Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205

03/09/2023 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 51 CONTROLLED SUB. DATA: EXEMPT VETERINARIAN TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 51 Out of Committee
+= SB 53 FIVE-YEAR INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 53(HSS) Out of Committee
+= SB 57 ADULT HOME CARE; MED ASSISTANCE TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 57 Out of Committee
+= SB 59 RUNAWAYS; DFCS/DOH: DUTIES/LICENSING/INFO TELECONFERENCED
<Above Item Removed from Agenda>
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
      SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                    
                         March 9, 2023                                                                                          
                           3:31 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator David Wilson, Chair                                                                                                     
Senator James Kaufman, Vice Chair                                                                                               
Senator Löki Tobin                                                                                                              
Senator Forrest Dunbar                                                                                                          
Senator Cathy Giessel                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 51                                                                                                              
"An  Act exempting  veterinarians  from the  requirements of  the                                                               
controlled substance prescription database;  and providing for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SB 51 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 53                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to involuntary civil commitments."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSSB 53(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 57                                                                                                              
"An  Act  relating  to  medical   assistance  for  recipients  of                                                               
Medicaid  waivers; establishing  an adult  care home  license and                                                               
procedures;  providing for  the  transition  of individuals  from                                                               
foster care  to adult  home care settings;  and providing  for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SB 57 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 59                                                                                                              
"An Act relating  to the licensing of  runaway shelters; relating                                                               
to advisors to the board of  trustees of the Alaska Mental Health                                                               
Trust Authority;  relating to the sharing  of confidential health                                                               
information between  the Department of Health  and the Department                                                               
of Family and  Community Services; relating to the  duties of the                                                               
Department of Health and the Department of Family and Community                                                                 
Services; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     - REMOVED FROM AGENDA                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB  51                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: CONTROLLED SUB. DATA: EXEMPT VETERINARIAN                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) TOBIN                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/01/23       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/01/23       (S)       HSS, L&C                                                                                               
02/28/23       (S)       HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/28/23       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/28/23       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
03/09/23       (S)       HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB  53                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: FIVE-YEAR INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS                                                                                  
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) CLAMAN                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
02/01/23       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/01/23       (S)       HSS, JUD                                                                                               
02/21/23       (S)       HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/21/23       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/21/23       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
02/28/23       (S)       HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/28/23       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/28/23       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
03/09/23       (S)       HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB  57                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: ADULT HOME CARE; MED ASSISTANCE                                                                                    
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/06/23       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/06/23       (S)       HSS, FIN                                                                                               
03/02/23       (S)       HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
03/02/23       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/02/23       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
03/09/23       (S)       HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
EMMA POTTER, Staff                                                                                                              
Senator Matt Claman                                                                                                             
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a summary of changes for SB 53 from                                                              
version B to version S.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
DR. KRISTY BECKER, Director of Clinical Services                                                                                
Division of Alaska Psychiatric Institute                                                                                        
Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS)                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 53.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, District H                                                                                                 
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 53.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
STEVEN BOOKMAN, Senior Assistant Attorney General                                                                               
Human Services Section                                                                                                          
Civil Division                                                                                                                  
Department of Law                                                                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 53.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
JOHN SKIDMORE, Deputy Attorney General                                                                                          
Office of the Attorney General                                                                                                  
Department of Law                                                                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 53.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
TONY NEWMAN, Acting Director                                                                                                    
Division of Senior & Disabilities Services                                                                                      
Department of Health                                                                                                            
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 57 on behalf of the                                                                         
administration.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:31:15 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DAVID WILSON  called the Senate Health  and Social Services                                                             
Standing Committee meeting  to order at 3:31 p.m.  Present at the                                                               
