02/21/2002 04:10 PM House HES

                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES                                                                         
                       STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                       February 21, 2002                                                                                        
                           4:10 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
OVERVIEW:  SEPARATE AGENCY FOR THE BLIND                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
TAPES                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
02-15, SIDE A                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[This  overview occurred  in the  middle of  the regular  meeting                                                               
that began at 3:04 p.m.  See tapes 02-14 and 02-16.]                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FRED  DYSON, Chair,  reconvened the  House Health,                                                               
Education and Social Services Standing  Committee meeting at 4:10                                                               
p.m.   [Minutes for HB 411,  HB 352, and  HB 252 can be  found in                                                               
the 3:04 p.m. minutes for this same date.]                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Committee  members present  were Representatives  Dyson, Coghill,                                                               
Kohring, Cissna, and Joule.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
LYNNE KORRAL,  President, Alaska  Independent Blind,  provided an                                                               
overview of issues that confront  blind Alaskans and the need for                                                               
the  creation of  a separate  agency that  deals only  with these                                                               
matters.   She  offered that  research shows  that the  number of                                                               
blind Alaskans  and problems  confronting them  are on  the rise.                                                               
The  resources  used  to  assist   the  blind  need  to  likewise                                                               
increase.  A handout was  distributed outlining model legislation                                                               
for the formation of such an agency or commission.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ELMER   LINDSTROM,    Deputy   Commissioner,   Office    of   the                                                               
Commissioner,   Department  of   Health   and  Social   Services,                                                               
explained  that  no  department has  assumed  responsibility  for                                                               
creating regulations from legislation passed several years ago.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
WILLIAM CRAIG, Alaska Independent  Blind, related the frustration                                                               
many  blind people  experience when  seeking resources  from many                                                               
different  agencies.    He emphasized  the  need  for  accessible                                                               
resources.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SANDY  SANDERSON, Alaska  Independent  Blind,  drew attention  to                                                               
funding issues  and cited statistics showing  the marked increase                                                               
of blindness in the U.S.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
There were no announcements.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The committee took no action.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON [called  an at-ease] at 4:35 p.m. in  order to return                                                               
to the rest  of the calendar.   [Minutes for HB 411,  HB 352, and                                                               
HB  252 can  be found  in  the 3:04  p.m. minutes  for this  same                                                               
date.]                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
NOTE:   The meeting was  recorded and handwritten log  notes were                                                               
taken.  A  copy of the tape(s)  and log notes may  be obtained by                                                               
contacting the  House Records  Office at  State Capitol,  Room 3,                                                               
Juneau,  Alaska   99801 (mailing  address),  (907) 465-2214,  and                                                               
after  adjournment of  the second  session  of the  Twenty-Second                                                               
Alaska  State Legislature  this  information may  be obtained  by                                                               
contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.