Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/13/1995 09:07 AM Senate HES
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SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
February 13, 1995
9:07 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyda Green, Chairman
Senator Loren Leman, Vice-Chairman
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Judy Salo
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mike Miller
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
The Professional Teaching Practices Commission Appointees:
William McCain
P.O. Box 873042
Wasilla, Alaska 99687
Mary Lou Madden, PH.D.
801 Lincoln Street
Sitka, Alaska 99835
Brian Carter
613 Pleasure Drive
North Pole, Alaska 99705
Christine Niemi
801 West Tenth Street
Suite 200
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Department of Health and Social Services Designee:
Karen Perdue, Commissioner Designee
Anchorage, Alaska
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-4, SIDE A
Number 003
CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services (HESS) Committee to order at 9:07 a.m. She informed the
committee that the first order of business was to review the
qualifications of appointees to The Professional Teaching Practices
Commission (PTPC).
SENATOR SALO asked when Mr. McCain was first appointed to the PTPC.
WILLIAM McCAIN, a renewal to this commission, said that this would
be his third year. He was initially appointed in October of 1992.
In response to Senator Salo, Mr. McCain noted that he was an
elementary physical education teacher at Chugiak Elementary.
SENATOR ELLIS inquired as to the location of a transmittal letter
from the Governor for these appointments. CHAIRMAN GREEN did not
know of a transmittal letter.
SENATOR ELLIS asked if the names before the committee were
submitted by Governor Knowles. CHAIRMAN GREEN stated that the
names were submitted in July of 1994. She agreed with Senator
Ellis that Mr. McCain was suggested by the previous governor.
SENATOR LEMAN said that there must be a transmittal letter
somewhere because the committee was referred these names after
being read across the Senate floor. He agreed that the transmittal
would be from Governor Hickel based on when Mr. McCain was
appointed.
SENATOR SALO inquired as to Mr. McCain's function as a member of
the commission. WILLIAM McCAIN felt that his duties were rewarding
and interesting. The commission allows for various areas to
collaborate on decisions of cases ranging from child abuse to
contract disputes.
WILLIAM McCAIN appreciated the opportunity to be a part of this
commission and pointed out that the commission is staying within
their budget.
Number 094
CHAIRMAN GREEN moved to forward Mr. McCain to the legislature for
consideration as an appointee to PTPC. SENATOR SALO objected and
expressed concern that there was no transmittal letter from either
the present or the previous governor which is normally part of the
packet for confirmations. SENATOR SALO removed her objection.
MARY LOU MADDEN, a new appointee located in Sitka at Sheldon
Jackson was introduced as the next appointee open to discussion.
SENATOR SALO asked if Ms. Madden had been in Juneau before she had
moved to Sitka. MARY LOU MADDEN stated that she has been in Sitka
for the past six months. Previous to that, Ms. Madden said she had
worked mainly with the Department of Education in Juneau for
twenty-two years as well as working for Governors Cowper and Hickel
in the Office of Budget and Policy.
MARY LOU MADDEN spoke to the need for the institution of education
to monitor itself regarding ethics. She felt that her experiences
in the system would allow insight into the commission.
SENATOR LEMAN extended his best to Ms. Madden.
Number 154
CHAIRMAN GREEN recommended without objection that Ms. Madden be
forwarded to the legislature for consideration. She introduced
BRIAN CARTER as the next appointee up for review.
SENATOR SALO asked if Mr Carter was a new appointment or a
reappointment. BRIAN CARTER said that he was a reappointment to
the commission as of the fall of 1992.
In response to Senator Salo, BRIAN CARTER explained that he had
worked as an elementary physical education teacher in the
Fairbanks, Northstar Bourough for the past thirteen years.
Currently, Mr. Carter is working in an interim position as
principal while the regular principal is receiving special
training.
SENATOR SALO asked if Mr. Carter was being designated for an
administrative position on PTPC. BRIAN CARTER clarified that he
was designated for a teacher position on PTPC.
BRIAN CARTER noted that there are approximately 30,000 active
teaching certificates in Alaska with 8,000 teachers. He supported
the work of the commission.
Number 194
Without objection, CHAIRMAN GREEN moved to forward Mr. Carter to
the legislature for consideration. She introduced CHRISTINE NIEMI
as the next appointee before the committee for consideration.
SENATOR LEMAN asked if Ms. Niemi could give a brief summary of her
background. CHAIRMAN GREEN noted that Ms. Niemi was a
reappointment.