call to order were Senators  Tobin, Kaufman, Giessel, Dunbar, and                                                               
Chair Wilson.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
        SB  51-CONTROLLED SUB. DATA: EXEMPT VETERINARIAN                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:31:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL  NO. 51                                                               
"An  Act exempting  veterinarians  from the  requirements of  the                                                               
controlled substance prescription database;  and providing for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
He  noted that  this was  the  second hearing  and the  committee                                                               
heard invited and public testimony  when the bill was introduced.                                                               
He asked whether the sponsor had any final comments.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:32:24 PM                                                                                                                    
TREVOR   BAILEY,  Staff,   Senator  Löki   Tobin,  Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, thanked  the committee  for hearing                                                               
the bill and urged their support.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:32:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON solicited a motion.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:32:47 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAUFMAN  moved to report  SB 51, work  order 33-LS0339\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:33:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON found  no objection and SB 51 was  reported from the                                                               
Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:33:13 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
            SB  53-FIVE-YEAR INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:35:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   WILSON  reconvened   the   meeting   and  announced   the                                                               
consideration  of  SENATE  BILL  NO.   53  "An  Act  relating  to                                                               
involuntary civil commitments."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
He  noted  that this  was  the  third  hearing  and there  was  a                                                               
committee substitute for the committee  to consider. He solicited                                                               
a motion.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:35:38 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAUFMAN moved to adopt  the committee substitute (CS) for                                                               
SB 53, work order 33-LS0172\S, as the working document.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:35:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:36:03 PM                                                                                                                    
EMMA POTTER, Staff, Senator Matt Claman, Alaska State                                                                           
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the explanation of                                                                       
changes from version B to version S for SB 53.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                         Senate Bill 53                                                                                         
                     Explanation of Changes                                                                                     
                     Version B to Version S                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Version B to Version S                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1 (page 1, lines 5-14; page 2, lines 1-7):                                                                       
        • Creates a new section of bill                                                                                         
        • Changes subsection (a) so that an evaluation for                                                                      
          the  insanity   defense  requires   one  qualified                                                                    
          psychiatrist or psychologist                                                                                          
        • Removes the requirement that the psychiatrist or                                                                      
          psychologist  have certification  by the  American                                                                    
          Board of Forensic Psychology                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2 (page 2, lines 8-25):                                                                                          
        • Creates a new section of bill                                                                                         
        • Amends subsection (b) to require that motions by                                                                      
          attorneys  requesting  competency  evaluation  are                                                                    
          written motions                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section 3 (page 2, lines 26-31; page 3, lines 1-3):                                                                      
        • Creates a new section of bill                                                                                         
        • Conforming change to add the crime of arson to                                                                        
          the legislation                                                                                                       
        • Adds reference to AS 12.30, stating that                                                                              
          defendants may be released  on bail conditions for                                                                    
          outpatient competency examinations                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Section 4 (page 3, lines 4-26):                                                                                          
        • Creates a new section of bill                                                                                         
        • Amends the section to increase the maximum total                                                                      
          time  for  competency  restoration hold  from  one                                                                    
          year to two years  for charges of crimes involving                                                                    
          force against  a person  by increasing  the period                                                                    
          from 6 months to 18 months                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Section 5 (page 3, lines 27-31; page 4, lines 1-14):                                                                     
        • Conforming changes  to add the  crime of  arson to                                                                    
          the legislation                                                                                                       
        • Adds   reference  to   AS   12.30,  stating   that                                                                    
          defendants may be released  on bail conditions for                                                                    
          outpatient evaluation and treatment                                                                                   
        • Amends  new subsection  (g) by  adding requirement                                                                    
          that  the  prosecutor  shall provide  the  court's                                                                    
          findings to the division  of the Department of Law                                                                    
          that has responsibility for  civil cases within 24                                                                    
          hours   of   the   court's  ruling.   Amends   the                                                                    
          subsection by  adding that when the  Department of                                                                    
          Law  files  petitions for  involuntary  commitment                                                                    
          under  this section,  the petition  must be  filed                                                                    
          within  72  hours  after   the  dismissal  of  the                                                                    
          charges                                                                                                               
