REPRESENTATIVE TARR said that HB 193 would be held over.
HB 336-SUPPORTIVE DECISION-MAKING AGREEMENTS
4:23:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR announced that the final order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 336, "An Act relating to supported
decision-making agreements to provide for decision- making
assistance; and amending Rule 402, Alaska Rules of Evidence."
4:24:21 PM
HANS RODVIK, Staff, Representative Charisse Millett, Alaska
State Legislature, paraphrased from the Sponsor Statement
[Included in members' packets], which read:
With over 100 wards per public guardian Alaska has one
of the highest rates of full guardianship in the
nation. Studies concerning individuals under full
guardianship have found that such individuals were
significantly less likely to have any kind of paid
employment and are less likely to be integrated into
their community, than people provided less restrictive
options to full guardianship.
Policy makers should engage in efforts to provide
adults with intellectual and developmental
disabilities (IDD) the needed tools to experience
lives with the most autonomy, freedom and independence
as possible. The Supported Decision-Making Agreements
Act does just that.
Designed as a mechanism to enable adults with IDD to
enter into newly created legal structures called
supported decision-making agreements (SDMA), House
Bill 336 will provide a less restrictive alternative
to full guardianship for adults with IDD. Guided by
the experience of other states, HB 336 will enable
adults with disabilities to maintain their rights to
make decisions currently being taken away from them by
guardianship orders.
The philosophy underpinning HB 336 contends that
adults with IDD do have and should retain their
constitutional and civil rights to live as freely and
autonomously as possible. HB 336 will help change the
current system in which one person tends makes every
decision for adults with IDD, even though those adults
have capacity to make many decisions on their own; to
a system where adults who can make life decisions with
support from others no longer have the right to make
those decisions taken away from them by the
government.
HB 336 will enable OPA to focus its efforts on adults
who truly need full guardianship, while providing
Alaskans experiencing varying levels of IDD an avenue
to live happier and healthier lives.
MR. RODVIK pointed out that the proposed bill had been written
in conjunction with the Governor's Council on Disabilities and
Special Education to address these issues and allow people to
live more self-guided lives.
4:25:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR reminded that public testimony had remained
open.
4:26:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR closed public testimony on HB 336.
4:26:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON stated her support of the proposed bill
and pointed to a cost savings.
4:26:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN stated his support of the proposed bill.
4:27:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KITO stated that the proposed bill was a key tool
to enable support of family members.
4:27:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD expressed her support and
offered a personal anecdote.
4:28:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR stated her support of the proposed bill.
4:28:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to report CSHB 336, Version 30-
LS1239\J, Bannister, 2/26/18, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHB 336(HSS) was moved from the House Health and
Social Services Standing Committee.