CHRISTINE NIEMI informed the committee that she has worked at the
Department of Education since 1982. Currently, she is working in
the Administrative Services Division working in teacher
certification. Previous to that she worked in the Educational
Support Division in the area of Special Education. She noted that
she was appointed to PTPC in December of 1993 to fill a term that
someone else could not fill. She informed the committee that she
was the departmental representative.
SENATOR SALO asked if Ms. Niemi felt that the commission dealt more
with certification issues in terms of initial certification since
PTPC has assumed more duties dealing with policy issues of
certification. CHRISTINE NIEMI explained that there can always be
improvements to initial applications. Changes are made as the need
arises; they attempt to make the applications more user friendly.
SENATOR SALO commented on the case load of the PTPC who efficiently
deals with complaints about professionals in the field. The PTPC
is important due to its responsibilities regarding initial
certification as well as pulling certificates. CHRISTINE NIEMI
agreed that policing the profession is an important task of PTPC.
In response to Chairman Green, CHRISTINE NIEMI said that two
certificates were pulled at the last commission meeting. She noted
that she had only served on the commission for a year.
SENATOR SALO clarified that often there are more than 100 cases
pending. Most cases do not result in decertification, but the
investigation is done. CHRISTINE NIEMI pointed out that some cases
are a complaint of an individual in the profession and may not
necessitate decertification.
Without objection, CHAIRMAN GREEN moved to foward Ms. Niemi to the
legislature for consideration. Chairman Green thanked all the PTPC
appointees and introduced KAREN PERDUE, Designee for the
Commissioner of the Department of Health and Social Services.
Number 280
KAREN PERDUE, a life long Alaskan, said that in the past ten years
she has worked as a manager for Health and Social Services. She
specified that in the last four years she has worked with local and
state agencies. She felt that her work in the community and the
private sector had helped her bring energy to this position.
SENATOR LEMAN noted the presence of Elmer Lindstrom in the
audience. Senator Leman inquired as to Ms. Perdue's thoughts on
making welfare reform work in Alaska. He also asked Ms. Perdue
where she thought the Division of Public Assistance would be and
who would be the new division director.
KAREN PERDUE stated that the Governor has made welfare reform an
important issue for her. She explained that she had reviewed the
caseload in the department as well as trying to discern the problem
that the division wants to solve. She also said that she would be
watching the changes in Congress.
Ms. Perdue maintained that the welfare caseload has increased due
to the addition of the two parent family in 1988. She stated that
the department will focus on two parent families because both of
the parents are able-bodied. One parent should be involved with
education, work or training. She indicated the intent of the
department: to help able-bodied persons to work and not get
trapped in the welfare system, to assure that absent parents
support their children, to make the system between the Division of
Public Assistance (DPA) and Child Support more efficient, and
change the role of the welfare worker. She informed the committee
that the department had chosen Jim Nordlund as the Director of DPA.
Number 344
CHAIRMAN GREEN asked for Ms. Perdue's assurance that the
suggestions for a liaison and the elimination of the
interdepartmental trap for clients would be utilized. KAREN PERDUE
clarified that Chairman Green was referring to Child Support
Enforcement. There is discussion to better coordinate the services
of DPA and Child Support Enforcement.
CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired as to whom in the Department of Health and
Social Services (DHSS) would follow the federal welfare and
Medicaid changes. KAREN PERDUE explained that an interdepartmental
group would be formed to review all the changes together.
CHAIRMAN GREEN said that she foresaw some difficult choices to be
made in DHSS. She suggested that Ms. Perdue and the department
review their possible budget cuts and offer suggestions as to the
direction of the cuts. KAREN PERDUE explained that her priority
would be working with the Governor to establish priorities for the
agencies as well as defending the Governor's budget. Ms. Perdue
expressed the need to review the possibility of downsizing the
agency while continuing to deliver the services.
CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired as to the increase in their budget from
1990 to 1995. KAREN PERDUE informed the committee that the current
budget is approximately $800 million with $400 million of that
being federal money. Ms. Perdue said that the budget had probably
doubled in that time period. Ms. Perdue noted that the majority of
the growth had occurred in the Mental Health Trust and Entitlement
areas.
SENATOR LEMAN indicated that Senator Frank had given out copies of
the federal government'S Bipartisan Commission on Entitlements and
Tax Reform. Many of the aspects of that report would apply to
Alaska. If the entitlement issue is not addressed, reductions in
the overall cost will not happen. Senator Leman asked Ms. Perdue
if she agreed and if she could outline the manner in which the
entitlement issue could be dealt with.
