Legislature(2003 - 2004)
05/10/2004 09:30 PM Senate 301
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON SENATE BILL 301
May 10, 2004
9:30 p.m.
TAPE(S) 04-01
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Richard Foster, Chair
Representative Max Gruenberg
Representative Peggy Wilson
Senator Con Bunde, Chair
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Donny Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFERENCE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 301
"An Act relating to the Alaska Pioneers' Home and the Alaska
Veterans' Home; relating to eligibility for admission to the
Alaska Pioneers' Home and Alaska Veterans' Home; relating to the
eligibility of residents for the Alaska Pioneers' Home and the
Alaska Veterans' Home for general relief assistance; relating to
state veterans' home facilities; making conforming amendments;
and providing for an effective date."
MOVED CCS SB 301 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 301
SHORT TITLE: PIONEERS' HOMES/VETERANS' HOMES
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
02/06/04 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/06/04 (S) HES, FIN
02/20/04 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/20/04 (S) -- Meeting Canceled --
02/25/04 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/25/04 (S) Heard & Held
02/25/04 (S) MINUTE(HES)
03/01/04 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/01/04 (S) Moved CSSB 301(HES) Out of Committee
03/01/04 (S) MINUTE(HES)
03/02/04 (S) HES RPT CS 2DP 1NR NEW TITLE
03/02/04 (S) LETTER OF INTENT WITH HES REPORT
03/02/04 (S) DP: DYSON, GREEN; NR: GUESS
03/26/04 (S) FIN RPT CS 5DP 1NR NEW TITLE
03/26/04 (S) HES LETTER OF INTENT WITH FIN REPORT
03/26/04 (S) DP: GREEN, WILKEN, BUNDE, STEVENS B,
03/26/04 (S) DYSON; NR: OLSON
03/26/04 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/26/04 (S) Moved CSSB 301(FIN) Out of Committee
03/26/04 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/01/04 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/01/04 (S) VERSION: CSSB 301(FIN)
04/05/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/05/04 (H) MLV, HES, FIN
04/05/04 (H) SENATE LETTER OF INTENT
04/07/04 (H) MLV REFERRAL WAIVED
04/07/04 (H) HES REFERRAL WAIVED
04/07/04 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/07/04 (H) Moved HCSCSSB 301(FIN) Out of Committee
04/07/04 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
04/13/04 (H) FIN AT 3:00 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/13/04 (H) Moved letter of intent Out of Committee
04/13/04 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
04/14/04 (H) FIN RPT HCS(FIN) 8DP
04/14/04 (H) DP: MEYER, STOLTZE, JOULE, CROFT,
04/14/04 (H) FOSTER, FATE, HARRIS, WILLIAMS
04/14/04 (H) SENATE LETTER OF INTENT WITH FIN REPORT
04/15/04 (H) VERSION: HCS CSSB 301(FIN) AM H
04/16/04 (S) CONCURRENCE MESSAGE READ AND HELD
05/09/04 (H) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPOINTED
05/09/04 (H) FOSTER, CHAIR; WILSON, GRUENBERG
05/09/04 (H) LIMITED POWERS FREE CONFERENCE GRANTED
05/10/04 (S) 301 AT 9:00 PM FAHRENKAMP 203
WITNESS REGISTER
Ms. Karen McCarthy
Staff to Senator Con Bunde
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 301.
Mr. Dennis DeWitt, Special Assistant
Office of the Governor
PO Box 110001
Juneau AK 99811-0001
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 301.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 04-01, SIDE A
SB 301-PIONEERS' HOMES/VETERANS' HOMES
CHAIR CON BUNDE called the CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON SENATE BILL
301 meeting to order at 9:30 p.m. All members were present. He
noted that the Senate is agreeable to items 1 & 2, proposed by
Representative Gruenberg, which amend AS 15.05.020 as follows:
1. on page 3, line 3, change "by the voter notifying" to "if
the voter notifies"
2. on page 6, line 31, and page 7, lines 2 and 5, add "and
operate" after "maintain"
3. on page 7 list "Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan
Palmer" after "Sitka" to indicate the places where
Pioneers' Homes are operated
4. on page 8 add lines 12 - 14 to read: "(f) The department
shall conduct, at least annually, an unannounced inspection
of each site of the Alaska Pioneers' Homes and the Alaska
Veterans' Homes to determine compliance of the facilities
with all applicable laws and regulations."
