Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/01/2000 08:02 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
MINUTES
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 1, 2000
8:02 AM
TAPES
SFC-00 # 41, Side A and B
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Sean Parnell convened the meeting at approximately
8:02 AM.
PRESENT Co-Chair John Torgerson, Co-Chair Sean Parnell,
Senator Dave Donley, Senator Loren Leman, Senator Randy
Phillips, Senator Gary Wilken, Senator Green, Senator P.
Kelly, Senator Ellis.
Also Attending: REPRESENTATIVE BUNDY, REPRESENTATIVE
ELTON, and REPRESENTATIVE BRICE; EMILY ENNIS, Fairbanks;
BRIAN BENNETT, Homer; MARLA AND MELONIE ADAMS, Fairbanks;
JOSE SILVA, Fairbanks; NED MAGEN, D.O., Soldotna; STEVE
LESKO, Anchorage; ERNIE, DEBBIE AND SEAN DUMMANN,
Anchorage; SHERRY AND CHRISTINA GALLAGHER, Wasilla; ANNIE
AND JONATHAN JOHNSON, Bethel; WAYNE AND TAYLOR GOULD,
Anchorage.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
EMILY ENNIS stated that she was from Fairbanks and that she
was a member of the Key Coalition. She noted that this was
the thirteenth year of the Key Campaign. She added that
over a decade ago, state government made a decision that it
would not directly provide services to individuals with
disabilities, but would provide funding to nonprofit
organizations. She understood this was done for fiscal
reasons, as well as to support community life of
individuals in need. She added that these goals were
served with the closure of Harborview and noted that all
services with development disabilities are provided in
Alaska's communities.
Ms. Ennis stressed that residents of Harborview did receive
regular and preventative dental care, but this service is
no longer available because thee only dental care available
under Medicaid is for emergencies. She added that the
closure of Harborview has saved the state millions of
dollars. She pointed out that individuals with
developmental disabilities make up Alaska's second largest
minority group, consisting of 12,000 people. She added
that Alaska's senior population is growing three times the
rate than any other state in the country, this population
consists of 2,500 individuals who need elderly services.
She noted that overall, the state has a wait list of
approximately 700 to 1,000 individuals who are in need of
new services.
Ms. Ennis stressed that with the drop of the unemployment
rate, the coalition has seen a mass exodus of the work
force that supports client services, while fewer workers
enter this field. She added that this wage disparity for
workers must be addressed, along with comprehensive
benefits, in order to attract and keep a competent work
force. She pointed out that this would be accomplished by
supporting the coalition's DD Institutional Prevention line
item in the Governor's budget. She then outlined the
issues that would be discussed in the coalition's
presentation.
BRIAN BENNETT stated that he was a resident of Homer and he
spoke about the Infant Learning Program. He referred to
his six-year old son, Michael who has a rare form of
childhood epilepsy and as a result of thousands of
seizures, Michael's development is very delayed. Mr.
Bennett attributed Michael's progress to the dedicated
therapists, caregivers and teachers at the Homer Infant
Learning Program. He noted that agencies such as this one,
statewide, provide services at crucial stages of child
development from birth to three years old. He stressed the
importance of early intervention. He pointed out that
staff recruitment and retention has become very difficult
in the State of Alaska. Mr. Bennett cited a 1998 study
conducted by the governor's Council on Disabilities and
Special Education, which revealed that infant learning
professionals earned about $15.00 per hour, while their
counterparts in school districts earned about $25.00 per
hour. He added that this discrepancy was contributing to a
high rate of employee turn over.
Mr. Bennett continued that as of December 1, 1999 there
were 331 developmentally delayed children in Alaska waiting
for Infant Learning Program services. He added that
preventative funds were necessary to absorb these children
into programs now, so additional monies later will be
saved. He urged the Committee to fund the $700,000
requested by the governor for these services.
MARLA ADAMS AND MELONIE ADAMS traveled from Fairbanks to
testify. Ms. Marla Adams stated that Melonie was 17 years
old and that she had dreams for her future. She added that
Melonie was Downs Syndrome and noted that she will need
extra help to reach these dreams in the future. Ms. Adams
outlined the work she has done professionally and
voluntarily for Down Syndrome and other special needs
individuals. She noted the wait list system statewide that
now has 776 individuals on it. Ms. Adams noted how Melonie
became a high functioning individual, in part, from the
efforts of the Infant Stimulation Program and gave a
synopsis of Melonie's future plans once she graduates from
high school. Ms. Adams made the point that Melonie will
have to be wait-listed for services though, once she
graduates. Ms. Adams urged the Committee to support HB
346, also known as the wait-list bill and she asked that
they add $1 million dollars into the budget to fund
services needed for individuals exiting the educational
system as outlined in the Initiative 22. Finally, she asked
that the Committee support the Governor's budget of
$700,000 for the Infant Stimulation Program. Miss Melonie
Adams then read a statement into the record [copy on file.]
HOSE SILVA from Fairbanks came forward to testify through
an interpreter. He noted that deaf citizens, natives in
particular, have many barriers because of a lack of
communication accessibility. He added that there was not
enough support for deaf people in villages, along with a
high rate of drug and alcohol abuse, which further
exacerbates the situation. He continued that the money
from last year's Grover Grant expired and some other funds
were cut. He added that these two factors contribute to
the problems of reaching these isolated individuals.
