and his parent or guardian to agree to                 
  have the case tried by AYC and to agree to abide by its                      
  judgement.  She said the AYC have had youth accused of                       
  joyriding, carrying a concealed knife on school grounds,                     
  snow machine theft, and other crimes.  She said the AYC                      
  hears about 20 cases a year, most of them misdemeanors.                      
  Convictions in AYC are wiped from an offender's record upon                  
  completion of sentence, she said.  She listed the benefits                   
  of AYC for youth, including business experience, increasing                  
  respect for law, allowing redress of criminal activities,                    
  resolution of criminal cases without leaving youth with                      
  criminal records.  She said the program also reduced the                     
  number of cases in Juvenile Intake.                                          
                                                                               
  Number 522                                                                   
                                                                               
  BRIAN CLARK, PRESIDENT, ANCHORAGE YOUTH COURT BAR                            
  ASSOCIATION, testified via teleconference from Anchorage in                  
  support of HB 195.  He said he had served in other                           
  capacities in the AYC.  He said he wanted the AYC to have                    
  the authority to subpoena witnesses, a power granted by                      
  HB 195.                                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 537                                                                   
                                                                               
  JESSE KICHL, CHIEF JUDGE OF THE ANCHORAGE YOUTH COURT,                       
  testified via teleconference from Anchorage in support of                    
  HB 195.  He said those youths that go through AYC have low                   
  recidivism rates, which he attributed to the fact that the                   
  AYC provided for trial of youth by their peers.                              
                                                                               
  Number 567                                                                   
                                                                               
  ROBERT BUTTCANE, SUPERVISOR, JUVENILE INTAKE UNIT,                           
  DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND YOUTH SERVICES, testified via                       
  teleconference from Anchorage in support of HB 195.  He said                 
  the AYC was a way for the Division of Family and Youth                       
  Services (DFYS) to meet its dual obligations to protect the                  
  public while addressing the needs of youthful offenders.  He                 
  said peer judgement was an outstanding feature of AYC and                    
  led to low recidivism rates.  He said the AYC was one of the                 
  most effective diversion programs he had ever seen, though                   
  not all youth were good candidates for trial by AYC.  He                     
  said he supported the bill as a way to make youth courts                     
  possible across the state.                                                   
                                                                               
                                                                               
  TAPE 93-53, SIDE B                                                           
  Number 008                                                                   
                                                                               
  SHARON LEON, A FORMER HOUSING COORDINATOR FOR A RURAL                        
  STUDENT VOCATIONAL PROGRAM, testified via teleconference                     
  from Anchorage in support of HB 195.  She said offenders                     
  tried by AYC, and those likely to be tried by other youth                    
  courts, do not realize that what they might consider                         
  mischief is actually illegal.  She said many communities had                 
  made inquiries about AYC in the past year, and while some                    
  had been scared off by the complexity of the program, she                    
  said, youth courts could take many forms.  She said students                 
  involved with AYC respect the confidentiality of those                       
  involved in the system.                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 070                                                                   
                                                                               
  JON EALY, VICE PRESIDENT, ANCHORAGE BAR ASSOCIATION,                         
  testified via teleconference from Anchorage in support of                    
  HB 195.  He said the AYC was almost all-volunteer, but                       
  received early support from an American Bar Association                      
  grant.  He said the $5,000 state grant would help smaller                    
  communities get set up before finding their own funding                      
  sources.  He said it was important that youth courts be                      
  operated as nonprofit corporations so as to collect grants                   
  and tax-deductible contributions.  He said the jurisdiction                  
  of youth courts would be up to local authorities.  He                        
  reminded the committee that all cases brought before a youth                 
  court would be pre-screened, probably by a lawyer, to ensure                 
  that they were appropriate for the court.  He said youth                     
  courts impose creative sentences, tailored to each youth and                 
  in the context of each community.  He praised youth courts                   
  as a good way for children to learn the legal system and for                 
  lawyers to be involved in schools.                                           
                                                                               
