HB 168-TRAUMA CARE CENTERS/FUND  3:19:56 PM CO-CHAIR HERRON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 168, "An Act relating to state certification and designation of trauma centers; creating the uncompensated trauma care fund to offset uncompensated trauma care provided at certified and designated trauma centers; and providing for an effective date." 3:20:10 PM SENATOR JOHN COGHILL, Alaska State Legislature, explained that HB 168 would create an account for payment of uncompensated care to hospitals that "ratchet up their level of trauma delivery systems," defined to be a Level II or Level III. He explained that the request for a $5M appropriation was based on a study of uncompensated trauma related care. CO-CHAIR HERRON reminded the committee that an earlier proposed amendment had not been introduced. He asked if there were any suggested changes to that amendment. SENATOR COGHILL suggested that the "tobacco money" would draw away from the tobacco education issues, and he reminded that the original focus of the tobacco suit and settlement had been to reduce smoking. He opined that alcohol was more interconnected with this bill, and he suggested using the alcohol tax as a funding source. Noting that boating, skiing, and 4-wheeling often resulted in trauma care, he suggested that these activities could also be sources for funding. CO-CHAIR HERRON reported that alcohol abuse was often a contributing factor to trauma. 3:23:41 PM SENATOR COGHILL agreed that both alcohol and drugs often were significant contributors. [CO-CHAIR HERRON opened public testimony.] 3:24:24 PM WARD HURLBURT, Chief Medical Officer; Director, Division of Public Health, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), asked if there were any questions from his prior testimony on February 9. Noting his personal background as a surgeon, he agreed that alcohol was a common factor in trauma. 3:26:57 PM REGINA CHENNAULT, Chair, American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, Alaska Trauma System Review Committee, shared that 80 percent of violent crimes involved alcohol or drugs. 3:27:37 PM CO-CHAIR HERRON closed public testimony. 3:27:50 PM CO-CHAIR KELLER read the proposed Amendment 1, labeled Version 26-LS0437\R.3, Bullock, 2/16/10: Page 1, line 3, following "centers": Insert "and including a portion of the tax levy  on alcohol as a source of money that may be  appropriated to the trauma care fund" Page 2, following line 12: Insert a new bill section to read:  "* Sec. 3. AS 43.60 is amended by adding a new section to read:  Sec. 43.60.055. Disposition of proceeds;  availability for appropriation to the uncompensated  trauma care fund. The portion of the tax collected under AS 43.60.010 that is not separately accounted for under AS 43.60.050(a) may be appropriated to the uncompensated trauma care fund (AS 18.08.085). Nothing in this section creates a dedicated fund." Renumber the following bill section accordingly. CO-CHAIR KELLER moved to adopt Version 26-LS0437\R.3, Bullock, 2/16/10 as Amendment 1. There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 3:31:03 PM SENATOR COGHILL said that there were consultations with the air force and the army trauma doctors for assistance in local hospitals. He lauded the efforts of first responders and noted the necessity of having trauma centers for continued successful care. 3:32:54 PM CO-CHAIR KELLER moved to report CSHB 168(HSS) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 168(HSS) was reported from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.