SB 243-COMMISSION ON AGING  CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SB 243. 2:53:38 PM TOM OBERMEYER, Staff to Senator Davis, introduced the committee substitute for SB 243, version C. He said this is an act relating to duties and powers of the Alaska Commission on Aging in the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). He directed the committee's attention to a new fiscal note attached to the bill and explained that the CS contained clarification on the duties of the executive director who would take the lead role in formulating and submitting a statewide plan to the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). He described this as a "cleanup bill" to align the mission and activities of the Alaska Commission on Aging with state statutes and bring into line the grant duties and responsibilities previously given to DHSS when the Commission on Aging and Division of Senior Services became part of the department. Any fiscal impact from these changes was already realized and assimilated into the grant process. MR. OBERMEYER said the bill assigns authority for establishing state policy related to older Americans, Act federal programs and state programs for older Alaskans, to the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) as the state unit on aging. It transfers grant authority related to senior service grants, adult daycare, and family respite care grants from the Alaska Commission on Aging to the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). The department assigned these administrative duties to Senior and Disability Services. MR. OBERMEYER explained that the Alaska Commission on Aging is responsible for planning the advocacy and community education activities related to the health and welfare of older Alaskans. It has relationships with state departments and agencies across the state including the Governor's office, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, and non- governmental organizations. According to the state plan for senior services for fiscal years 2008-2011, Alaska has the largest proportion of baby boomers (32 percent) in the nation, and the senior population is growing faster than almost any other state. Projections indicate that by 2030, seniors 60 plus will comprise 17 percent of Alaska's population and the number of those over 65 will have doubled. This CS was designed to help clarify state duties and responsibilities in this regard. 2:56:31 PM JOANNE GIBBONS, Health Program Manager, Division of Senior and Disability Services, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), stated support for SB 243. She said the bill codified what had been in place and working well since 2003 in terms of the organizational structure, the commission and the department. Executive order 108 issued by Governor Murkowski, moved the Alaska Commission on Aging from the Department of Administration to the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). As part of that, responsibility for grants was also moved from the commission to the department. The impetus for this bill was, in part, a legislative audit performed as part of a sunset review for the commission, which advised the law be brought in line with the existing structure. DENISE DANIELLO, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Aging, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), stated support for SB 243. She submitted written testimony outlining the history of events; the intent of this legislation as it was presented by Joanne Gibbons; the partnership between the commission on aging with Senior and Disability Services, and the Department of Health and Social Services. The commission on aging, along with the Department of Health and Social Services partnered to assist the Department of Health and Social Services to carry out its state unit on aging responsibilities: administration of grant funds from the Older Americans Act to community senior provider agencies, providing services for older Alaskans, and planning for senior services. The commission developed a state plan for senior services, a planning document required by the US Administration on Aging to present the state's plan on how Older Americans Act funds will be used. The plan was completed in July of 2007 in collaboration with about 20 agencies. The commission is required by statute to provide recommendations to the Governor and the legislature regarding regulations, policies and appropriations that benefit older Alaskans. It is also required to provide recommendations to the Department of Health and Social Services and the Mental Health Trust Authority regarding provisions of funds from the Mental Health Trust Settlement Act to provide services for older Alaskans affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia, mental health and behavioral health conditions. MS. DANIELLO added that the commission provides community education in a variety of ways including public comment at each of its quarterly meetings, rural outreach visits, visits with senior provider agencies during those meetings, a quarterly newsletter and a bi-weekly legislative teleconference during sessions. 3:02:11 PM SENATOR ELTON said he understood that they were bringing the statute into compliance with what was already happening, but felt he needed to better understand the role of the executive director. He directed Ms. Daniello's attention to page 4, section 3 and ventured that the executive director would formulate and submit a comprehensive statewide plan to the department, but would no longer administer those programs. MS. DANIELLO replied that he was correct; the agency would be responsible for administration. 3:04:10 PM SENATOR ELTON moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for SB 243, version /C and asked for unanimous consent. There being no objection, version \C was adopted. CHAIR DAVIS expressed her desire to move this legislation out of committee to Finance, unless there were other issues to be addressed. SENATOR ELTON moved to report committee substitute to SB 243, version /C, from committee with individual recommendations, attached zero fiscal note(s) and unanimous consent. There being no objection, CSSB 243(HES) moved from committee.