  Number 114                                                                   
                                                                               
  MARY BRISTOL, A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER IN THE ANCHORAGE                      
  SCHOOL DISTRICT, testified via teleconference from Anchorage                 
  in support of HB 195.  She said the AYC was among the best                   
  real-life educational opportunities for youth she had ever                   
  seen.  She said it was a very successful partnership between                 
  schools and the community, that it had received two national                 
  awards, and that it received many queries form other states                  
  and cities.  She said she was glad it could be used as a                     
  model for similar programs around the state.                                 
                                                                               
  Number 134                                                                   
                                                                               
  ROBERT OWENS, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE ANCHORAGE BAR                  
  ASSOCIATION, testified via teleconference from Anchorage in                  
  support of HB 195.  He said the ABA had long been involved                   
  in the AYC, supported it vigorously, and still contributed                   
  money to it each year, partly because the state had provide                  
  money to the program early on.  He said a nonprofit                          
  designation is useful for youth courts.  He said the AYC has                 
  been responsible in reporting its financial activities, even                 
  in the absence of formal, rigid financial regulations.  He                   
  suggested making the youth court available to boroughs as                    
  well as first- or second-class municipalities and cities.                    
                                                                               
  Number 178                                                                   
                                                                               
  JOSHUA WALTON, A MEMBER OF THE ANCHORAGE YOUTH COURT,                        
  testified via teleconference from Anchorage in support of                    
  HB 195.  He said the AYC provided benefits for both                          
  defendants and attorneys, was educational, and led to lower                  
  state court costs.                                                           
                                                                               
  Number 201                                                                   
                                                                               
  JUSTIN WALTON, A MEMBER OF THE ANCHORAGE YOUTH COURT BAR                     
  ASSOCIATION, testified via teleconference from Anchorage in                  
  support of HB 195.  He said the AYC saved the state money                    
  and was effective.  He noted that the AYC had a five percent                 
  recidivism rate, compared to 50 percent for the normal                       
  juvenile court system.                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 219                                                                   
                                                                               
  BRYAN MERRELL, PRESIDENT OF THE ANCHORAGE BAR ASSOCIATION                    
  YOUNG LAWYER SECTION, testified via teleconference from                      
  Anchorage in support of HB 195.  He said the program gets                    
  lawyers involved with students, helps students learn about                   
  the judicial branch of government, reduces recidivism rates,                 
  and saves the government money.                                              
                                                                               
  Number 250                                                                   
                                                                               
  MARIGH HUGHES, PARTNER AT HUGHES, THORSNESS, GANTZ, POWELL &                 
  BRUNDIN LAW FIRM, AND PRESIDENT OF THE ALASKA BAR                            
  FOUNDATION, testified via teleconference from Anchorage in                   
  support of HB 195.  She said the foundation, which has                       
  funded the AYC, has rigid financial requirements which the                   
  AYC has always met.  She called the program a model to be                    
  followed nationwide.  She said the foundation trustees                       
  support HB 195.  She stated that in 1991 the DOE had                         
  attempted, through its rural outreach program and in                         
  conjunction with the ABA, to establish two pilot rural youth                 
  court programs.                                                              
                                                                               
  Number 275                                                                   
                                                                               
  ROY HENDERSON, REHABILITATION COUNSELOR AND INSTRUCTOR                       
  IN THE JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM OF THE ALASKA COALITION TO                 
  PREVENT SHOPLIFTING, INC., testified via teleconference from                 
  Anchorage in support of HB 195.  He said it was a good                       
  program to educate youth who are good candidates for                         
  rehabilitation about the consequences of crimes often                        
  committed under peer pressure.  He encouraged expansion of                   
  the youth court program to pay for follow-up assistance for                  
  poor youth.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Number 300                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE thanked those testifying from Anchorage for                      
  their testimony.                                                             
                                                                               
  Number 303                                                                   
                                                                               
  JANE DEMMERT, PROGRAM COORDINATOR OF THE FAIRBANKS NATIVE                    
  ASSOCIATION, testified via teleconference from Fairbanks in                  
  support of HB 195.  She said the bill would help Fairbanks                   
  learn from Anchorage's example while setting up its own                      
  youth court.  She also noted with approval that the bill                     
  provided for alternative approaches in smaller communities.                  
                                                                               
