HOUSE BILL NO. 27 "An Act relating to medical care for major emergencies." 2:40:48 PM Co-Chair Foster relayed that the committee held two prior hearings on the bill. He requested a recap of the bill. REPRESENTATIVE GENEVIEVE MINA, SPONSOR, provided a recap of the bill that modernized Alaska's Emergency Medical Services System (EMS), which had an excellent system of trauma care but lacked the same to respond to strokes and heart attacks. She furthered that there were many gaps in many areas of the state that would benefit from a system of care structure that also provided data and enhanced coordination among responders and providers. 2:42:33 PM Co-Chair Schrage MOVED to REPORT CSHB 27(HSS) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. Representative Allard OBJECTED. Representative Allard disagreed with the "entirety of the bill." She discussed the cost of the bill that she determined would cost approximately $1,200,000. She did not believe that due to fiscal circumstances the committee should refrain from spending on bills. Co-Chair Foster asked Rep. Mina to address the fiscal note. Representative Mina summarized that in FY 2026, the bill would cost $240,600 and would continue to cost $216,600 specifically for an additional staff position in the EMS Office. She deferred to Mr. Wiseman for details. Representative Allard maintained her objection due to the costs. 2:45:43 PM AT EASE 2:46:12 PM RECONVENED Representative Galvin spoke in favor of the bill. She recalled that the state would experience cost savings or at least cost neutrality due to the immediate response to strokes that improved outcomes creating savings for the long-term. Representative Mina discussed the cost savings of the bill. She lacked exact numbers but agreed that the proper immediate response saved in long-term costs of care that was often covered by Medicaid. Representative Allard asked what department would gain the additional staff. Representative Mina answered that it was specifically in the Office of Emergency Medical Services, Department of Health (DOH). Representative Allard maintained her objection and believed that departments had "slush funds" due to the many vacancies. Representative Tomaszewski had been a recipient of one of the major emergencies in the past. He appreciated the medical treatment he received and believed that there were discrepancies in the system in the state. He would support moving the bill moving forward. Representative Stapp would vote no to move the bill out of committee due to costs. 2:50:46 PM Representative Johnson relayed that she would be a no vote. She appreciated the sponsor and the need for the services in the state. KATIE GIORGIO, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE GENEVIEVE MINA, addressed some of the comments. She offered that the state had a trauma system of care for many years that yielded great results. The bill was requested by all types of EMS medical professional in the state. They expected to experience "real results" for patient outcomes and cost savings. 2:52:22 PM A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Representative Tomaszewski, Hannan, Galvin, Bynum, Jimmie, Schrage, Foster OPPOSED: Stapp, Johnson, Allard The MOTION PASSED (7/3). There being NO further OBJECTION, CSHB 27(HSS) was REPORTED out of committee with five "do pass" recommendations, one "do not pass" recommendation, four "no recommendation" recommendations and with one previously published fiscal impact note: FN1 (DOH). Representative Mina thanked the committee for hearing the bill.