SENATE BILL NO. 128 "An Act establishing the marijuana education and treatment fund; and relating to the duties of the Department of Health and Social Services to administer a comprehensive marijuana use education and treatment program." 10:32:34 AM Vice-Chair Bishop MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for SB 128, Work Draft 30-LS1069\U (Wallace/Martin, 2/26/18). 10:32:51 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon OBJECTED for discussion. 10:33:06 AM AT EASE 10:33:09 AM RECONVENED 10:33:22 AM JANE CONWAY, STAFF, SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, discussed the changes in the committee substitute. She shared that after Senator Giessel had introduced the bill, Legislative Finance Division (LFD) wanted to make a few changes to the bill language. He felt that the fiscal note did not particularly address the impact of the marijuana education and treatment fund on the unrestricted general fund (UGF) revenue. He indicated there would be work with the governor's office to clarify the fiscal note. There was also a suggestion for new language that may better reflect the process of how the money would be deposited into the fund, and how the legislature could use those funds. She stated that Legislative Legal drafted new language on page 1, line 14 to page 2, line 5. She stated that the rewording did not change the intent of the bill/ Co-Chair MacKinnon WITHDREW her objection. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. 10:34:55 AM SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, SPONSOR, explained the legislation. She stated that the bill established a marijuana education and treatment fund using taxes from marijuana. The purpose of the fund was to use a portion of those taxes for the Division of Public Health to develop education materials for the public. She stated that private sector nonprofits would apply for grant money. The Alaskan youth would be the target audience. She stated that the purpose was to educate youth about marijuana and its implications, law, and health impacts of commercialized marijuana. She stated that the grants were intended to go to local nonprofit organizations, and open to many different nonprofits that particular target youth in after school programs. 10:36:38 AM TREVOR STORRS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA CHILDREN'S TRUST (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. He stated that the legalization of marijuana came new opportunities and challenges. He stated that it was critical to use the lessons from similar industries like alcohol and tobacco. He stressed that inappropriate us of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana led to a high cost to society on a social and economic level. He remarked that Alaska had faced two challenges related to alcohol and tobacco, because prevention was an afterthought. He remarked that it was important to not make similar mistakes with marijuana. 10:40:06 AM ALANA HUMPHREY, CEO, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (via teleconference), stated that she understood the importance of resources that continued to provide primary and secondary prevention programs between 3pm and 6pm. She stressed that children may be unsupervised during those hours, and far more likely to engage in behavior that puts them at risk for tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. The importance of structured after school time was well documented. Senator Stevens wondered whether there was agreement with the recommendations of Mr. Storrs about who would be contracted to conduct the services. Ms. Humphrey agreed that after school programs should be a focus area. She felt that it might be more accessible for all after school programs to work with an organization that could focus on reaching out to programs that may be less proficient in grant writing. Co-Chair MacKinnon remarked that there would be a presentation. 10:44:38 AM AT EASE 10:45:33 AM RECONVENED 10:46:07 AM JILL LEWIS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, recognized the importance of keeping the public informed of the potential health impacts of marijuana legalization. She shared that Oregon, Colorado, Washington, California, and Massachusetts all had established funding for abuse prevention and treatment purposes. She stressed that Alaska needed to be counted among those states. She remarked that without the funding provided by the bill, Alaska lacked the capacity to create the evidence based public health, education, prevention and treatment programming needed to address the social and health consequences of a legalized marijuana industry. She shared that the bill established a comprehensive program supported by the new Marijuana Education and Treatment Fund. She mentioned that the after school programs were a required part of the committee substitute, as part of the community based programs. She stressed that Alaska monitor use and knowledge about marijuana during the first years of legalized use to inform the public of the specifics of the law; and about the potential health effects as people begin to use the new products. It was also important to provide resources to prevent poisoning among harmful exposures. She felt that establishing a sustainable and comprehensive public health program aimed at marijuana misuse and addiction prevention was vital to keeping all Alaskans healthy and safe. 10:48:28 AM ELIZA MUSE, SPECIALIST, OFFICE OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND ADDICTION PREVENTION, discussed the components of the program. She stated that the idea for funding was supported by a 2017 resolution from the American Medical Association. She shared that there had been consultation with other states for program design. The components of the program were community based marijuana misuse prevention with a focus on youth prevention, including support for after school programming; assessment of knowledge and awareness of the laws and use of marijuana products as well as monitoring a public health impact related to marijuana use and legalization; training and program develop in marijuana education; and substance abuse screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment. 10:49:52 AM THOMAS AZZARELLA, ALASKA AFTER SCHOOL NETWORK, ALASKA CHILDREN'S TRUST (via teleconference), testified in support of the bill. He stated that out-ot-school time was a critical component in preventing youth substance abuse. He supported the Senate version of the bill, with the modifications recommended by the Alaska Children's Trust. He stressed that after school time addressed a critical safety piece for children during the hours of 3 to 6 pm. Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony. Co-Chair MacKinnon noted a critical difference, and asked for more information about those differences. Ms. Conway shared that during the redraft process there was a small change on page 4, line 9, which changed the word "and" to the word "to." She stated that it was a typo in the original bill. The new committee substitute also included language that specifically added community based youth services programs, with criteria of promoting cessation and reducing access to marijuana products. She noted that page 3, line 16 and 19 provided programs for after school hours. She shared that lines 20 through 21 outlined the usage of outcome-based curricula, mentoring, and opportunities for positive activities. 10:55:40 AM Senator Stevens expressed the change from DHSS to DEED to be responsible for the program. Ms. Conway stated that she had heard those concerns, and was confident that DHSS was the correct place for the program. Senator von Imhof stated that she would reserve her questions for the following day. SB 128 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration.