SENATE BILL NO. 172                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing the Alaska Health Care Commission                                                                     
     in the Department of Health and Social Services; and                                                                       
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman said  it  was the  second  hearing on  the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson,  sponsor,  commented  that Alaska  is  in  a                                                                    
serious  situation regarding  the health  care industry  and                                                                    
the AHC Commission is overdue.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:45:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
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     "(J) one member who represents community health                                                                            
     centers in the state; and"                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
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Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion purposes.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Huggins  explained  that  there  are  26  community                                                                    
health centers around the state.  He spoke in support of the                                                                    
idea that they be incorporated  into the AHC Commission. The                                                                    
governor's office does not support  the amendment. He stated                                                                    
that the intention of the  amendment is to add an additional                                                                    
member from the community health centers.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:46:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Olson  requested   that  his   staff  present   an                                                                    
explanation of the bill.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DENISE LICCIOLI, STAFF, SENATOR  DONNY OLSON, explained that                                                                    
the  bill  establishes  in statute  an  Alaska  health  care                                                                    
commission  that can  help  to plan  and  guide the  state's                                                                    
future health care policies.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman noted  a new fiscal note  by the Department                                                                    
of Health and Social Services  reflecting the cost of hiring                                                                    
an  executive  director  and  an  administrative  assistant,                                                                    
funded  with  $335,000  in general  funds  and  $165,000  in                                                                    
federal receipts.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:48:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman MOVED  to  REPORT CSSB  172  (FIN) out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB  172 (FIN)  was REPORTED  out of  Committee with  a "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendation and  with  a new  fiscal  note by  the                                                                    
Department of Health and Social Services.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:48:36 PM