HOUSE BILL NO. 114 An Act relating to abuse of inhalants. REPRESENATIVE MARY KAPSNER testified that HB 114 would target a problem in Alaska that has been neglected for many years. It would provide public safety officials, medical personnel and the Courts leverage to place individuals who use and abuse inhalants into rehabilitation. HB 114 was introduced after many professional concerns had been expressed with the serious problem of young people "huffing". Representative Kapsner reported that abuse of inhalants is not a new problem and that it is far-reaching and rampant proportions throughout Alaska and among young youth across the nation. One of the problems in forging a direction to deal with inhalant abuse is the lack of appropriate treatment facilities. Most substance treatment programs are geared toward problems of alcohol and drugs. She noted that from the generous work of Senator Murkowski, construction of a facility is currently underway with completion scheduled for August 2001 in the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation area. Representative Kapsner noted that the legislation would take a pro-active look at ways in which the State can raise awareness and address statutory needs to complete a package approach that includes prevention, intervention and treatment. Representative Whitaker noted the fiscal costs associated with the legislation. Representative Kapsner advised that unaddressed treatment of a person using inhalants would end up costing the State much more money in the long run than the proposed fiscal note. She pointed out that a change made in the House Judiciary Committee would result in a significant decrease to the fiscal note. Representative Whitaker reiterated his concerns with the fiscal implications. He requested a projected estimate. Representative Kapsner explained that it would be difficult to assess the problems associated with the behavior, as there are no treatments available for the behavior at this point in time. LOREN JONES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, acknowledged that the effects of not addressing the inhalant behavior now would far surpass the costs proposed in the legislation. Inhalants are one of the drugs that have recognized damage effects that can happen even on the first offense. Inhaling can cause severe brain damage. There are long-term costs associated with usage and those costs revert back to the State. Representative Whitaker projected that additional costs will exist. He stated that it would be irresponsible of the Committee not to recognize those costs. Representative Croft inquired what the costs to the State would be to take care of a severely disabled child from the abuse. Mr. Jones replied that for a youth with severe damage from prolonged inhale abuse, the most comparable costs would be those associated to the mentally disabled with brain damage. He could not predict the average cost at this time. Vice-Chair Bunde acknowledged that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) costs are significant. He stated that inhaling is mostly a young persons addiction and asked if a $300 dollar fine would affect the behavior. Representative Kapsner explained that when the bill was introduced, it was as a violation. In the House HESS Committee last year, that was changed to a Class C misdemeanor. While it was a Class C misdemeanor, the statewide response was that the intent was not to criminalize a 10-year-old kid. That could potentially place a child in detention until they were 18 or 19 years old. ROBERT BUTTCANE, DIVISION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, referenced Page 3, Section 4, discussing an effective way to intervene in inhalant abuse cases by responding to the needs without costs to the State. Under current law, there is little intervention that can occur, however, Section 4 would provide law enforcement officers the authority to take the child to their parents with the hope that the child would be placed into treatment. Mr. Buttcane added that the last resort, using current law, would be to place that child into a "holding facility". In the case of an adult "inhaling", the bill would add the term "inhalants" into alcohol and drug offense. By making inhaling a violation, would allow the Department to do emergency as well as involuntary commitment of an adult who have been found to be abusing inhalants. Mr. Buttcane explained that the bill would provide a compromise between doing nothing and acknowledging that there is an inhalant problem in the State of Alaska. He stressed that there are processes, which need to be employed to correct the problem. The bill is the "appropriate" step, and without it the problem will be perpetuated. Co-Chair Williams commented that the bill would be HELD in Committee for further consideration. Representative Kapsner inquired which areas of the bill need further consideration. Representative Hudson requested an idea of how these concerns were being treated throughout the State. He questioned how the flow and process currently was working. Representative Lancaster asked how the other two facilities in Texas and North Dakota were addressing the concerns. HB 114 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.