HCR 19-SUPPORTING EFFORTS OF RECOVER ALASKA  2:46:47 PM CHAIR STEDMAN announced the consideration of HCR 19. [CSHCR 19(HSS) was before the committee.] He said it is the first hearing of the resolution. The intent is to have the sponsor introduce the resolution, take public testimony, and set it aside. REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERRON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HCR 19. He said HCR 19 is a brief resolution that supports the efforts of Recover Alaska. It brings awareness to a group of Alaskans that want to recover, reclaim, and restore the strength of Alaska's families and communities by getting to the root causes of excessive alcohol consumption. He referred to information in members' packets on Recover Alaska partners. SENATOR ELLIS thanked Recover Alaska and the Rasmuson Foundation for their support. He said he has been involved with Recover Alaska since its inception. He requested the committee's support. CHAIR STEDMAN noted one zero fiscal note from the Legislature. 2:48:57 PM At ease 2:49:19 PM ALEESHA TOWNS-BAIN, Program Officer, Rasmuson Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska, presented information related to HCR 19 - Supporting Efforts of Recover Alaska. She began with a video of an alcoholic's story, an investment in partnership with Anchorage Daily News. 2:53:53 PM MS. TOWNS-BAIN described what Recover Alaska is; an initiative to identify the root causes of excessive alcohol consumption, a solutions-based program. 2:54:25 PM DIANE KAPLAN, President, Rasmuson Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska, shared information related to Recover Alaska. She related the history of Recover Alaska. She said about four years ago, Rasmuson Foundation convened a broad-based group of people to discuss ways to combat the root causes of alcohol abuse in Alaska. They decided to put the focus on building solutions at a high decision-maker level and assembled a group of people they felt could have an impact. Early on, colleagues such as Robert Wood Johnson Foundation were brought in. Part of the secret of success was a wide variety of partners; representatives from judicial, health providers, and other non-profits serving on the steering committee. ELZABTEH RIPLEY, Executive Director, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Wasilla, Alaska, presented information related to Recover Alaska. She spoke as a funding partner of Recover Alaska. She said the results of the Healthy Alaskans 2020 Survey showed that alcohol use and abuse is the top health issue important to Alaskans. It is a pervasive problem in the state and uses many resources without seeing positive impacts. She noted the financial impact of alcohol on Alaska's economy of #1.2 billion. 2:57:24 PM JEFF JESSEE, CEO, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Anchorage, Alaska, presented information related to Recover Alaska. He mentioned two other efforts Recover Alaska is undertaking; working in conjunction with the Alcohol Beverage Control Board to look at the Title 4 alcohol beverage control statutory framework, and with a social norm campaign around underage drinking around the state. Science is showing that negative ads are not as persuasive to kids as positive ads are. MS. TOWNS-BAIN reported on places Alaskans can look for help using a referral system in partnership with United Way 211. 2:58:56 PM SENATOR ELLIS moved to report CS for HCR 19(HSS) from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. CHAIR STEDMAN announced that without objection, CSHCR 19(HSS) is reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee to the next committee of referral.