02/08/2024 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): | |
| HB258 | |
| HB264 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 258 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 264 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 8, 2024
3:18 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Prax, Chair
Representative CJ McCormick
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Jesse Sumner
Representative Zack Fields
Representative Genevieve Mina
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Ronald Gherman - Soldotna
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Board Of Nursing
April Erikson - Fairbanks
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
HOUSE BILL NO. 258
"An Act relating to general relief and burial assistance; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 264
"An Act requiring the Department of Family and Community
Services to adopt a uniform screening tool; requiring shelters
for runaway minors to screen minors for victimization relating
to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and commercial sexual
exploitation; requiring the Department of Family and Community
Services to screen children in need of aid for victimization
relating to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and commercial sexual
exploitation; and relating to the duty of the Department of
Family and Community Services to investigate the experiences of
missing children in need of aid who have been located."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 258
SHORT TITLE: GENERAL RELIEF & BURIAL ASSISTANCE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STAPP
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) HSS, FIN
02/08/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
BILL: HB 264
SHORT TITLE: CHILD TRAFFICKING SCREENING
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) VANCE
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) HSS, FIN
01/30/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
01/30/24 (H) Heard & Held
01/30/24 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
02/08/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
WITNESS REGISTER
RONALD GHERMAN, Appointee
Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Chiropractic Examiners.
APRIL ERICKSON, DNP and CRNA, Appointee
Board of Nursing
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Nursing.
REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, introduced HB 258.
HONOUR MILLER-AUSTIN, Staff
Representative Will Stapp
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of the prime sponsor,
Representative Stapp, presented the sectional analysis for HB
258.
DEB ETHERIDGE, Director
Division of Public Assistance
Department of Health
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions from the committee
regarding HB 258.
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, introduced HB 264 to the
committee.
ROBERT BALLINGER, Staff
Representative Sarah Vance
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding HB 264 on
behalf of the prime sponsor, Representative Sarah Vance.
TERRA BURNS, Member
Community United for Safety and Protection
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Recommended an amendment to HB 264.
MICHELLE OVERSTREET, Founder and CEO
My House
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 264.
JOE JONES, representing self
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 264.
MAXINE DOOGAN, Member
Community United for Safety and Protection
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in opposition to HB 264.
DELAYNA WEST, representing self
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 264.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:18:29 PM
CHAIR PRAX called the House Health and Social Services Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:18 p.m. Representatives
McCormick, Saddler, Sumner, Fields, Mina, and Prax were present
at the call to order.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS
Board of Nursing
3:20:00 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the first order of business would be
consideration of the governor's appointee to various boards and
commissions.
3:20:31 PM
RONALD GHERMAN, Appointee, Board of Chiropractic Examiners,
described his background and explained how his experience is
related to his appointment to the Board of Chiropractic
Examiners.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether Mr. Gherman had any
suggestions for improving how the Board of Chiropractic
Examiners operates and how they serve the community.
MR. GHERMAN explained how important it is that chiropractors are
able to do the practice for which they are certified. He is a
proponent of sustaining and improving the chiropractic
profession in the state by supporting continuing education. He
said he recently learned that the Alaska Board of Chiropractic
Examiners is highly regarded.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Mr. Gherman whether he receives
chiropractic care as a private individual.
MR. GHERMAN responded that he has received chiropractic care
since the eighth grade.
3:24:01 PM
CHAIR PRAX asked Mr. Gherman whether his role on the board is as
a public member and how often the board holds meetings.
MR. GHERMAN said the board typically meets three or four times a
year. There will be an in-person meeting in Anchorage in the
fall of 2024 and another in-person meeting in Juneau the
following year.
CHAIR PRAX confirmed that the Board of Chiropractic Examiners is
a licensing board and wondered what challenges it faces to
having a quorum which result in delayed licensure.
MR GHERMAN explained that the members of the board coordinate
with each other to make sure there is a quorum so that people
don't have to wait and the colleges that are teaching also do
not have to wait. They try to expedite the process.
3:25:46 PM
CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on the appointment of Ronald
Gherman. After ascertaining there was no one who wished to
testify, closed public testimony.
3:26:57 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be
consideration of the governor's appointee to the Board of
Nursing.
APRIL ERICKSON, DNP and CRNA, Appointee, Board of Nursing,
described her background in Alaska as a doctor in nursing
leadership, a certified registered nurse, an anesthesiologist,
and a professor at the University of Alaska. She also
summarized her work with the Board of Nursing.
3:28:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked about best practices concerning the
use of ketamine in mental health treatment.