  Number 324                                                                   
                                                                               
  STEVE PRAEDEL, AN ATTORNEY, AND ASSISTANT LEGAL ADVISOR TO                   
  THE ANCHORAGE YOUTH COURT, testified via teleconference from                 
  Anchorage in support of HB 195.  He noted that the program                   
  attracted many dedicated volunteers, including police,                       
  teachers, judges, attorneys, court workers, and all types of                 
  students.  He voiced the hope that the offenders would                       
  become part of the AYC system.  As a family lawyer, he said                  
  the AYC was a more positive solution to youth crime than the                 
  normal juvenile justice system and could be a good model for                 
  the rest of the state.                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 358                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE closed public testimony on HB 195 and invited                    
  the committee to discuss the bill.  He asked Rep. Sitton to                  
  comment on the suggestion that the bill be extended to                       
  include boroughs.                                                            
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON said he hoped the committee would entertain such                 
  a motion.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Number 362                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY observed that amending the bill to substitute the                 
  word "person" for the word "nonprofit corporation" in the                    
  bill would extend the bill to include boroughs.                              
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE observed that someone had testified that                         
  establishing a youth court under a nonprofit corporation                     
  umbrella would allow the youth courts to accept tax-exempt                   
  donations.                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY countered that an organization merely had to have                 
  tax-exempt status, granted by the Internal Revenue Service                   
  (IRS) in order to accept tax-deductible contributions.  He                   
  said most nonprofit corporations did not necessarily have                    
  such status.                                                                 
                                                                               
  Number 372                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. B. DAVIS said that an organization needed 501 3(c)                      
  status, as did the AYC.                                                      
                                                                               
  REP. G. DAVIS noted that a slight change to the bill on page                 
  3, line 24, changing the word "cities" to the word                           
  "municipalities" would extend the bill to boroughs and                       
  cities.                                                                      
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON concurred.                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 380                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE moved the amendment suggested by Rep. G. Davis,                  
  changing the word "cities" to the word "municipalities"                      
  on page 3, line 24.  Hearing neither discussion nor                          
  objection, he declared the motion passed.                                    
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY proposed an amendment to Section 3 of the bill to                 
  establish an independent fund for the youth court grants                     
  instead of mingling the fund with the legal assistance fund.                 
  He suggested such an amendment might take some legal                         
  research.                                                                    
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON said he appreciated Rep. Vezey's concern for                     
  state money management, but added that he would hate to see                  
  the bill delayed by what he saw as an insignificant problem.                 
                                                                               
  Number 395                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. G. DAVIS pointed out that two paragraphs in Section 3                   
  of the bill defined the two distinct uses to which the fund                  
  would be put.                                                                
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked Rep. Vezey if that would satisfy his                       
  concerns.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Number 403                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY answered that it would not, and that there was a                  
  need, in his opinion, for separate funds in order to                         
  properly manage the funds.                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. NICHOLIA moved for passage of HB 195 from the committee                 
  with individual recommendations.                                             
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY objected.                                                         
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked Rep. Vezey if he had made a motion.                        
                                                                               
  Number 413                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY answered that he had not made a formal motion, as                 
  he believed it would first be necessary to perform research                  
  on the issue he had raised.  He said he had two other                        
  amendments he wanted to present.                                             
                                                                               
  REP. NICHOLIA withdrew her amendment.                                        
                                                                               
  Number 418                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY moved an amendment to the bill to substitute the                  
  word "person" for the words "corporation" or "nonprofit                      
  corporation" in four places:  page 2, line 23; page 2, line                  
  29; page 3, line 21; and page 4, line 1.                                     
                                                                               
