HOUSE BILL NO. 219 "An Act repealing the assistive technology loan guarantee and interest subsidy program; and providing for an effective date." 1:38:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, SPONSOR, Introduced HB 219 // he argued that the best part of living in Alaska was the people // there was an assisted technology guarantee fund // he was hoping to realize the original mission of the grants 1:40:22 PM MELODIE WILTERDINK, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), offered the sectional analysis of the bill (copy on file) Section 1 Page 1, Line 4 Section 1 repeals AS 23.15.125 the assistive technology loan guarantee and interest subsidy program which established the "assistive technology loan guarantee fund." The fund can be used to guarantee the principal amount or subsidize the interest rate of a loan for purchasing assistive technology that enables an individual to obtain or maintain employment or live more independently. Section 2 Page 1, Lines 5-9 Section 2 adds conditional language to Alaska's uncodified law stipulating that this act only takes effect if the Legislature reappropriates the balance of the assistive technology loan fund for the purpose of improving access to assistive technology. Section 3 Page 1, Line 10 Section 3 provides for an immediate effective date. Co-Chair Foster asked // Ms. Wilterdink // there was drafted language and the amendment to the operating budget could happen in the finance committee// 1:43:16 PM Representative Josephson asked // how the fund avoided being swept Representative Saddler deferred the question to a member of the department // 1:43:47 PM DUANE MAYES, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), responded // Representative Saddler added that he was not sure if there was evidence that // Representative Hannan asked how much money was available. Representative Saddler // Mr. Mayes responded that the balance of the fund was 447,000 and the life experience with the fund // identified that there may be Representative Saddler// subside loans // there had been a period of low interest rates // Representative Hannan asked // the initial 291,000 was federal money // she asked if there were any restrictions or tied it from Representative Saddler // Mr. Mayes // with the change in statute work// there had been discussion with federal partners // many states had experienced the same thing // 1:49:09 PM Representative Hannan asked if the leg wanted to move the initial amount that was capitalized // she asked if there was cart blanche Mr. Mayes // responded that the implementing agency was // the division had a set of rehabilitation counselors // there were not other implementing agencies // Representative Saddler responded that it was his understanding that // Co-Chair Foster asked // Representative Galvin asked // appreciated that the sponsor found money that needed to be spent // the letters were similar // ATLA remains the // she asked if there were others Representative Saddler asked Representative Galvin // Association of assisted technology programs letter, paragraph 3 Representative Saddler // responded that ATLA// the division of voc rehab// one of a few and not many // 1:54:42 PM MYSTIE RAIL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSISTED TECHNOLOGY OF ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), noted that atla was the only agency in the state // Representative Galvin // asked if the grant was single sourced toward only one purpose, all of her questions were answered Mr. Mayes commented that he had been in the state system for 35 years // he had used atla to identify technology needs // 1:57:17 PM Representative Hannan // there used to be an assisted program for people who were deaf // could there be a person dedicated // Mr. Mayes responded that Ms. Rail would be a better resource Ms. Rail responded // she was not aware of // it was a community rehab provider for the division // ~Mystie Rail, Executive Director, Assisted Technology of Alaska, Anchorage{ Representative Hannan // she had some active deaf constituents and there used to //there was a group of people who had continued to receive the same // Co-Chair Foster // Representative Saddler had some difficulty understanding Ms. Rail // 2:01:07 PM Ms. Rail responded that he was correct// ATLA could // administer additional programs to provide specific types of devices // looking for services beyond assistive technology and beyond what ATLA did // Co-Chair Foster // Ms. Rail added that // the history of ATLA // became a 501c3 (?) in 1994 and became the implementing agency of // under the direction of // the mission was to enhance the quality of life for Alaskans through assisted technology // "twinkle to wrinkle" // she supported the outline and expanded upon Representative Saddler's comment on // assisted technology was defined as any item, piece of equipment // that was used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of person with disabilities // such as putting rubberized grips on a pen to as high tech as technology like eye gaze, which allowed people to control a computer with only their eyes // assisted technology was not a one size fits all solution // unique to every person // able to live, work and participate in their communities indecently // 2:06:27 PM Ms. Rail continued that ATLA // allowed Alaskans to become familiar with the technologies that could help // also allowed loans to // current funds did not begin to cover // strengthen and maintain the gaps // needed to support // Co-Chair Foster // 2:09:30 PM Representative Saddler // Representative Tomaszewski asked if any interest had been collected // Mr. Mayes responded that there was interest but he did not have the specific numbers // he would follow up Co-Chair Foster // am dead fri march 29 at 5pm HB 219 was HEARD and HELD for further consideration. 2:11:21 PM