DR. ERICKSON responded that she actually opened the first
ketamine clinic for mental health treatment in the state of
Alaska and has helped other practitioners open ketamine clinics.
She explained that she works with mental health providers
because, as an anesthesiologist, she provides safe ketamine
infusion. She pointed out that ketamine has been shown to be
very effective for the treatment of depression and post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She has been in contact with
the Veteran's Administration (VA) but has not worked with them.
She would like to see the treatment become more available to
veterans.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS requested additional information about the
difficulty veterans have receiving ketamine treatment.
DR. ERICKSON discussed issues with billing for ketamine
treatments, particularly about the difficulties in being
approved by some insurance companies. Some of her patients
described the process with the VA and Tricare as very
frustrating.
3:31:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked about how the areas of practice are
divided up among nurses, registered nurses (RNs), licensed
practical nurses (LPNs), and Advanced Nursing Practitioners
(ANPs).
DR. ERICKSON explained that basically every type of nurse and
nurse's aide is under the board's jurisdiction. There are
multiple types of RNs.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER inquired about what kinds of issues might
come before the board in addition to regulatory functions.
DR. ERICKSON replied that for several years the nursing compact
licensure [multi-state licensing] which affects both RNs and
APRNs has been a big issue for the board.
3:33:58 PM
CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on the appointment of April
Erickson to the Board of Nursing. After ascertaining there was
no one who wished to testify, he closed public testimony.
3:35:07 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:35 p.m. to 3:42 p.m.
3:42:10 PM
CHAIR PRAX stated that the House Health and Social Services
Standing Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the
governor's appointees and recommends that the following names be
forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Ronald Gherman,
Board of Chiropractic Examiners; and April Erickson, Board of
Nursing. He said that signing the report regarding appointments
to boards and commissions in no way reflects an individual
member's approval or disapproval of the appointee, and the
nomination is merely forwarded to the full legislature for
confirmation or rejection.
3:43:06 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 3:43 p.m.
HB 258-GENERAL RELIEF & BURIAL ASSISTANCE
3:43:55 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 258, "An Act relating to general relief and
burial assistance; and providing for an effective date."
3:44:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP, Alaska State Legislature, described
HB 258 as a bill that would consider burial assistance as well
as repealing a couple of program items. This is one of the
bills which would address issues of processing time within the
Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance. It is
being proposed for the purposes of efficiency and results-based
budgeting. When he looked at this program, he did not find that
the level of spending and administrative time needed to
administer these aspects of the program, in a results-based
system, was an efficient use of state funds. He considered the
bill not from the perspective of what it does, but rather how
effective the state is at delivering services to the folks the
state says it wants to help. He explained that this delivery
system is incredibly inefficient, and it is hard to justify a
statewide program when there are only three to five people per
month using the benefit.
3:47:21 PM
HONOUR MILLER-AUSTIN, Staff, Representative Will Stapp, Alaska
State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Stapp, prime
sponsor presented the sectional analysis for HB 258. She
explained that Sections 1-5 add "and burial" to the assistance
programs referenced in statute. Section 6(a) deletes the
inclusion of shelter, utilities, hospitalization, nursing, and
convalescent care for financial assistance. Section 6(b) adds
funeral and burial expenses into statute. Section 7 adds "and
burial" to eligible assistance programs. Section 8 gives an
effective date of January 1, 2025.
3:48:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP explained that people were available both
online and in the room to answer committee members' questions.
3:48:34 PM
CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on HB 258. After
ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, he closed
public testimony on HB 258.
3:49:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said he had questions for Ms. Etheridge,
Director, Division of Public Assistance.
3:49:47 PM
DEB ETHERIDGE, Director, Division of Public Assistance,
Department of Health, answered questions posed by members of the
committee regarding HB 258.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked about the comparative percentages of
rental relief relative to burial relief which went from 12
percent in fiscal year 2020 (FY 20) to 2.7 percent in FY 23 and
FY24 and why those changes occurred.
MS. ETHERIDGE explained that there was a small decline in
utilization this year because there is a slight backlog in
general relief applications. However, year over year, an
individual must have a fairly low income in order to qualify and
each month they must apply for the benefit. Generally, the
division has not seen an increase in utilization for rent or
utilities.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS requested additional information about the
backlog, specifically who is applying, whether they are non-
profits applying in partnership with people, how long it takes,
and what kind of shelter they are looking for.
MS. ETHERIDGE explained that an individual applies for the
shelter and utility costs on their own behalf, generally. A
majority of the applications the division processes for the
general relief program are for the burial costs.
3:52:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER inquired whether the division anticipates
a substantial decrease in applications or times spent processing
with the removal of some items but having a portion of the
program remain in existence.