  REP. B. DAVIS objected to the motion and said the committee                  
  should have representatives from Legal Services present                      
  before voting on the motion.                                                 
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE said HB 195 was apparently going to take longer                  
  than he had thought.  He suggested that the committee take                   
  up the confirmation of Stowell Johnstone to the State Board                  
  of Education and delay action on HB 195 pending arrival of a                 
  representative from Legal Services.  He declared his                         
  intention to finish discussion on HB 195 that day.                           
  CONFIRMATION HEARING - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION                              
                                                                               
  Number 441                                                                   
                                                                               
  STOWELL JOHNSTONE, APPOINTEE TO THE STATE BOARD OF                           
  EDUCATION, made himself available to the committee for                       
  questions in Juneau, but made no statement.                                  
                                                                               
  Number 448                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY asked Mr. Johnstone if there were any reasons why                 
  his appointment should not be confirmed.                                     
                                                                               
  MR. JOHNSTONE answered no, that he should be qualified.                      
                                                                               
  REP. B. DAVIS said that she was glad at Mr. Johnstone's                      
  appointment and believed he would do well.                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked if Mr. Johnstone realized the                              
  responsibilities and demands of the position he intended to                  
  assume.                                                                      
                                                                               
  MR. JOHNSTONE said that in his 30-year career in education                   
  he had often wondered why anyone would volunteer for school                  
  board duty.  He said he believed he could make a difference                  
  through participating on the state board and he would like                   
  the chance to do so.                                                         
                                                                               
  Number 465                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked Mr. Johnstone to outline his views of the                  
  state board's role.                                                          
                                                                               
  MR. JOHNSTONE said that he had once heard that a school                      
  board member's duties included anything about which he                       
  picked up the telephone and caught hell.  He said that                       
  whatever affected education was included in the board's                      
  role.  He said the board could work with the Alaska 2000                     
  committee to establish standards for educational outcome.                    
                                                                               
  Number 478                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked his personal goals for influencing                         
  education in the near term.                                                  
                                                                               
  MR. JOHNSTONE said he hoped to provide an educational                        
  environment to help improve the culture of education, to                     
  include more support from communities, the legislature and                   
  the governor.                                                                
                                                                               
  Number 486                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked Mr. Johnstone for a brief overview of his                  
  priorities concerning the Alaska 2000 proposal and the bills                 
  which had evolved from it.                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. JOHNSTONE said that, having had little opportunity to                    
  work with the DOE and the board, his emphasis would be on                    
  making sure that as much aid as possible could reach the                     
  classroom.  He praised the Alaska 2000 process of asking                     
  communities how they wanted to improve schools, and said the                 
  process should continue, albeit possibly in a slightly                       
  changed manner.                                                              
                                                                               
  Number 502                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE said he would entertain a motion to pass the                     
  appointee's name along to the House.                                         
                                                                               
  REP. B. DAVIS moved passage of Mr. Johnstone's appointment                   
  to the House.                                                                
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE, hearing no objection, declared Mr. Johnstone's                  
  appointment had been passed to the full House.  He then                      
  returned HB 195 to the table.                                                
  HB 195:  AUTHORIZING YOUTH COURTS                                            
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE noted that there was a question of the necessity                 
  of 501 (c) nonprofit designation.                                            
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON invited his aide to address that question.                       
                                                                               
  Number 520                                                                   
                                                                               
  PAULA TERRELL, AIDE TO REP. JOE SITTON, testified on HB 195.                 
  She said she had consulted with Jack Chenoweth of the                        
  Legislative Legal Counsel in the Legislative Affairs Agency,                 
  who had answered some of the committee's questions on                        
  HB 195.  She stated Mr. Chenoweth said that the use of the                   
  word "person" would include nonprofits and the bill language                 
  was broad enough to allow communities to adapt the bill to                   
  their own purposes.  She said the courts might look askance                  
  at having a single individual person operate a youth court,                  
  but that issue could be resolved when such a person                          
  attempted to establish a youth court program.                                
                                                                               