        • Creates new subsection (h)  which states that when                                                                    
          the  court dismisses  the  charges, the  defendant                                                                    
          may  not be  discharged until  72 hours  after the                                                                    
          court dismisses the charges                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section 6 (page 4, lines 15-26):                                                                                         
        • Conforming  change to  add the  crime of  arson to                                                                    
          the legislation                                                                                                       
        • Adds  provisions for  alleged victim  notification                                                                    
          of:  the time  and place  of any  civil commitment                                                                    
          proceeding; of  the court's  finding at  any civil                                                                    
          commitment  proceeding,  including the  length  of                                                                    
          time for  which the  respondent is  committed; and                                                                    
          of  when the  respondent  is  discharged from  any                                                                    
          civil commitment                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 7 (page 4, lines 27-31; page 5, lines 1-31):                                                                     
        • Removes the  word "repeated"  from the  history of                                                                    
          felony offenses requirement                                                                                           
        • Conforming changes  to add the  crime of  arson to                                                                    
          the legislation                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section 9 (page 6, lines 7-26):                                                                                          
        • Removes the  word "repeated"  from the  history of                                                                    
          felony offenses requirement                                                                                           
        • Removes  "or is  committed  as a  result of  being                                                                    
          found   incompetent  to   stand  trial   under  AS                                                                    
          12.47.100  and  12.47.110  for  a  felony  offense                                                                    
          against a person under AS 11.41"                                                                                      
        • Conforming change to add the crime of arson to                                                                        
          the legislation                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section 11 (page 7, lines 18-22):                                                                                        
        • Creates a new section of the bill                                                                                     
        • Indirect court rule change to conform with added                                                                      
          requirement of written motion by attorneys                                                                            
          requesting competency evaluation in AS 12.47.100                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 12 (page 7, lines 23-27):                                                                                        
        • Creates a new section of the bill                                                                                     
        • Adds conditional effect language based on                                                                             
          indirect court rule change                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:40:43 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DUNBAR   asked  the   representative  from   the  Alaska                                                               
Psychiatric  Institute (API)  to speak  to the  concern that  API                                                               
doesn't  have  the  capacity   to  handle  five-year  involuntary                                                               
commitments and to the zero fiscal note, which was a surprise.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:41:40 PM                                                                                                                    
DR.  KRISTY BECKER,  Director of  Clinical Services,  Division of                                                               
Alaska Psychiatric Institute, Department  of Family and Community                                                               
Services  (DFCS), Anchorage,  Alaska, stated  that API  currently                                                               
has a 10-bed competency restoration  unit and a lengthy waitlist.                                                               
Plans are in process to  open a jail-based competency restoration                                                               
program  by  the  end  of   June  and  an  outpatient  competency                                                               
restoration  program for  low-level, nonviolent  misdemeanants by                                                               
fall. To the question about  API's capacity to accommodate longer                                                               
term commitment periods, she said  she imagines it would increase                                                               
the burden on  the waitlist. To the second  question, she offered                                                               
her understanding that the fiscal  note was zero because the bill                                                               
doesn't change the  cost of caring for patients  in the facility;                                                               
the 10-bed unit is always full regardless  of who is or is not on                                                               
the waitlist.  She added that program  development and additional                                                               
staffing have a  cost, but she didn't have  a clear understanding                                                               
of how that would be reflected in the fiscal note.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:44:04 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DUNBAR  observed that  even  with  that extra  capacity,                                                               
those 10 beds  might stay full all  the time if the  bill were to                                                               
pass.  Furthermore,  the   jail-base  and  outpatient  competency                                                               
restoration  programs would  not be  free  of cost,  so the  zero                                                               
fiscal note was still puzzling.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. BECKER  said the department  submitted budgetary  requests to                                                               
fund  the  jail-based  and outpatient  programs  that  are  going                                                               
through the legislative process  separate from this bill. Funding                                                               
is also available  through the Mental Health Trust  to help stand                                                               
the programs up.  She agreed with the supposition  that even with                                                               
the two  new programs,  the 10-bed  unit was  still likely  to be                                                               
full all  the time. What will  likely happen is that  the 10 beds                                                               
at  API  will  be  filled  with patients  who  have  the  highest                                                               
psychiatric  needs,  the  jail-based   beds  will  likely  manage                                                               
offenders  who  fall in  the  middle  of  the spectrum,  and  the                                                               
outpatient restoration program will  have clear criteria and only                                                               
accept misdemeanants whose crimes do  not involve force against a                                                               
person. The lowest  level of offenders will  receive treatment in                                                               
