SB 73 - ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the next order of business as CS for Senate Bill No. 73(FIN), "An Act relating to assisted living homes; and providing for an effective date." [The actual announcement took place during the previous at-ease.] Number 2249 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said if the committee feels that it is a good bill and a good idea, that is the purview of this committee. He would prefer that the work on the finances be limited to the Finance Committee. REPRESENTATIVE BRICE responded that numbers do represent a very important aspect of the health industry. REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER said with all due respect, he has a tendency to agree with his counterparts "to the left." The Health, Education and Social Services (HES) Committee decided on $75 and thought that was a reasonable sum. The Finance Committee certainly has a purview, and it will do what it deems appropriate. This committee also should do what it deems appropriate. He believes it is appropriate that the HES Committee number be put back in. The committee took a brief at-ease from 4:07 p.m. to 4:08 p.m. TAPE 00-45, SIDE B Number 2359 REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER made a motion to adopt the proposed House committee substitute (CS) for SB 73, version 1-LS0468\I, Lauterbach, 4/13/00, as a work draft. REPRESENTATIVE GREEN objected. CHAIRMAN DYSON asked Mike Tibbles to comment on this. Number 2291 MIKE TIBBLES, Staff to Representative Gene Therriault, Alaska State Legislature, came forward to comment. He understands the dilemma that the committee is faced with regarding trying to pass a bill out that the committee feels is adequate. The Finance Committee is looking at everything to come up with as much money as it can. At this time, the Finance Committee doesn't know what that number is, and it is Representative Therriault's feeling that the Finance Committee would like to take the $42, see what can be done, and go up from there, rather than having the Finance Committee faced with the losing battle of coming down from $75. REPRESENTATIVE KEMPLEN commented that the value placed on something is a sign of commitment towards it. This committee has a strong commitment towards this, and the higher value would be a sign of that commitment. CHAIRMAN DYSON asked Mr. Tibbles if there will be some time for public input when this bill gets to the Finance Committee. MR. TIBBLES said he didn't believe there has been an official hearing so there would be public testimony. (Indisc.) CHAIRMAN DYSON noted there were people on teleconference who have some valuable things they would like to say on this bill, and he doesn't want them to miss that opportunity. REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL asked to hear from Representative James' office. Number 2194 MYRNA McGHIE, Staff to Representative Jeannette James, Alaska State Legislature, came forward to answer that Representative James would definitely go for the $75. She explained the rate had started at $50 in the Senate bill, and Representative James wanted to get the rate in the middle and not have the steps, and $75 seemed like a good amount. REPRESENTATIVE GREEN noticed there were other changes in the proposed CS and asked for someone to explain the other changes. Number 2140 WES KELLER, Staff to Representative Fred Dyson, Alaska State Legislature, explained that the Senate version goes ahead and projects a number for next year, and that is the extra section in the CS. It starts at $42.50 and goes up to $51. Number 2060 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN suggested there are some changes if these two bills are looked at side-by-side, and he wondered what the difference is other than money. MR. KELLER explained that this CS is the old HB 258 version that the committee passed out. REPRESENTATIVE BRICE asked if there was a 24-hour notice in this bill. CHAIRMAN DYSON answered yes. He apologized for the committee receiving this version so recently, but he said he was comfortable with doing that since it was the same as HB 258, which the committee had passed out earlier. A roll call was taken. Representatives Green, Morgan, Brice, Kemplen, Coghill and Whitaker voted in favor of adopting Version I as the work draft for SB 73. Representative Dyson voted against it. Therefore, Version I was adopted as the work draft by a vote of 6-1. Number 1983 REPRESENTATIVE BRICE made a motion that the HCS for CSSB 73 move from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, HCS CSSB 73(HES) moved from the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.