  Number 527                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE said that answered his question.                                 
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY noted that the term "nonprofit" was used three                    
  times in the bill, and the term "corporation" was used                       
  twice.                                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 530                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked whether the nonprofit designation would                    
  remain should the committee pass Rep. Vezey's proposed                       
  amendment to change "nonprofit" to "person."                                 
                                                                               
  MS. TERRELL said that she believed, based on her                             
  conversation with Mr. Chenoweth, that this was correct.                      
                                                                               
  REP. TOOHEY moved passage of Rep. Vezey's amendment.                         
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE noted that Rep. Vezey had already made that                      
  amendment.                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. TOOHEY said that she would therefore repeat the                         
  amendment.                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked for objections.                                            
                                                                               
  Number 541                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. B. DAVIS said she had voiced objection to the motion                    
  earlier, but she wished to withdraw her objection.                           
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE said, "That takes care of that amendment.  And,                  
  Rep. Vezey, you had another amendment that you were                          
  concerned with."                                                             
                                                                               
  Number 542                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY moved an amendment to page 4, line 4, of the                      
  bill, deleting the last sentence of the paragraph, (an                       
  amendment which would have the effect of preventing waiver                   
  of the requirement for matching grants).  He said the bill                   
  offered enough flexibility in the form of matching                           
  contributions such that if a community was not willing to                    
  provide some matching contribution, the state should not                     
  provide the grant.                                                           
                                                                               
  REP. NICHOLIA objected.                                                      
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON said the amendment would not substantially alter                 
  the bill.  He said he agreed with the amendment.                             
                                                                               
  Number 555                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. NICHOLIA said she believed the commissioner of the DOE                  
  should have the ability to waive the match because rural                     
  areas might not be able to afford the match and would be                     
  deprived of the benefits of youth courts.                                    
                                                                               
  TAPE 93-54, SIDE A                                                           
  Number 000                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked for further discussion on the amendment.                   
  Hearing no further objection, he called for a roll call                      
  vote.  Those voting yes were Reps. Vezey and Kott.  Those                    
  voting no were Reps. G. Davis, Olberg, B. Davis, Nicholia,                   
  Toohey and Bunde.  The motion failed 2-6.                                    
                                                                               
  Number 032                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY moved an amendment to split the legal assistance                  
  grant fund from the juvenile justice grant fund.                             
                                                                               
  REP. G. DAVIS said he had no problem with the amendment.  He                 
  said it was a good bill and suggested the committee pass it                  
  along to the Judiciary Committee with a letter of intent to                  
  avoid the delay that would come with drafting an amendment.                  
                                                                               
  Number 048                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE asked Rep. Vezey if that would satisfy his                       
  concerns.  He also said he was willing to return the bill to                 
  the committee again the next day to allow time to draft the                  
  amendment.                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY said he would be willing to act at the pleasure                   
  of the chair, and he did not see any large rush.  He                         
  observed that HB 195 would not make it to the floor, as the                  
  legislative session was nearing an end.  He agreed to send a                 
  letter to the Judiciary Committee requesting his amendment.                  
                                                                               
  Number 064                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. OLBERG asked if the committee would vote on the motion                  
  or view the amendment first.                                                 
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE said he would prefer to hold the bill one day to                 
  allow language to be drafted to address Rep. Vezey's                         
  concerns and avoid the need to try to have another committee                 
  try to assess the HESS Committee's will.  He announced the                   
  end of business on HB 195.                                                   
  CHAIR BUNDE brought HB 22 to the table, but said he did not                  
  anticipate that the committee would complete work on the                     
  bill that day.                                                               
                                                                               
  (Rep. Olberg departed at 4:43 p.m.  Rep. Brice returned at                   
  4:44 p.m.)                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 100                                                                   
                                                                               
