ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
      HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                     
                         March 11, 2010                                                                                         
                           3:07 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bob Herron, Co-Chair                                                                                             
Representative Wes Keller, Co-Chair                                                                                             
Representative Tammie Wilson, Vice Chair                                                                                        
Representative Bob Lynn                                                                                                         
Representative Paul Seaton                                                                                                      
Representative Sharon Cissna                                                                                                    
Representative Lindsey Holmes                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 284                                                                                                              
"An Act requiring the Department of Health and Social Services                                                                  
to accept federal prescription drug benefits or to provide                                                                      
comparable benefits for residents of the Alaska Pioneers' Home."                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 260                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to preventive care and disease management                                                                      
services for medical assistance recipients; and providing for an                                                                
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 12                                                                                             
Proclaiming September 9, 2010, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum                                                                        
Disorders Awareness Day.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 101                                                                                                             
"An Act relating to questionnaires and surveys administered in                                                                  
the public schools."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED HSC SB 101(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 284                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: PIONEERS HOME RX DRUG BENEFIT                                                                                      
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) DAHLSTROM, GARA, HERRON                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
01/15/10       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/15/10                                                                               
01/19/10       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/19/10       (H)       HSS, STA                                                                                               
01/21/10       (H)       SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED                                                                          
01/21/10       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/21/10       (H)       HSS, STA                                                                                               
03/09/10       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
03/09/10       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/09/10       (H)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
03/11/10       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 260                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: MEDICAID: PREVENTIVE CARE/DISEASE MGT.                                                                             
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KELLER                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
01/08/10       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/10                                                                                
01/19/10       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/19/10       (H)       HSS, FIN                                                                                               
02/11/10       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/11/10       (H)       <Bill Hearing Canceled>                                                                                
03/04/10       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
03/04/10       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
03/11/10       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SCR 12                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS DAY                                                                               
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MEYER                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
01/19/10       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/19/10       (S)       HSS                                                                                                    
02/08/10       (S)       HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/08/10       (S)       Moved SCR 12 Out of Committee                                                                          
02/08/10       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
02/10/10       (S)       HSS RPT  5DP                                                                                           
02/10/10       (S)       DP: DAVIS, THOMAS, ELLIS, PASKVAN,                                                                     
                         DYSON                                                                                                  
02/12/10       (S)       BEFORE THE SENATE ON FINAL PASSAGE                                                                     
02/12/10       (S)       TRANSMITTED TO (H)                                                                                     
02/12/10       (S)       VERSION: SCR 12                                                                                        
02/15/10       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/15/10       (H)       HSS                                                                                                    
03/04/10       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
03/04/10       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
03/11/10       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 101                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS                                                                                 
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DAVIS                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/06/09       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/06/09       (S)       EDC, HSS                                                                                               
03/11/09       (S)       EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 211                                                                               
03/11/09       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/11/09       (S)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
03/18/09       (S)       EDC RPT   1DP 2NR                                                                                      
03/18/09       (S)       DP: DAVIS                                                                                              
03/18/09       (S)       NR: OLSON, HUGGINS                                                                                     
03/18/09       (S)       EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 211                                                                               
03/18/09       (S)       Moved SB 101 Out of Committee                                                                          
03/18/09       (S)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
03/25/09       (S)       HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
03/25/09       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/25/09       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
03/27/09       (S)       HSS AT 1:15 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
03/27/09       (S)       Moved SB 101 Out of Committee                                                                          
03/27/09       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
03/30/09       (S)       HSS RPT  3DP                                                                                           
03/30/09       (S)       DP: DAVIS, THOMAS, PASKVAN                                                                             
03/30/09       (S)       HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
03/30/09       (S)       Moved Out of Committee 3/27/09                                                                         
03/30/09       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
04/16/09       (S)       TRANSMITTED TO (H)                                                                                     
04/16/09       (S)       VERSION: SB 101                                                                                        
04/16/09       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/16/09       (H)       HSS, FIN                                                                                               
02/02/10       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/02/10       (H)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
02/11/10       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/11/10       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/11/10       (H)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
03/11/10       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
RIC DAVIDGE, President                                                                                                          
Vietnam Veterans of America                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 284.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
JIM POUND, Staff                                                                                                                
to Representative Wes Keller                                                                                                    
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Introduced the bill on behalf of                                                                         
Representative Wes Keller, prime sponsor of HB 260.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL STREUER, Deputy Commissioner                                                                                               
Director's Office                                                                                                               
Division of Health Care Services                                                                                                
Department of Health and Social Services                                                                                        
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during discussion of HB 260.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
WARREN TODD, Executive Director                                                                                                 
International Disease Management Alliance                                                                                       
Flemington, New Jersey                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during discussion of HB 260.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SHELLEY HUGHES                                                                                                                  
Government Affairs Director                                                                                                     
Alaska Primary Care Association (APCA)                                                                                          
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during discussion of HB 260.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KEVIN MEYER                                                                                                             
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Introduced SCR 12 as the prime sponsor of                                                                
the resolution.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS                                                                                                            
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified and answered questions, as the                                                                 
prime sponsor of the bill.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
TOM OBERMEYER, Staff                                                                                                            
to Senator Bettye Davis                                                                                                         
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified and answered questions on SB 101,                                                              
on behalf of the prime sponsor of the bill, Senator Bettye                                                                      
Davis.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
RYAN KAUFFMAN                                                                                                                   
Sitka, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during discussion of SB 101.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JIM MINNERY, President                                                                                                          
Alaska Family Council                                                                                                           
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Spoke in opposition to SB 101.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
EMILY NENON, Alaska Government Relations Director                                                                               
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)                                                                         
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Spoke in support of SB 101.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MARY FRANCIS, Executive Director                                                                                                
Alaska Council of School Administrators                                                                                         
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Spoke in support of SB 101.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
PAULA EASLEY, Trustee                                                                                                           
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority                                                                                            
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Spoke in support for SB 101.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
ANNIE DOUGHERTY, Teacher                                                                                                        
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during discussion of SB 101.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MONICA GROSS, Doctor                                                                                                            
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Spoke in support of SB 101.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
PATTY OWEN, State YRBS Survey Coordinator                                                                                       
Division of Public Health                                                                                                       
Department of Health and Social Services                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during discussion of SB 101.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR WES  KELLER called the  House Health and  Social Services                                                            
Standing    Committee   meeting    to   order    at   3:07    p.m.                                                              
Representatives  Keller,  Herron, Cissna,  Seaton,  and Lynn  were                                                              
present  at the  call to  order.   Representatives  Holmes and  T.                                                              
Wilson arrived as the meeting was in progress.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
              HB 284-PIONEERS HOME RX DRUG BENEFIT                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON announced  that the first order  of business would                                                              
be SPONSOR  SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE  BILL NO. 284, "An  Act requiring                                                              
the Department  of Health  and Social  Services to accept  federal                                                              
prescription drug  benefits or to provide comparable  benefits for                                                              
residents  of  the  Alaska  Pioneers'  Home,  including  residents                                                              
eligible  for discount  or free  benefits from  the United  States                                                              
Department  of Veterans Affairs  or the  Indian Health  Service of                                                              
the United States Department of Health and Human Services."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:07:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RIC  DAVIDGE, President,  Vietnam Veterans  of America,  expressed                                                              
his delight with HB 284 and offered to answer any questions.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:08:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if there were still any concerns.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:08:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. DAVIDGE  replied that  the problems had  been resolved  and he                                                              
thanked  the  commissioner  of Department  of  Health  and  Social                                                              
Services.   He  expressed his  hope that  the bill  would pass  so                                                              
that veterans would  no longer have to pay at  the Pioneers' Home,                                                              
for prescriptions  that were given to  them at no charge  from the                                                              