Number 413
KAREN PERDUE noted that she had not viewed that report, but she had
been in discussions regarding the issue. The entitlements in the
department agencies of the Division of Public Assistance and
Medicaid account for 11 percent of the state's general fund. She
felt that the Congressional Balanced Budget Amendment is critical
in regards to federal participation. In the amendment's current
form, federal participation would decrease by half by the year
2002. The basic tenets of these programs created in the 1930s and
1960s are being questioned. Federal debate of these issues is
pivotal in regard to solutions for Alaska.
Ms. Perdue informed the committee that 85,000 Alaskans currently
use Medicaid as their health insurance. She expressed the need to
review the desired role of Medicaid in Alaska. A 20 percent growth
of the Medicaid system cannot be afforded; currently, Medicaid is
at 12 percent growth. She indicated the need for the Long Range
Fiscal Commission to review entitlements in Alaska and propose what
the situation would be in the future.
SENATOR LEMAN pointed out that the resolution Ms. Perdue was
referring to had failed. He addressed the Division of Public
Assistance's dispute over the significant growth in that division
being attributed to new entrants to the state. The interviews of
the division with these new entrants has led the division to
believe that these persons have been encouraged to come to Alaska
because of the benefits offered here. Senator Leman asked if Ms.
Perdue felt that growth from new entrants is a significant part of
the problem and if so how could this be dealt with.
KAREN PERDUE expressed the need for the information system to
capture data relating to the number of new entrants and their
effect on the department's caseload. She noted that there are ways
to give welfare recipients credit for being in work or training
programs therefore, the system would be more equitable.
Number 488
SENATOR LEMAN inquired as to Ms. Perdue's thoughts regarding the
fate of Harborview. KAREN PERDUE stated that the disability
community is ready to have a close out plan for every person in the
Harborview institution. The decision of the disability community
to place Harborview residents in the community over the next three
years should be supported. If this plan is followed the population
of Haborview would be decreased to approximately 38 persons by next
year. She noted that there is a 16 bed nursing home for
individuals that are difficult to place in private nursing homes.
The department should review its position regarding nursing homes
because they do not operate any besides the Pioneer's Home. Ms.
Perdue pointed out that as the population of Harborview declines
the expense to operate the facility increases; there is discussion
about the Department of Corrections utilizing some of the
facility's space.
CHAIRMAN GREEN asked what the role of the department would be
regarding the implementation and plan for the comprehensive Mental
Health Program in light of the settlement. KAREN PERDUE said that
she would need to research the issue more. She confirmed that the
department would not be administering the Mental Health Trust,
however, the department would work with the trust.
SENATOR SALO explained that legislators are in an awkward situation
when they receive complaints about the Division of Family and Youth
Services (DFYS) yet they are not privy to confidential information
of the case worker. Senator Salo suggested the need for DFYS to
have an oversight board or some sort of rejuvenation.
KAREN PERDUE stated that the moral of DFYS is low and they feel
over burdened. She informed the committee that she had appointed
Diane Woorhley as the Director of DFYS who seemed very qualified
for this position. An oversight board could be a possibility. She
recognized that an oversight board would create ownership, perhaps,
improving community relations. SENATOR SALO said that she would
like to discuss these issues with Ms. Perdue at a later time.
SENATOR ELLIS asked Ms. Perdue to comment on the department's view
of permanency planning and independent foster care review which
would oversee social workers to ensure that children are not being
abused by the system. KAREN PERDUE informed the committee of a
pilot project in Anchorage. She noted that DFYS would be working
with the Department of Administration to renew their commitment.
SENATOR ELLIS urged Ms. Perdue to give attention to that issue. He
emphasized that internal reviews by the department are not
sufficient or what the law specifies. He noted that there would be
legislation to extend the permanency planning issue for the state.
From experience, an external, independent review is necessary to
protect the best interests of the children.
KAREN PERDUE felt that one of her charges was to improve the
management of the agency and keep the agency operating no matter
what it faces. She indicated that this year would require managing
a lot of change at the federal level.
TAPE 95-4, SIDE B
Number 576
KAREN PERDUE said that the upcoming changes should be dealt with by
both the department and state officials. She emphasized that the
main priority of the agency would be to run efficiently while
serving the Alaskan public.
CHAIRMAN GREEN moved without objection to forward Ms. Perdue to the
legislature for consideration. Chairman Green noted that the
committee would be hearing SB 59, SB 58, SB 62, and SB 68 on
Wednesday, February 15th.
There being no further business before the committee, the meeting
adjourned at 9:55 a.m.
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