  HB 22:  ALASKA HEALTHY START PROGRAM                                         
                                                                               
  REP. JIM NORDLUND testified as PRIME SPONSOR of HB 22.  He                   
  said the bill would establish a pool to provide health                       
  insurance for children.  He said the CS version of the bill                  
  proposes requiring the families to pay 100 percent of the                    
  premiums for such insurance for their children, though the                   
  bill originally included some state subsidy.  The bill gives                 
  authority to a board to establish coverage levels and keep                   
  premium levels low, with an emphasis on prevention and on                    
  emergency care.  The bill provides prenatal coverage for                     
  pregnant women, but not coverage of the cost of delivery                     
  services.  The bill allows premiums to be paid by deductions                 
  from the child's Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, and allows                  
  the board or corporation established under the bill to                       
  accept private contributions and special legislative                         
  appropriations.  He noted the large fiscal note and said it                  
  could be possible to reduce the state's administrative cost                  
  by including that expense in the participants' premiums.                     
                                                                               
  Number 164                                                                   
                                                                               
  STEVE LEBRUN, A GROUP SERVICES ACCOUNT MANAGER WITH AETNA                    
  HEALTH PLANS, testified via teleconference from Seattle in                   
  support of HB 22.  He said he had asked Rep. Nordlund to                     
  coordinate analysis of potential claim costs.  (A letter                     
  from Mr. LeBrun to Rep. Nordlund outlining some elements of                  
  the analysis is on file.)  He said the most effective care                   
  would be wellness and preventative care, and a package                       
  including well baby care, full immunization, routine medical                 
  care and vision exams would cost about $6 per month in claim                 
  costs.  He said he had worked up a dental benefits package                   
  that would cost about $20 per month, and an ambulatory out-                  
  patient care package that would cost about $54 per month.  A                 
  package to cover delivery of newborns would assume delivery                  
  would cost about $600, he said.  He stated that those costs                  
  were based on usual costs in Alaska.  He said the size of                    
  administration costs would depend on how much of the work                    
  was left to the insurance company.                                           
                                                                               
  MR. LEBRUN commented, "One area of concern we do have with                   
  the bill is that we would request reconsideration of what                    
  appears to be a requirement now that the insurer of the                      
  state plan be required to bid, and would only as that, given                 
  the as-yet undefined broad authority vested in the                           
  corporation to set the final rule, that we consider that                     
  somewhat unreasonable that there be requirement to bid                       
  without further verification and definition of the coverage                  
  and administration."  He said the company supported the bill                 
  in general, and said it offered the potential to bring                       
  uninsured children into the insurance fold and help prevent                  
  more costly medical care later.                                              
                                                                               
  Number 260                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. TOOHEY asked what it might cost an individual, without                  
  state assistance, for health insurance for a healthy newborn                 
  baby.                                                                        
                                                                               
  MR. LEBRUN said it cost from $2,500 to $3,000 to deliver a                   
  baby in Alaska.                                                              
                                                                               
  Number 280                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. TOOHEY repeated her question as to the cost of                          
  insurance for an already-born baby.                                          
                                                                               
  MR. LEBRUN asked if she meant how much such coverage would                   
  cost under HB 22.                                                            
                                                                               
  Number 285                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. TOOHEY said she thought HB 22 would offer a family the                  
  chance to be covered by insurance.                                           
                                                                               
  MR. LEBRUN said that was correct.  He said such coverage                     
  would be approximately $80 to cover average claims, plus an                  
  administrative cost of from $15 to $30 per month.                            
                                                                               
  Number 295                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. TOOHEY asked if the Municipality of Anchorage and other                 
  larger communities did not already offer for free many of                    
  the services he had mentioned.                                               
                                                                               
  MR. LEBRUN said he could not answer, but some preventative                   
  services were probably available through community                           
  resources.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 301                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY said he was confused by Mr. LeBrun's comments                     
  concerning the average cost of insuring a newborn and mother                 
  for about $80 per month, when Aetna provided health                          
  insurance to state workers at a cost of about $460 per month                 
  for a family.                                                                
                                                                               
  MR. LEBRUN said the figures he had cited were the cost for                   
  each child, not including delivery services or any in-                       
  patient services, and excluding any psychiatric or substance                 
  abuse treatment or home nursing coverage.  He said almost                    
  half of the monthly premium for state workers goes to cover                  
  in-patient services.                                                         
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY said the insurance package for children would                     
  exclude the cost of in-patient medical services.                             
                                                                               
