CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 243(HES) "An Act relating to the duties and powers of the Alaska Commission on Aging and the Department of Health and Social Services." SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS (SPONSOR) introduced SB 243, which moves grant duties formerly carried out by the Commission on Aging to the Department of Health and Social Services. She pre-approved an amendment to be presented later in the meeting. 8:55:52 AM TOM OBERMEYER, STAFF, SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS (SPONSOR), read paragraph one of the sponsor statement noting the zero fiscal note. As required by a 2007 Legislative Audit, this "clean- up" bill brings into alignment grant duties and responsibilities that were previously given to the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), when the Commission on Aging (ACoA) and Division of Senior Services became part of DHSS… Senate Bill 243 assigns authority for establishing state policy related to the Older Americans Act federal programs and state programs for Older Alaskans to the Department of Health and Social Services. The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is recognized as the state "Unit on Aging." The bill also transfers grant authority related to senior service grants, adult day care, and family respite care grants from the Alaska Commission on Aging to DHSS. DHSS has assigned these grant administrative duties to Senior and Disabilities Services. Mr. Obermeyer referenced the sectional analysis describing the authorities and responsibilities of each unit. The fiscal note further illustrates the shifting of past powers into statute. 8:57:52 AM DENISE DANIELLO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING, testified before the committee and through a formal letter (copy on file) in support of the bill. Senate Bill 243(HES) amends statutes to reflect the current work of ACoA and DHSS initiated by Executive Order 108 in July 2003. Ms. Daniello recapped that ACoA works closely with the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS) to assist the department in carrying out its "state unit on aging" responsibilities. Whereas, administrating and distributing state funds to senior service programs falls under SDS, the Commission focuses on planning, community education, and advocacy activities on behalf of older Alaskans. Current legislation cures the one and only finding reported by the Division of Legislative Audit in June 2007. 8:59:45 AM Representative Gara inquired into ACoA's stance on Amendment #1. Ms. Daniello answered in support of the amendment, which allows residents of the pioneer home to receive the economic stimulus payment arriving from the Federal Government. 9:01:05 AM Co-Chair Chenault MOVED to ADOPT amendment #1. Representative Hawker OBJECTED. VIRGINIA SMILEY, DIRECTOR, ALASKA PIONEER HOMES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES explained that in anticipation of a federally funded economic stimulus package, AS 47.55 did not allow pioneer home residents on payment assistance to keep the rebate. Amendment #1 adds an exemption in Sec. 7. AS 47.55.020(d)(10) for "the poorest of the poor" allowing those seniors to hold onto a federal refund that will come in this fiscal year. 9:02:38 AM Representative Gara appreciated the clarification and expressed gratitude for the amendment. Representative Hawker thanked Ms. Smiley for her work. 9:03:23 AM Representative Hawker WITHDREW his OBJECTION. Senator Davis favored the amendment. There being NO OBJECTION, amendment #1 was adopted. Vice-Chair Stoltze MOVED to report CSSB 243(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and a zero fiscal note from Department of Health and Social Services. There being NO OBJECTION. CSSB 243(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with individual recommendations and a zero fiscal note from Department of Health and Social Services. 9:05:40 AM