CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 160(JUD) "An Act requiring the reporting of induced terminations of pregnancies." This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance Committee. REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COGHILL, sponsor of the bill, informed the Committee this legislation would require physicians to report a termination of a pregnancy to the State's Bureau of Vital Statistics within 30 days and require the Bureau to publish an annual report of the findings. He stated this data is valuable for numerous reasons including: policy decisions based on abortion data, related health policy decisions, and teen pregnancy issues. Representative Coghill explained that Section 1 of the legislation establishes the procedures for the reporting. He conveyed that these procedures are fashioned after similar legislation in place in many other states. Representative Coghill stated subsection (d) of Section 1 defines the information that would be included in the annual statistic report produced by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. He noted that the names of the physician, the facility where the abortion occurred, and the name of the community the woman resided in would not be included in the report. He specified that the aggregate statistical information would be reported according to federally defined standards regarding induced termination of pregnancies. Representative Coghill informed the Committee that Sections 3 and 4 of this legislation authorize the Bureau of Vital Statistics to report specified information regarding induced termination of pregnancies. Representative Coghill commented that Section 8 of the bill contains a new paragraph addressing the difference in reporting of a stillborn or miscarriage pregnancy and an induced abortion. Representative Coghill conveyed that the State's House of Representatives supports this legislation. Co-Chair Kelly asked, "how broad is this information": specifically whether it would contain demographic information. Representative Coghill responded there is a model reporting form included in the members' packets [copy on file] that reflects the types of information the report would include such as: "the education level, the race, the gestational period." He stated the report would supply a limited, but not regional, demographic profile. Co-Chair Donley asked the vote tally of the House of Representatives in passing this bill. Representative Coghill replied it passed unanimously. Senator Leman asked if information specifying the reason for the abortion would be available as that type of medical information "could be helpful to future lawmakers" in "establishing social policy in this State." Representative Coghill stated that "just the type of pregnancy, the gestational period that it's in, and those types of things" would be identified according to public policy. He continued that he is not sure if asking "the motive" behind a termination of a pregnancy would be allowed or would need to be worded in such a manner that the resulting information would be too broad as to not be useful. Senator Leman responded this information exists on a nationwide level, and suggested this legislation could require this information specifically for Alaska. Representative Coghill stated that Alaska is included in the averages of the national reports, and stated this legislation would provide similar information for the State. Co-Chair Donley asked if the sponsor supports the Department of Health and Social Services $90,000 fiscal note accompanying this bill as, he opined, it is one of the largest fiscal notes to come before the Committee this year. Representative Coghill replied "it could be zeroed out" as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) "does have funding available for information gathering in these circumstances." He furthered that the Department indicates it would need to hire an additional "quarter person per quarter" to fulfill the additional duties this legislation would incur; however, he opined, other funding could be sought. Co-Chair Donley offered a motion to replace the Department of Health and Social Services' $89,400 fiscal note with a Finance Committee zero fiscal note. Senator Leman noted the Department has demonstrated the ability to secure funding for projects that the Legislature has not supported; therefore, he agrees the Department "would have the ability to absorb" the expenses this legislation might incur. Senator Hoffman objected and stated that contrary to the Department's FY 02 budget, the FY 03 budget might not allow for this absorption. A roll call was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator Austerman, Senator Leman, Senator Olson, Co-Chair Donley, Co-Chair Kelly OPPOSED: Senator Hoffman ABSENT: Senator Wilken, Senator Green, Senator Ward The motion PASSED (5-1-3) The motion to allow a zero fiscal note to accompany the bill was ADOPTED. Senator Leman "moved to report HB #160 from Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying adjusted fiscal note." There being no objections, CS HB #160(JUD) was REPORTED from Committee with a zero fiscal note, dated 5/01/02 from the Department of Health and Social Services.