SB 91-DISASTER EMERGENCY: OPIOID EPIDEMIC  3:35:50 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the next order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 91(HSS), "An Act relating to the opioid epidemic; authorizing the chief medical officer of the Department of Health and Social Services to issue a standing order for the prescription of an opioid overdose drug; and providing for an effective date." JAY BUTLER, MD, Chief Medical Officer/ DPH Director, Central Office, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services, reported that in late 2016, Department of Health and Social Services was awarded a five-year federal grant to support an opioid overdose prevention program which included the distribution of naloxone, a lifesaving drug when administered during an opioid overdose. He explained that the grant funds had been used to acquire a nasal spray form of the drug which was part of the rescue kit, and distributed through Project HOPE, Harm reduction Overdose Prevention and Education. He added that Project HOPE had prioritized partnerships with staff of organizations which did not have medical direction, and whose staff were most likely to be present when an overdose occurred, including first responders and recover support. In order to provide the kits statewide under a standing order, with a prescription that was present, DHSS had explored some options and decided that the best way to move forward expeditiously was for the state medical officer to issue a standing order, under a disaster declaration. He reported that the governor had issued the disaster declaration on February 14, with an anticipated legislative resolution to extend this declaration. He pointed out that no state funds were requested, and that 14 provider organizations had received over 1200 kits. He reported that Legislative Legal Services had offered the opinion that a bill was required to extend the disaster declaration for continued distribution of the kits. He reported that SB 91 included further improvements to HB 174, as it authorized the Chief Medical Officer of DHSS to issue a state wide standing order for prescription of an opioid overdose drug. This authorization would mean that the disaster declaration was no longer necessary to conduct the program, and would be allowed to lapse after 30 days, as prescribed under Alaska statute. He added that, as stated in AS 44.62.270, emergencies were held to a minimum. He pointed out that the proposed bill had a zero fiscal note, and was supported by the federal grant. 3:40:20 PM DR. BUTLER paraphrased from Senate Bill 91 Sectional Analysis, version J, [Included in members' packets] which read: Sec. 1 amends AS 17.20.085, Opioid overdose drugs, to authorize the Chief Medical Officer to issue a standing order, including a statewide standing order, for the prescription of an opioid overdose drug through June 30, 2021. The department is required to report annually to the Legislature on the opioid epidemic's SAMHSA grant activities and expenditures. Sec. 2 repeals section 1 on June 30, 2021. Sec. 3 makes the effective date retroactive to March 15, 2017, when the disaster declaration expires. Sec. 4 provides for an immediate effective date. REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN said that the committee substitute was cleaner than the original and he asked if the emergency [declaration] had expired and was not being extended. DR. BUTLER replied, "that is correct." REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN voiced his support for not making a habit of declaring emergencies for one year. 3:42:18 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ opened public testimony. 3:43:38 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ closed public testimony. 3:43:45 PM REPRESENTATIVE TARR moved to report CSSB 91(HSS) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 91(HSS) was moved from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee. 3:44:10 PM The committee took an at ease from 3:44 p.m. to 3:49 p.m.