CHAIR BUNDE wondered why, in item 4, inspections would be
unannounced.
REPRESENTATIVE MAX GRUENBERG explained that Representative Bob
Lynn suggested that change because of a problem Marty Margeson's
father had with a Pioneer Home. He explained, "They weren't
doing such a good job, at least in that case." The amendment was
offered on the House floor and overwhelmingly adopted.
CHAIR BUNDE stated the committee concurred with item 4. He
suggested the committee discuss changes to section 16 -
Admission to a Home - next. The language on page 10, line 8,
increases the value of personal property that a subsidized
resident may keep from $5,000 to $10,000. He indicated there
were no objections to that. The language on page 8, line 27,
increases the amount of income that an individual whose care is
being subsidized can keep from $100 to $150. He noted the Senate
has a problem with that because of the fiscal impact.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he understood and suggested that
increase will help seniors because it applies to all Pioneers'
Homes, not just the Veterans' Homes. He commented, "It's not a
lot of money. You're on the Finance Committee. Can we find that
money for these guys? They would really appreciate it."
CHAIR BUNDE reminded him that this change meant a $2,000 to
$2,500 subsidy per month for all the people staying there. He
maintained, "They're getting a pretty good deal from the state
right now and I just can't go for that additional money."
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG countered that he would normally agree
with him, but the difference between $100 and $150 for each
person to spend in a whole month is huge. "That's all they can
spend in a whole month." He asked if they would consider $125.
SENATOR BERT STEDMAN commented that he lives a block from the
Pioneer Home in Sitka and doesn't believe those seniors spend a
lot of money. "They don't get out," he maintained. He said he
would be more comfortable with $110, recognizing that the $5,000
an individual would get to keep would be bumped up to $10,000.
REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON asked where the money was going to
come from. "Don't we have to somehow balance the budget?"
CHAIR BUNDE said he thought the money would be saved internally
through reduced nursing assistance.
They get to have a little more spending money, but
they don't get quite the level of care. If they are
indigent, we are going to give them a room that costs
almost $4,600 per month.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said she would rather see the $25 per
person spent on more nursing aides than spending money.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG tried hard to explain that he didn't
want to cut the number of nursing aides but was only trying to
give the seniors additional funds.
CHAIR BUNDE emphasized that the aides were going to be cut.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG argued that if the stipend is cut to
$125, another $80,000 could be found in the budget.
SENATOR STEDMAN stated that the Pioneer Homes don't have a lot
of room in their budgets.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he wanted to find the money
outside of the Pioneer Homes budget.
CHAIR BUNDE said increasing residents' spending limit to $150
would cost the equivalent of four nursing assistants, and an
increase to $125 would cost two. He asked Representative
Gruenberg if he could live with that compromise.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG countered by asking if they could
short-fund the aides and add that cost to the supplemental
budget next year.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said the commissioner has made it clear
that no matter what, they would not have a supplemental budget.
CHAIR BUNDE called for a roll call vote on the question of
increasing personal holdings from $100 to $125. Representatives
Gruenberg and Senator Olson voted yea: Senator Stedman and
Representatives Foster and Wilson, and Chair Bunde voted nay and
the amendment failed.
CHAIR BUNDE announced that personal holdings would stay at $100.
MS. KAREN MCCARTHY, staff to Senator Bunde, mentioned that the
language, "except as otherwise provided in this subsection" on
page 6, line 30, needed to be considered for adoption.
CHAIR BUNDE asked if that phrase makes a substantial change.
MR. DENNIS DEWITT, Special Assistant to the Governor, said it
does make a substantial change. He explained:
The reason we put the 'except as otherwise [provided]
in this subsection' is when we listed Palmer as a
Pioneer Home and then later in the section it was
changed to a Veteran's Home. That keeps it consistent.
It's otherwise noted that the Palmer Home will be a
Veterans' Home.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to add the phrase, "except as
otherwise provided in this subsection." There were no
objections. He indicated there were no further issues to resolve
and CCS SB 301 was moved from committee. There being no further
business to come before the committee, he adjourned the meeting
at 9:45 p.m.
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