the least restrictive environment.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DUNBAR thanked her for the detailed response.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:46:12 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON advised that the  Senate Health Finance Subcommittee                                                               
received and  discussed the request  for the additional  beds. He                                                               
indicated  he  had  a  question   for  Steven  Bookman  with  the                                                               
Department of Law (DOL).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:46:31 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MATT  CLAMAN,  District  H,  Alaska  State  Legislature,                                                               
sponsor  of  SB  53,  said  he didn't  believe  that  Dr.  Becker                                                               
answered  the question  the  fiscal note  raises  because it  has                                                               
nothing  to   do  with  competency,   incompetency,  or   the  10                                                               
competency-restoration beds.  The fiscal  note is  entirely about                                                               
the bed capacity  at API. It says API has  an 80-bed capacity and                                                               
that those  beds are  usually full,  but it  would still  have an                                                               
obligation  to   hold  the  individuals  who   are  in  long-term                                                               
involuntary commitment.  That raises the question  of whether the                                                               
longer period  might increase the  demand for those beds,  so the                                                               
waitlist may be longer. But the  beds are already full and API is                                                               
funded for the full 80-bed capacity  so the bill would not have a                                                               
fiscal impact  on the department.  He reiterated that  the fiscal                                                               
note has nothing to do with competency evaluations.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:47:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON asked  Mr. Bookman  if he  believed that  the jail-                                                               
based  program  Dr.  Becker described  might  conflict  with  the                                                               
state's  settlement with  the Disability  Law Center  about false                                                               
imprisonment  and  holding   people  who  could  go   to  API  or                                                               
community-based centers in jail.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:48:28 PM                                                                                                                    
STEVEN   BOOKMAN,  Senior   Assistant  Attorney   General,  Human                                                               
Services Section,  Civil Division, Department of  Law, Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska,  said no;  the Disability  Law  Center case  was a  civil                                                               
matter about people  who had not been charged with  a crime; they                                                               
were held in jail  to keep them safe while they  waited for a bed                                                               
to  open  at API  or  another  hospital. The  in-jail  competency                                                               
restoration program is intended for  people who have been charged                                                               
with a  crime and are  being held in  jail awaiting space  at API                                                               
for  treatment or  education. They  are  criminal defendants  who                                                               
could receive treatment while they're being held in jail.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:49:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR TOBIN asked the sponsor why arson was included in SB 53.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:50:02 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR CLAMAN explained that arson  was added after consultation                                                               
with  the Department  of Law.  Technically, arson  is an  offense                                                               
against  property,  but it  was  added  because the  first-degree                                                               
arson  cases that  DOL has  prosecuted involve  explosions and  a                                                               
high degree of serious danger at all levels.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:50:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  TOBIN noted  that  the  bill talks  about  arson in  any                                                               
degree.  She  said her  assumption  was  that first-degree  arson                                                               
potentially  threatens  life  and   the  lesser  degrees  involve                                                               
property or  perhaps a  small dumpster fire.  She asked  if those                                                               
cases would be included as a first offense.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:51:02 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  CLAMAN confirmed  that  as currently  drafted all  arson                                                               
cases  would be  included.  He shared  that  Senator Dunbar  also                                                               
raised the  question of  limiting the  bill to  just first-degree                                                               
arson and  his response was  that the Judiciary  Committee should                                                               
take up that question.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON  asked Mr. Skidmore  to talk about why  the attorney                                                               
general believes arson should be included in SB 53.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:52:03 PM                                                                                                                    
JOHN SKIDMORE, Deputy Attorney  General, Criminal Division Office                                                               
of the  Attorney General, Department  of Law,  Anchorage, Alaska,                                                               
stated that  AS 11.46.400,  which is arson  in the  first degree,                                                               
expressly says  that the  act directly  places another  person in                                                               
danger  of   serious  physical  injury,   just  as   the  sponsor                                                               
described. AS 11.46.410, arson in  the second degree, talks about                                                               
knowingly damaging  a building by  igniting a fire or  causing an                                                               
explosion. A  fire in  a dumpster  fire is not  a building  so it                                                               
would  not qualify.  A  building  that was  set  on fire  doesn't                                                               
automatically place  somebody at risk  but setting a  building on                                                               
fire that  may spread to  other buildings or cause  explosions is                                                               
more serious  conduct because it  is potentially  very dangerous.                                                               
People aren't  always hurt, but  there is always  that potential.                                                               
AS 11.46.420,  arson in  the third degree,  talks about  a person                                                               
who intentionally  damages something other than  a building, such                                                               
as a  vehicle, by starting a  fire or causing an  explosion while                                                               
the vehicle is  situated on public land or  private property. The                                                               
crime  doesn't  necessarily  place  others  in  danger,  but  the                                                               
behavior of  intentionally starting fires places  others at risk.                                                               