Senator Green asked if the individuals referred to were
preschool children, school aged or adults, or a combination
of each.
Mr. Silva responded that this presentation centered on deaf
adults.
NED MAGEN from Soldotna stated he would speak about dental
care for adults. He added that Medicare only pays for
emergency care after 21 years of age. He then gave
examples of what dental emergency care entails and
highlighted specific problems of Medicaid individuals in
his district. He continued that disabled adults have more
dental problems than general population for a few reasons
and outlined these. He gave an example of Central Peninsula
General Hospital in 1999, where they treated 272
individuals with toothaches, but noted that he was unable
to break out disabled individuals specifically. He added
that the charges for this general group totaled $46,538.00,
not including prescriptions or follow-up care. He noted
that if this number was extrapolated across the state, a
request for $250,000 towards this preventative dental
program was a small amount.
STEVE LESKO from Anchorage made an analogy of funding state
programs to that of a report card and obtaining an
allowance for a job well done. He likened the people in the
audience, as representative of the State of Alaska, and the
Senate Finance Committee as keepers of the allowance. He
then gave a report of the Key Coalition efforts and a
corresponding grade to the progress made in each assessed
area. He offered that for quality consumer satisfaction,
the Coalition received an A. He added that for cost
effectiveness, the Coalition received an A+. He noted that
for independent and family preservation, the Coalition
received an A. He continued that for fiscal health and
soundness, the Coalition received a D-, and added that the
two-step federal minimum wage increase went into effect but
nobody funded it, rather, a $300,000 debt load was
absorbed. He added that health costs were escalating.
Mr. Lesko continued that for employee retention, the
Coalition received a D-. He offered that community
programs do not have retirement plans for staff or
increments for pay increases. He noted that for external
support, the Coalition received a D. He continued that
there was more outside monetary support for Harborview, an
institution, than there presently exists for community
based programs. He summed up that for contributing to the
economy of Alaska in terms of the general fund, the
Coalition received an A+. He noted federal waivers as
contributing to this cause and used the example of the
Alaska legislature taking waivers the first year they came
into being. He pointed out that $1.8 million was taken
from these waivers and put into the general fund without
reinvesting it into programs. He then outlined present
budget restraints related to the Coalition's programs,
which he urged the Committee to consider.
ERNEST DUMMAN from Anchorage stated that he was here with
his son, Sean and his wife, Debbie. He stated that he
would talk about life-long disability care. He noted that
from a community standpoint in Sean's short, 20-year life,
the state has seen the closure of Harborview, home to the
mentally retarded. He added that as a result, the state
has seen a move of these individuals into community,
something that has affected all Alaskans. He pointed out
that this move has created many rewards, personally, Sean
is able to be closer to family and protected from harm or
neglect. He noted that this move to community has had its
problems, namely, being able to retain competent staff,
absorption of labor cost increases, insurance cost
increases, and the cost of residential home care. He added
that the increase of families in need of services has
increased to over 786, all of whom, are now on a waiting
list. He asked the Committee to fund $930,000 towards
rectifying this problem.
SHERRY AND CHRISTINA GALLAGHER from Wasilla came forward to
testify. Ms. Sherry Gallagher stated that her daughter,
12-year old, Christina, suffers from a brain injury, which
she received from a tragic car accident. Ms. Gallagher
noted that from a lack of funding, she is forced to find
what her daughter needs on her own. She added that she
must fight with the schools and agencies for services that
are not available. Ms. Gallagher noted that because of a
lack of respite care, she must solely provide this care to
her daughter. She pointed out that head injuries do not
discriminate and that Alaska reports around 5,000 brain and
head injuries each year. She urged the Committee to fund
the necessary and related programs.
ANNIE AND JONATHAN JOHNSON from Bethel came forward to
testify. Ms. Johnson testified for both her husband, who
is unable to walk and for her grandson, Jonathan, who is
disabled. She noted that Jonathan requires 24-hour care,
and that this is in addition to caring for her husband full
time. She continued that Jonathan receives respite care,
which has been extremely helpful. She urged the Committee
to support respite care programs.
Tape: SFC - 00 #41, Side B, 8:49 AM
WAYNE GOULD stated that he was from Anchorage and he then
introduced his son, Taylor. He told the Committee about
the multiple disabilities his son has suffered since birth.
He noted that beginning at six months old, Taylor received
therapy through the Infant Learning Program. Mr. Gould
believes that Taylor's accomplishments are a result of
early intervention. He urged the Committee to help end the
waiting list for such services for all Alaskans in need.
MS. ENNIS concluded the Key Campaign testimony by
encouraging the Committee members to consider funding the
needed services as outlined by the prior participants. She
then referred to a handout [copy on file.]
Co-Chair Parnell commented that during the last legislative
session, funding of grants for developmentally disabled,
were instituted. He appreciated the Key Campaign coming
before the Committee to "put a face" on the different needs
and services required.
ADJOURNED
Senator Parnell recessed the meeting at 9:00 AM.
SFC-00 (6) 03/01/00
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