SENATE BILL NO. 37 "An Act extending the termination date of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council; and providing for an effective date." 1:40:06 PM LAURA PIERRE, STAFF, SENATOR ANNA FAIRCLOUGH, discussed the bill. She stated the recommendation of Legislative Budget and Audit (LB&A) to extend the council 6 years to June 30, 2019. The council was comprised of 17 members. Senator Fairclough served on the council as a Representative and a Senator. The council made great strides in increasing meeting attendance and implementing a statewide strategic plan for suicide prevention outreach across Alaska. The council's plan was called "Casting the Net Upstream." The plan promoted the prevention of suicide in Alaska. Co-Chair Stoltze handed the gavel to Representative Costello. Representative Costello appreciated the sponsor's interest in the issue. 1:41:39 PM Representative Munoz asked how the $415 thousand in school- based grants were distributed. She asked to know more about the projects funded by the grants. Ms. Pierre deferred the question to Kate Burkhart. Representative Kawasaki asked about the LB&A audit suggesting the board's extension. He asked about other recommendations made in the audit. Ms. Pierre responded that other audit findings could be discussed by Ms. Burkhart. Senator Anna Fairclough joined the meeting. 1:43:27 PM KATE BURKHART, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STATEWIDE SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL, replied to Representative Kawasaki's question first. She stated that the audit made three recommendations. The first was that the council would perform an annual review of its executive director in partnership with the Mental Health Board and the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. She added that LB&A established a process by which the annual review would occur. The council worked with its partners to memorialize the framework of the council leadership. Ms. Burkhart stated the second recommendation to track and report council attendance to the governor's office. An attendance log was created for transmission to the governor's office, the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. The council did not have difficulty reaching a quorum due to recommendations made in the prior audit. Ms. Burkhart continued with the third recommendation for the council to develop and monitor performance measures that supported statutory duties and annually report progress. She noted that the council had performance measures for many years, which had not been transmitted to the missions and measures language utilized by LB&A or included in the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) online performance measures. The council was working with DHSS to translate measures from the state plan into language discernible by LB&A. Ms. Burkhart answered Representative Munoz's question. She shared that the funding available for school-based suicide prevention came through the council to the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED). The increment flowed through the council to allow the partnership between the council and the department. She added that the first year's funding would be provided to Alaska's alternative schools who were participating in a wellness initiative funded with a grant from the Division of Behavioral Health. She pointed out that children from alternative schools were most likely to report depression, suicide attempts and drug and alcohol use. She noted that 20 percent of school districts applied for the funding. The proposals were reviewed and many would be funded. She expressed confidence that the programs would enhance services in the school districts. 1:47:43 PM Representative Munoz asked if groups that were not affiliated with the school could apply for funding. Ms. Burkhart replied that the school-based funding stream was designed to provide funding for suicide prevention. She mentioned additional options for other entities interested in suicide prevention funding. An FY 13 capital appropriation secured funding for small grants up to $5 thousand for community organizations. The Alaska Community Foundation matched the FY 13 funding. Ms. Burkhart pointed out the Comprehensive Prevention Grant Program, which included opportunities for community coalitions and organizations to apply for prevention funding. 1:50:23 PM Representative Gara thanked Ms. Burkhart for her work. He stated that much of the work was low-cost and outreach related. He pointed to work to enhance suicide prevention programs. He asked if he should pay special attention to a particular increment in the operating budget conference committee. Ms. Burkhart replied that there was not a specific FY 14 suicide-prevention increment. Senator Fairclough appreciated time that the House Finance Committee had taken on the issue. She spoke to high suicide rates in Alaska. She stated that the council made considerable progress during her membership. She credited Ms. Burkhart with an excellent job. Representative Costello CLOSED public testimony. Representative Wilson discussed the replacement fiscal impact note from DHSS. Representative Wilson MOVED to REPORT SB 37 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. SB 37 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one new fiscal note from Department of Health and Social Services. 1:54:08 PM AT EASE 1:56:20 PM RECONVENED