That's  the reason  the bill  includes  arson in  any degree.  He                                                               
added that  he didn't  believe it would  be appropriate  to apply                                                               
this  to anybody  committing a  property  crime. He  acknowledged                                                               
that it was a policy call for the legislature to make.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:55:43 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  TOBIN  posed  a  hypothetical  example  of  an  underage                                                               
individual  who  had  not been  diagnosed  but  was  experiencing                                                               
symptoms  of schizophrenia.  She asked  how that  would interplay                                                               
with the bill.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. SKIDMORE  said individuals who  are under  the age of  18 are                                                               
typically  in  the  juvenile  justice   system.  The  things  the                                                               
committee  has  been  discussing wouldn't  necessarily  apply  to                                                               
juveniles except a case of arson  in the first degree, which is a                                                               
class A  felony. A case  involving a juvenile  who is age  16 and                                                               
older  who has  committed a  class  A felony  or an  unclassified                                                               
felony  would be  automatically  waived into  adult court.  Lower                                                               
levels of arson are not automatically waived.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:57:04 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR said he hopes  the Judiciary Committee scrutinizes                                                               
the  arson  provision carefully  and  decides  to narrow  it.  He                                                               
mentioned  receiving information  indicating that  the bill  as a                                                               
whole might be  challenged on constitutional grounds  in a unique                                                               
instance of  a crime against a  person. He asked Mr.  Skidmore if                                                               
he had  any concern that  the bill  would be more  susceptible to                                                               
that  sort  of legal  challenge  if  the arson  provision  wasn't                                                               
narrowed.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. SKIDMORE said  he didn't know what legal  challenge was being                                                               
contemplated and  he hadn't had  an opportunity to review  the CS                                                               
that was introduced just today.  Thus, he couldn't comment on the                                                               
bill  as  a  whole  or  whether  a lawsuit  may  or  may  not  be                                                               
appropriate.  He posited  that somebody  who was  contemplating a                                                               
lawsuit  before the  introduction of  the  CS may  be focused  on                                                               
holding an individual  for more than five years. That  would be a                                                               
civil matter which was not within his area of expertise.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:59:33 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON   removed  his  objection;  he   found  no  further                                                               
objection and CSSB 53, work order 33-LS0172\S, was adopted.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
He asked whether there were any other questions or comments.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:59:59 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR   KAUFMAN  stated   that  he   was  looking   forward  to                                                               
scrutinizing the CS and hearing  more about due process and other                                                               
issues  associated  with the  bill  in  the Judiciary  Committee.                                                               
Thus, he was willing to move the bill from this committee.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON said he too had judicial concerns with the bill.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:00:57 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:01:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and solicited a motion.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:01:16 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAUFMAN moved to report the  CS for SB 53, work order 33-                                                               
LS0172\S,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:01:29 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  found no  objection and  CSSB 53(HSS)  was reported                                                               
from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:01:40 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
             SB  57-ADULT HOME CARE; MED ASSISTANCE                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:03:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   WILSON  reconvened   the   meeting   and  announced   the                                                               
consideration of SENATE  BILL NO. 57 "An Act  relating to medical                                                               
assistance for  recipients of  Medicaid waivers;  establishing an                                                               
adult  care  home  license  and  procedures;  providing  for  the                                                               
transition of  individuals from  foster care  to adult  home care                                                               
settings; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
He noted  that the committee  heard an  overview of the  bill and                                                               
took invited  and public testimony  during the first  hearing. He                                                               
asked  Mr. Newman  if he  would like  to comment  further on  the                                                               
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:03:56 PM                                                                                                                    
TONY NEWMAN,  Acting Director, Division of  Senior & Disabilities                                                               
Services, Department of Health,  Juneau, Alaska, recapped that SB
57  offers  older  Alaskans  and  individuals  with  disabilities                                                               
another  option  for receiving  services  beyond  what the  state                                                               
currently offers. He  said the public testimony  was positive and                                                               
he looks  forward to continuing  to work with legislators  as the                                                               
bill moves through the process.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:04:30 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON  discerned  that   there  were  no  amendments  and                                                               
solicited a motion.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:04:39 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAUFMAN  moved to report  SB 57, work  order 33-GS1708\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:04:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON found  no objection and SB 57 was  reported from the                                                               
Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:05:02 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:07:24 PM                                                                                                                    
There being  no further  business to  come before  the committee,                                                               
Chair  Wilson adjourned  the Senate  Health  and Social  Services                                                               
Standing Committee meeting at 4:07 p.m.                                                                                         

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
CS SB 53 (SHSS) v S.pdf SHSS 3/9/2023 3:30:00 PM
SB 53
SB 53 Explanation of Changes version B to Version S 3.9.2023.pdf SHSS 3/9/2023 3:30:00 PM
SJUD 3/10/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 53
SB 53 CCHR Testimony.pdf SHSS 3/9/2023 3:30:00 PM
SB 53