  MR. LEBRUN answered that was correct.                                        
                                                                               
  Number 333                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY asked whether the estimated total cost of the                     
  program could be derived by adding the administrative costs                  
  under the Division of Retirement and Benefits to the                         
  coverage costs.                                                              
                                                                               
  MR. LEBRUN said that was correct, but there would be an                      
  additional cost for the insurance company administrative                     
  costs of paying claims.  He commented he had not seen the                    
  fiscal note from the Division of Retirement and Benefits.                    
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY said the Division of Retirement and Benefits'                     
  fiscal note indicated a cost of about $361,000 for FY94 and                  
  about $500,000 in the out years.  He asked how much the                      
  insurance company would cost for its markup, and suggested                   
  it might be from 15 percent to 20 percent.                                   
                                                                               
  Number 344                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. LEBRUN said the amount would probably be higher than                     
  that.  He said if the insurance covered only the costs of                    
  preventative health care, then the cost of administration                    
  might exceed the cost of benefits.                                           
                                                                               
  Number 362                                                                   
                                                                               
  KAREN PERDUE, MEMBER OF THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND ACCESS TASK                 
  FORCE, testified via teleconference from Fairbanks in                        
  support of HB 22 and of the sponsor substitute.  She said                    
  the bill would organize the market so as to make a                           
  previously unavailable product available for sale to Alaska                  
  families.  She said poor working families had few options                    
  for minimal health insurance coverage of the minor medical                   
  needs of children.  She said that a program such as HB 22                    
  might allow parents to budget for medical care and                           
  prevention for their children.  Parents could still have                     
  catastrophic health insurance coverage for their children,                   
  with large deductibles and relatively low costs, he pointed                  
  out.  Programs such as the one proposed in HB 22 have been                   
  successful in other states, she said.  She stated keeping                    
  the price of such coverage down was essential and very                       
  possible, given the low exposure to the risk of costly                       
  hospital care.                                                               
                                                                               
  Number 403                                                                   
                                                                               
  SHERRIE GOLL, LOBBYIST, ALASKA WOMEN'S LOBBY AND KIDPAC,                     
  testified in Juneau in support of HB 22.  She said HB 22 was                 
  supported by the Health Resources and Access Task Force.                     
  She said the bill would provide an important level of                        
  preventative health care for about 20,000 children whose                     
  parents were too poor for private insurance, but too rich                    
  for Medicaid.  She said the bill would allow children and                    
  parents to develop relationships with a pediatrician for                     
  preventative medicine.                                                       
                                                                               
  REP. TOOHEY asked Rep. Nordlund why it was necessary to have                 
  state government serve as a middleman between the insurance                  
  industry and families, and why insurance companies did not                   
  themselves offer basic health insurance for about $900 per                   
  child.                                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 435                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. NORDLUND said that if he could he would eliminate the                   
  bureaucracy set up by the bill, but he did not believe Aetna                 
  would take the initiative to create a pool of uninsured                      
  children.  He noted the CHIPRA (Comprehensive Health                         
  Insurance Price Reform Act) proposal and state Sen. Jim                      
  Duncan's health care authority proposal would both create                    
  entities with much broader ranges of authority than that                     
  proposed under HB 22.  He said if such entities were                         
  created, then there would be no need for such a bill as                      
  HB 22.                                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 449                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. TOOHEY said that the state of Alaska paid about $4,500                  
  per year to provide health insurance for an employee's                       
  family of five, and it should be possible to provide health                  
  insurance for one child for about $900 per year.                             
                                                                               
  REP. NORDLUND noted that the state acts as the pooling agent                 
  for state workers and their families.  He said he did not                    
  know how the insurance companies could create a pool of                      
  uninsured children itself, but if it were possible, he would                 
  like to hear how.                                                            
                                                                               
  CHAIR BUNDE said that the issue would be discussed further                   
  at a later date, and he ADJOURNED the meeting at 5:10 p.m.                   

Document Name Date/Time Subjects