HB 360-HOME CARE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADV BOARD  5:21:58 PM VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 360, "An Act establishing the Home Care Employment Standards Advisory Board; and providing for an effective date." 5:22:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX, as prime sponsor, presented HB 360. He shared the sponsor statement for HB 360 [included in committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Seniors are the fastest growing demographic in the state of Alaska1 and are living longer lives. The state's 85+ population is expected to increase by 500% between 2022 and 2050, of which, 1/3 will experience Alzheimer's and Related Dementia. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development predicts home care, a part of Alaska's continuum of care services to the aging and people with disabilities, to be one of the fastest growing and most in demand occupations in the state. However, the potential provider workforce demographic, those age 18 to 64, is in decline. Furthermore, low wages and lack of benefits force many caregivers out of the profession and make recruitment and retention increasingly more difficult for agencies providing in-home care services. We need to create strong home care infrastructure in Alaska which will expand access to quality, affordable home and community-based care for seniors and people with disabilities, keep people in their homes and out of costly facilities, and bolster the creation of jobs. HB 360 helps accomplish this by establishing a Home Care Employment Standards Advisory Board that will investigate, advise, and develop recommendations on Medicaid rates and other policies to improve the wages, working conditions, and recruitment and retention of direct care workers. 5:25:13 PM RILEY NYE, Staff, Representative Mike Prax, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Prax, prime sponsor, offered to read the sectional analysis. REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE advised that Mr. Nye forego the sectional. 5:25:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked how other states with similar structures have improved working conditions. 5:26:24 PM ALEXIS RODICH, Research and Policy, SEIU775, confirmed that similar boards exist in Nevada and Washington. The scope of those boards are slightly different; however, they bring together a similar group of stakeholders who advise and make recommendations based on their understanding of the needs of the workforce. 5:27:22 PM The committee took an at-ease from 5:27 p.m. to 5:29 p.m. [Vice Chair Ruffridge returned the gavel to Chair Sumner.] 5:29:07 PM VANESSA LISTON-CUNNINGHAM, representing self, gave invited testimony on HB 360. She shared a personal anecdote and discussed how the state cares for people with disabilities. She opined on the lack of agency accountability with regard to the use of disability funds. She asked members to consider giving caregivers a voice and recognition and urged them to consider HB 360. 5:32:13 PM TONDA LUNDIN, representing self, gave invited testimony in support of HB 360. She emphasized her passion for caregiving and stressed that, at some point in every Alaskan's life, they will need quality care. She opined that the time for change is now, and that a foundation of fair pay, healthcare benefits, and quality providers should be laid for future Alaskans. She said the bill would give Alaskan caregivers a voice in the process and hold companies accountable by ensuring that allotted funds go directly to caregivers. 5:34:44 PM EDNA BEEBE, representing self, gave invited testimony in support of HB 360. She described elements of a subsistence lifestyle in Eek and discussed the high cost of living in rural Alaska. She described her experience as a caregiver and advocated for receiving more hours and higher pay with benefits. She opined that caregivers should have a say in the process of funding distribution and stated her support for HB 360. 5:38:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS opined that HB 360 would be a good vehicle for ensuring that caregivers are directly receiving the funding. He assured testifiers that legislators are working on the issue; however, there are not adequate statutory guidelines in place yet. CHAIR SUMNER said the bill would be held over. 5:39:51 PM The committee took an at-ease from 5:39 p.m. to 5:41 p.m. 5:41:49 PM CHAIR SUMNER clarified that the committee would continue the hearing on HB 360. 5:41:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to HB 360. CHAIR SUMNER objected for purposes of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK stated that Conceptual Amendment 1 would change the number of positions on the board from 11 to 9, thereby removing one member representing a personal care agency and one member representing a personal care assistant. CHAIR SUMNER removed his objection. There being no further objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted. 5:42:37 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 360, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes, and to authorize Legislative Legal Services to make any necessary technical or conforming changes. REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected. He noted that the committee had not held public testimony on HB 360. 5:43:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS responded that public testimony is advisable, though not required, and he commented on the short timeframe until the end of session and the value of the proposed legislation. 5:44:00 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Wright, Carrick, Fields, Prax, and Sumner voted in favor of the motion to report HB 360, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. Representatives Ruffridge voted against it. Therefore, CSHB 360(L&C) was reported out of the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee by a vote of 5-1.