CHAIRMAN RIEGER  called the Senate Health, Education and Social              
 Services (HESS) Committee to order at 1:45 p.m.  He introduced                
  HB 3  (REGULATION OF HOME CARE PROVIDERS) and  CSHB 4(JUD)                   
 (PROTECT ELDERLY AND DISABLED ADULTS) as the first order of                   
 business.                                                                     
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE JERRY MACKIE, prime sponsor of HB 3 and HB 4,                  
 explained the legislation restricts the ability of a home care                
 provider to assume power of attorney and requires criminal                    
 background checks on any individual providing home care                       
 services paid for with public funds for elderly or disabled                   
 persons.  These groups are particularly vulnerable to abuse                   
 because of age, illness, disability and the isolation of being                
 at home alone with a care giver.                                              
                                                                               
 The bill also requires background checks on home care                         
 providers paid through Older Alaskan Commission grants and                    
 respite care providers paid through the Division of Family &                  
 Youth Services.                                                               
                                                                               
 An important aspect of HB 3 is that the Department of Health                  
 and Social Services is required to implement regulations                      
 identifying actions to be taken upon reports of harm by a                     
 home care provider.  It also protects the due process rights                  
 of the provider.                                                              
                                                                               
 Representative Mackie said CSHB 4(JUD) provides that                          
 conviction of a person licensed, certified or regulated by a                  
 board or the Department of Commerce for abuse of an elderly                   
 or disabled person may be considered grounds for disciplinary                 
 proceedings and sanctions.                                                    
                                                                               
 There being no further testimony on HB 3 and CSHB 4(JUD),                     
 CHAIRMAN RIEGER asked for the pleasure of the committee.                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN moved that HB 3, along with the accompanying                    
 fiscal notes, be passed out of committee with individual                      
 recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER moved that CSHB 4(JUD), along with the                         
 accompanying fiscal notes, be passed out of committee with                    
 individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so                  
 ordered.