MS. ETHERIDGE responded that there will be a decrease in
applications based on the removal of those categories. However,
the number is pretty slight.
REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER asked how much the division anticipates
saving by removing these items, for example, staff processing
time or hours.
MS. ETHERIDGE replied that the number of hours that would be
saved is somewhat nominal in that a majority of applications for
the general relief program fall under burial. The processing
time for the burial relief program is between 60 and 90 minutes
depending on the complexity of the situation.
3:53:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS questioned where this program fits in the
"ecosystem" of other rental assistance programs. He asked who
the average person is, who gets general relief; whether it is
for people who are waiting for AHFC; and what the typical
sequence is for rental relief.
MS. ETHERIDGE replied that general relief is for people who are
extremely needy with no access to other programs. Countable
resources cannot exceed $500, and a single person's income
cannot exceed $300. They may likely qualify for other programs.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS inquired whether the threshold of per-day
assistance is $70 dollars.
MS. ETHERIDGE replied that a general relief program is also
operated for disabled persons and seniors and HB 258 as
presented does not impact that. The senior and disability
program has a monthly amount that is authorized.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked Ms. Etheridge what she would do if
she wanted to improve the delivery of general relief or rental
assistance. He explained he has heard anecdotally that a
homeless coordinator finds someone who needs shelter that night.
If the shelter is full, then the coordinator puts the homeless
person in a hotel. He said he did not know if that is how the
program is administered in other parts of the state or whether
there are other programs that should be considered and how the
programs could be administered as efficiently as possible.
MS. ETHERIDGE responded that she would like to take the question
back to her team to discuss.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained he could accept the premise that
the program could be eliminated if there is a better way to
provide rental and utility assistance. He also asked whether
there is simply a better delivery system within this program.
3:57:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA referenced the fiscal note and noted that it
was broken down into rent, utilities, miscellaneous, and burial.
She requested clarification regarding what was considered
miscellaneous in the general assistance program.
MS. ETHERIDGE said she did not have the information regarding
the miscellaneous category with her at that time.
3:57:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP referred to the bill packet, explaining
that he had asked the division about the miscellaneous category
and was told there weren't any miscellaneous items.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA noted that there were numbers listed under
miscellaneous for FY19 through FY23. In addition, she asked Ms.
Etheridge whether the different types of general relief were in
regulations. She questioned whether the burial assistance,
which is currently in regulations, would be moved to statute
under the provisions of HB 258. She asked for clarification
regarding the difference in general assistance being in
regulations versus statute.
MS. ETHERIDGE replied that statutes are an overarching
authority, and regulations determine the details of what is
allowable in those expenditures.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP explained his concept which was to add
burial assistance on the application form for public assistance.
He noted that from a process standpoint, individuals who go to
the DP office to get assistance and are checking boxes for
programs, if they see the word "burial assistance" listed with
the general assistance, they may think, "Maybe I don't have to
apply to that program." He opined that people tend to check all
the boxes, but fewer people will check that box if it actually
says burial assistance.
4:00:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA called attention to the application which
has two boxes, one of which read "burial expenses" and asked
whether it is necessary to change the statute to accomplish this
burial issue. She also asked if the other benefits such as
transportation and fuel could be highlighted on the general
relief application.
MS. ETHERIDGE explained that the legislature drives the policy
that would become regulation, so articulating burial in the
statute would give direction to the division regarding what the
application should say and what the funding would be for.
4:02:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for clarification regarding whether
the bill would eliminate assistance.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP explained the bill does delete the rental
and utility assistance under the authorization of general
relief. It keeps every other aspect of general relief intact.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER pointed out that rental assistance is 7
percent and utilities is about 3 percent, and burial assistance
is 89 percent, so the bill is reallocating resources from where
they are not well-utilized to a place where there is definitely
a demand.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP replied that the intent is not really about
appropriation but rather about reducing administrative burden
within the department itself.
4:04:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER asked about other possible funding
requests such as food or clothing.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP explained that the history of general
relief is very interesting and is a very old program. Even
inside the state statute there is language that mirrors
territorial Alaska. He said he wanted to be very surgical in
crafting the bill so that he didn't unintentionally interfere
with the senior disability services referenced earlier, for
example. He told the committee that he was always open to the
will of the committee if they think there is some language
clean-up.
4:05:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked whether there was an alternate way
to provide services to a small group of people who benefit from
rent and utilities other than spending 90 minutes of staff time
processing an application. Also, whether it is possible to
change the $300 amount because a homeless person sleeping in a
car potentially has more than $300 in assets.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP responded that he was open to other modes
of delivery, but he also reminded the committee that he
advocated results-based budgeting, and he did not believe these
programs were delivering that in their current form.
4:06:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA questioned whether alternatives such as
voucher programs to the general relief had been considered.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP replied that there are "different programs
for different folks in different walks of life." He described
the general relief program as a kind of legacy program which has
become outmoded over time and which is no longer performing
anywhere near the original intent of the program. He said he
was open to suggestions from the committee for other solutions.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked what Representative Stapp sees as the
intent of the program and what he wants as an outcome.
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP responded that he was unsure of the
original intent.
4:08:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS directed his question to Ms. Etheridge,
asking whether there was another way to restructure the program
so that it is not wasting staff hours while preserving the
program.
MS. ETHERIDGE said she would take that query back to the office.
In response to an earlier question, she commented that cases are
generally processed during business hours.
4:10:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked how much time it takes to process a
general relief application.
MS. ETHERIDGE explained that 60 minutes is ideal. However, the
division was required to get income verification because the
income limit is so low, and that takes additional time. Burial
relief gets more complicated because a person is applying "on
behalf of," and there are several calculations and verifications
regarding the payment for the burial.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA questioned whether the rent and utility
assistance would go out immediately after processing.
MS. ETHERIDGE responded that generally it is a guarantee of
payment that goes forward rather than an actual payment.
4:11:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked how the income of someone living in
a car is verified.
MS. ETHERIDGE explained that the division uses a method referred
to as "known negative verification," so if a person does say
they do not have income, then generally the division takes that
as true especially if the person is homeless. However, if the
person potentially works day labor or has had employment, then
there is an attempt to verify by using a pay stub or calling an
employer.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS inquired whether the process differs if a
person has kids.
MS. ETHERIDGE responded that a required verification applies to
the whole household.
4:13:24 PM
CHAIR PRAX inquired about possible scenarios in which a person
would need immediate assistance for that day or that night,
commenting that it seems difficult to process immediate relief
and asking whether the division does indeed provide immediate
assistance.
MS. ETHERIDGE replied that the division will give immediate
assistance to the extent that the division has the capacity.
Rent is usually the area in which there is immediate need, in
the case of eviction or displacement. Utilities generally do
not need to be issued that day, so a statement of "agree to pay"
works.
4:14:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA said she agrees with the rationale but
worries that eliminating one mechanism for providing assistance
puts people in jeopardy. She described a situation that
occurred in Representative Fields' district with an individual
who was about to be evicted and was trying to find any sort of
immediate relief which was very difficult. She wanted to know
about other programs for rental and utility assistance but did
not want to eliminate options for people who are in very
vulnerable circumstances.
4:15:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS requested testimony at the next hearing
from other service providers who deal with this situation.
4:16:04 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced HB 258 was held over.
HB 264-CHILD TRAFFICKING SCREENING
4:16:08 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 264, "An Act requiring the Department of Family
and Community Services to adopt a uniform screening tool;
requiring shelters for runaway minors to screen minors for
victimization relating to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and
commercial sexual exploitation; requiring the Department of
Family and Community Services to screen children in need of aid
for victimization relating to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and
commercial sexual exploitation; and relating to the duty of the
Department of Family and Community Services to investigate the
experiences of missing children in need of aid who have been
located."
4:16:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, introduced HB 264 to the committee. She explained that
the purpose of the bill was for the Department of Family and
Community Services to adopt a universal screening tool for
children who come into the department and for those who come
into contact with runaway children in the state. The intent is
to screen for sexual exploitation to make sure that children who
come within our state services are being identified if they are
being exploited in order to provide them with the services that
they need.
4:17:40 PM
ROBERT BALLINGER, Staff, Representative Sarah Vance, Alaska
State Legislature, referenced questions from a previous House
Health and Social Services committee hearing regarding HB 264.
He explained that staff researched the federal law referred to
in that committee hearing which went into effect in 2014. This
bill will bring into compliance with that law which requires
screening whenever individuals go missing from state care.
4:19:00 PM
CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on HB 264.
4:19:10 PM
TERRA BURNS, Member, Community United for Safety and Protection,
recommended that the committee amend the bill's definition of
sex trafficking. She described her background and how it
relates to HB 264, explaining that she was trafficked as a minor
in Alaska and also did sex work as an adult. She did her
graduate research in 2014 at University of Alaska, Fairbanks, on
policy recommendations regarding Alaska's sex work, advocating
for safety and protection. She requested that the committee
amend HB 264 to use the criminal rather than the noncriminal
definition for sex trafficking of minors. The youth shelters
who use federal funding are tracking information about
trafficking of minors in Alaska using the noncriminal
definition. However, it is unknown how many minors in Alaska
are being sex trafficked, are having survival sex, or are
working in the commercial sex industry. She said that resources
are going to the wrong places and the wrong policies. Alaska's
youth need evidence-based policy and services that address their
needs. She requested that the bill use the criminal definition
of sex trafficking.
