REPRESENTATIVE TARR said that HB 193 would be held over. HB 336-SUPPORTIVE DECISION-MAKING AGREEMENTS  4:23:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE TARR announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 336, "An Act relating to supported decision-making agreements to provide for decision- making assistance; and amending Rule 402, Alaska Rules of Evidence." 4:24:21 PM HANS RODVIK, Staff, Representative Charisse Millett, Alaska State Legislature, paraphrased from the Sponsor Statement [Included in members' packets], which read: With over 100 wards per public guardian Alaska has one of the highest rates of full guardianship in the nation. Studies concerning individuals under full guardianship have found that such individuals were significantly less likely to have any kind of paid employment and are less likely to be integrated into their community, than people provided less restrictive options to full guardianship. Policy makers should engage in efforts to provide adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) the needed tools to experience lives with the most autonomy, freedom and independence as possible. The Supported Decision-Making Agreements Act does just that. Designed as a mechanism to enable adults with IDD to enter into newly created legal structures called supported decision-making agreements (SDMA), House Bill 336 will provide a less restrictive alternative to full guardianship for adults with IDD. Guided by the experience of other states, HB 336 will enable adults with disabilities to maintain their rights to make decisions currently being taken away from them by guardianship orders. The philosophy underpinning HB 336 contends that adults with IDD do have and should retain their constitutional and civil rights to live as freely and autonomously as possible. HB 336 will help change the current system in which one person tends makes every decision for adults with IDD, even though those adults have capacity to make many decisions on their own; to a system where adults who can make life decisions with support from others no longer have the right to make those decisions taken away from them by the government. HB 336 will enable OPA to focus its efforts on adults who truly need full guardianship, while providing Alaskans experiencing varying levels of IDD an avenue to live happier and healthier lives. MR. RODVIK pointed out that the proposed bill had been written in conjunction with the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education to address these issues and allow people to live more self-guided lives. 4:25:21 PM REPRESENTATIVE TARR reminded that public testimony had remained open. 4:26:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE TARR closed public testimony on HB 336. 4:26:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON stated her support of the proposed bill and pointed to a cost savings. 4:26:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN stated his support of the proposed bill. 4:27:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE KITO stated that the proposed bill was a key tool to enable support of family members. 4:27:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD expressed her support and offered a personal anecdote. 4:28:18 PM REPRESENTATIVE TARR stated her support of the proposed bill. 4:28:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to report CSHB 336, Version 30- LS1239\J, Bannister, 2/26/18, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 336(HSS) was moved from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.