HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE January 24, 1995 3:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Con Bunde, Co-Chair Representative Cynthia Toohey, Co-Chair Representative Gary Davis Representative Norman Rokeberg Representative Caren Robinson Representative Tom Brice MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Al Vezey COMMITTEE CALENDAR Organizational Meeting. WITNESS REGISTER None ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 95-1, SIDE A Number 000 The House HESS Committee was called to order by Co-Chair Con Bunde at 3:00 p.m. Members present at the call to order were Representatives Bunde, Davis, Toohey and Robinson. Absent were Representatives Brice, Rokeberg and Vezey. CO-CHAIR BUNDE stated there was a quorum present and that today would simply be an organizational meeting. No bills would be heard today. Number 054 CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced that because he does not like to have meetings without some business, today the committee would elect the vice chair according to Mason's Manual Section 612, which he then read. Number 072 CO-CHAIR BUNDE said he would entertain a nomination for Representative Rokeberg as vice chair of the House HESS Committee. Number 096 CO-CHAIR CYNTHIA TOOHEY asked the chair if it was appropriate to nominate someone without consulting the person (Representative Rokeberg). CO-CHAIR BUNDE replied that the nomination had been discussed with Representative Rokeberg. CO-CHAIR TOOHEY made a motion to nominate Representative Rokeberg. She asked if Representative Rokeberg was delighted about having the job, and Representative Gary Davis asked if Representative Rokeberg was requesting that the members vote for him as vice chair. CO-CHAIR BUNDE noted for the record that Representative Brice arrived at 3:03 p.m. and Representative Rokeberg arrived at 3:04 p.m. He then requested that Co-Chair Toohey place her motion for the nomination of vice chair. CO-CHAIR TOOHEY nominated Representative Rokeberg for vice chair for the record and for late arriving members. Number 166 CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked for any discussion, and Representative Brice stated there were no objections. Hearing no objections, Co-Chair Bunde concluded that Representative Rokeberg was elected vice chair and welcomed him. Number 179 CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced that the committee will meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at this point and then additional meetings will be scheduled as business requires. He assured members that additional meetings would be scheduled as the session progresses. The meetings will begin promptly at 3 p.m. Number 210 CO-CHAIR BUNDE said he will generally chair meetings dealing with education, and Co-Chair Toohey will chair meetings dealing with issues of health and social services. Number 225 CO-CHAIR BUNDE stated the bill packets will be ready at 3 p.m. the day before the scheduled meeting and can be picked up on top of the file cabinet found in the HESS Committee Room. He then solicited questions or topics of discussion from committee members. Number 270 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY reported that a request had been made by one of the legislators from the northern part of Alaska for the HESS Committee to do an overview of the TB epidemic that is occurring within the state. She felt that it would be to the benefit of the entire legislature to be aware of that epidemic. She asked to make arrangements to have the issue addressed. Number 282 CO-CHAIR BUNDE appointed Co-Chair Toohey as a committee of one to make arrangements to have the said overview. Number 303 REPRESENTATIVE CAREN ROBINSON said she remembered that a Dr. Frasier used to work for the department and she spoke with him years ago about the fact that if a position was cut, that an epidemic would follow. She wondered where Dr. Frasier was and stated he would be a good person to contact about the epidemic. Number 333 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY said she didn't think that cutting back his position caused the epidemic. REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON replied that the epidemic or the cuts did not occur during the Hickel Administration anyway. She said Dr. Frasier clearly believed there was a serious problem that needed monitoring. He had a lot of good information on the subject. Number 361 CO-CHAIR BUNDE agreed that current indications were that a serious problem does either exist or will exist. CO-CHAIR BUNDE then talked about "housekeeping" topics. He reminded committee members that the microphones are very sensitive and to be cognizant of that fact. He also said that all questions should be asked through the Chair in order to facilitate the job of the committee secretary, Rebecca Wetzel. CO-CHAIR BUNDE then introduced committee aide, Lynne Smith, and directed members to ask her questions regarding the work of the committee. Number 455 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON introduced Carla Timpone, her staff member for the HESS Committee. She then asked the Chair if there would be any rules established. She cited the State Affairs meeting that morning in which Representative Jeannette James set out some rules regarding fiscal notes and other specific details. CO-CHAIR BUNDE answered that generally speaking the HESS Committee would like to have the fiscal notes. He stated that rules were for the good of the order and to get the state's work done in a timely fashion. Most committees have the same rules which are distributed throughout the legislature. Generally speaking, the HESS Committee adheres to the standard rules that most committees have. Exceptions to the rules are addressed in the HESS Committee. Number 526 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON continued that another rule established by Representative James for subcommittees was that if there were subcommittees, it would consist of another person other than the sponsor of the bill. She asked if such a rule existed in the HESS Committee. Number 543 CO-CHAIR BUNDE responded he did not anticipate such a rule. He added that if a representative was aware of an amendment that he or she would like to propose, the committee would appreciate a 24-hour notice. He understood that amendments occur constantly and that there would be no limit on amendments, however it would expedite the amendment hearing if there was a 24-hour lead time. Number 599 REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS asked about the absent member of the committee. He asked if the member was excused. CO-CHAIR BUNDE replied that Representative Vezey was the absent member. Number 634 CO-CHAIR BUNDE stated that Thursday was the next meeting and the committee will be addressing HB 39 which pertains to the authority of paramedics to pronounce death. Number 678 CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked for other discussion, questions or concerns. Number 725 Hearing none, CHAIRMAN BUNDE adjourned the meeting at 3:12 p.m.