4:22:03 PM
MICHELLE OVERSTREET, Founder and CEO, My House, spoke in support
of HB 264. She described My House, a homeless youth drop-in
center with wrap around services. She explained she supports
the screening bill, so trafficked survivors can get the support
they need from providers such as My House. Without a screening
tool that examines what has been happening with the youth, it is
difficult to know who has been trafficked. Without
understanding the situation, youth are more likely to be
revictimized and end up homeless or incarcerated. A good
screening tool with properly worded questions helped My House
identify over 50 youth who recognized that they had been
trafficked when previously there had been only six. Data from a
wide range of input is needed to adequately address the youths'
needs and provide the services that they require. She described
a situation in which screening helped prevent a sixteen-year-old
from being taken and sold in Texas. She also discussed the high
rate of child rape in Alaska and means for prevention. Using
the screening tool would be hugely impactful for organizations
that interact with potential victims.
4:26:57 PM
CHAIR PRAX asked Ms. Overstreet whether her organization has a
set of questions they ask. When she replied in the affirmative,
he asked her to forward those to the committee.
4:28:00 PM
JOE JONES, representing self, said he would like to go on record
as being in support of HB 264.
4:28:28 PM
MAXINE DOOGAN, Member, Community United for Safety and
Protection, spoke in opposition to HB 264. She explained that
she supported universal definitions, but she specifically wanted
to see the criminal definitions put in place. She opposes using
the Violence Against Women Act because it results in youth being
arrested when they have been forced into prostitution.
4:30:13 PM
CHAIR PRAX, after ascertaining there was no one else who wished
to testify, closed public testimony on HB 264.
4:30:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said he had hoped to hear from the Alaska
Institute for Justice on this bill to see what they are saying
about vulnerable youth. He had read that there was a very sharp
rise in child labor trafficking, particularly among migrant
children and asked whether this is occurring in Alaska.
4:31:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE responded that her staff would reach out to
the institute regarding children in labor trafficking in Alaska.
4:31:52 PM
CHAIR PRAX asked about a specific list of questions that should
be asked.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE explained that the bill as written does not
mandate a specific list of questions. Rather, it encourages the
department to expand on the screening they are already doing for
trauma. It is recommended that the department collaborate with
the Council on Human Trafficking. The bill intentionally does
not provide a specific list of questions because of the wide
variety of questions that can be asked. There are excellent
models that can be provided, but it is up to the will of the
committee how to proceed with HB 264.
4:33:11 PM
CHAIR PRAX said the bill would be held for further
consideration.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS mentioned to the bill sponsor that he
asked Legislative Legal Services to draft an amendment which
would add labor trafficking based on the experience of
prosecutors who found they could not document sex trafficking
but were able to document labor trafficking of the same victim.
This would give prosecutors more tools as in, for example, the
case of a massage parlor where prosecutors can prove the child
was be held for labor trafficking but could not prove the child
had been subjected to sex trafficking.
4:34:09 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 4:34 p.m.
4:35:02 PM
CHAIR PRAX called the committee back to order and reopened
public testimony on HB 264.
4:35:46 PM
DELAYNA WEST, representing self, spoke in support of HB 264.
She strongly encouraged the committee to support this bill and
other bills like it for the safety of the children and the women
in Alaska's communities.
4:36:50 PM
CHAIR PRAX, after ascertaining there was no one else who wished
to testify, closed public testimony on HB 264.
CHAIR PRAX announced HB 264 was held over.
4:36:59 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health and Social Services Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 4:37 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 258 Fiscal Note DOH-GRA.pdf |
HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 258 |
| HB 258 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 258 |
| HB 258 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 258 |
| April Erickson Nursing CV_Redacted.pdf |
HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
Governor's Appointee |
| Ronald Gherman Chiropractic Application_Redacted.pdf |
HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
Governor's Appointee |
| Ronald Gherman Chiropractic Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
Governor's Appointee |
| HB 264 - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HHSS 1/30/2024 3:00:00 PM HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 264 |
| HB 258 Supporting Doc.pdf |
HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 258 |
| HB 258 DoH Q&A.pdf |
HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 258 |
| HB 258 Sponsor Statement v.2.pdf |
HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 258 |
| HB 258 Disability Law Center Comments.pdf |
HHSS 2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 258 |