Veterans Administration (VA).                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[HB 284 was held over.]                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
         HB 260-MEDICAID: PREVENTIVE CARE/DISEASE MGT.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:09:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON  announced that the  next order of  business would                                                              
be HOUSE  BILL NO. 260,  "An Act relating  to preventive  care and                                                              
disease  management services  for  medical assistance  recipients;                                                              
and providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:11:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JIM  POUND,  Staff  to Representative  Wes  Keller,  Alaska  State                                                              
Legislature,  introduced HB 260  and said "health  care by  way of                                                              
prevention  would  save the  state  money in  the  long  run.   By                                                              
detecting an acute  disease early in the process,  the disease can                                                              
either  be stopped  or possibly  reversed."   He  stated that  the                                                              
preventative   care  costs  could   save  money  without   cutting                                                              
services.    He  explained  that  this  would  apply  to  Medicaid                                                              
recipients.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:12:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  T. WILSON asked  if the state  would pay  for this                                                              
or was it in addition to Medicaid.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. POUND  replied that  it was  a part of  Medicaid but  that the                                                              
state  would pay for  the preventative  aspect.   He allowed  that                                                              
there  would be  an  increase in  upfront  costs,  but that  early                                                              
prevention  and  early  detection  would  balance  the  long  term                                                              
costs.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:13:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON asked what the cost would be.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:14:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER shared that  the bill  was not  yet in  its final                                                              
format.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:14:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON  asked  to clarify  that  the  preventative                                                              
care was 100 percent state funded for Medicaid recipients.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. POUND agreed.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON  pointed to page  2, line 11, and  read from                                                              
subsection  (d):   "The department  shall  evaluate the  projected                                                              
and  actual  savings…"  and  he asked  if  the  referenced  annual                                                              
report would be on the savings and not on the cost.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. POUND agreed.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:15:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CISSNA  reported  reading  that other  states  had                                                              
waivers for  preventative work,  and expressed  her delight.   She                                                              
said "this is pioneering."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:16:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR KELLER  moved to adopt the proposed  Committee Substitute                                                              
(CS)  for HB  260,  Version 26-LS1128\R,  Mischel,  2/4/10 as  the                                                              
working document.  Seeing no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:16:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES asked if the changes had been explained.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:17:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON replied that testimony would be taken first.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:17:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BILL  STREUER, Deputy  Commissioner,  Director's Office,  Division                                                              
of  Health  Care   Services,  Department  of  Health   and  Social                                                              
Services, said that  Medicaid expenses would continue  to rise and                                                              
he announced  that there needed  to be  "a better, smarter  way to                                                              
do things."   He  stated his  mantra: "the  right care,  the right                                                              
time,  the  right  place,  for the  right  people,  at  the  right                                                              
price."   He offered a basic  primer to activities that  would fit                                                              
into this bill.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:19:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. STREUER  compared programs for  preventive care:   the medical                                                              
home  program;   all  inclusive  care  for  the   elderly  (PACE);                                                              
expanded coverage;  and, pricing and  rate strategies.   He stated                                                              
that  he would  only  speak about  the first  two  programs.   The                                                              
first  program,  the medical  home,  was  a managed  care  program                                                              
which  included: physician  directed  medical  practices; a  whole                                                              
person  orientation, focusing  entirely  on the  person and  their                                                              
particular  health conditions,  needs, and  wants; integrated  and                                                              
coordinated  care; quality and  safety; and  enhanced access.   He                                                              
shared that the  medical home program had been  around since 1967.                                                              
He estimated that  it would save $67 billion each  year.  In 2007,                                                              
the  principles   of  the  patient  centered  medical   home  were                                                              
released:  a  personal  physician, with  an  ongoing  relationship                                                              
with  the individual;  physician  directed  medical practices  for                                                              
the team  responsible for care;  and whole person  orientation, to                                                              
include all  the patient's health  care needs.  He  described this                                                              
gateway for an  individual to receive care to  include quality and                                                              
safety,   care  planning,   evidence   based  medicine,   clinical                                                              
decision  support, and performance  measurement.   He spoke  about                                                              
open   scheduling,  which   included   expanded   hours  and   new                                                              
communication  techniques, on-line  and blackberry to  blackberry.                                                              
He  stated  that the  payment  needed  to  be appropriate  to  the                                                              
providers.  He  shared that the Centers for Disease  Control (CDC)                                                              
had concluded  that continuous enrollment  of children  in medical                                                              
homes  resulted  in higher  vaccination  rates, and  that  medical                                                              
homes  provided  better  access,  improved  communication,  better                                                              
satisfaction,  reduced  duplicate  procedures, and  lower  medical                                                              
errors.   He  stated  criticism  of medical  homes  to include:  a                                                              
potential shifting  of financial and other resources  with adverse                                                              
affects on  sectors of  the health care  system; access  to vision                                                              
care may be  restricted; and careful consideration  was needed for                                                              
the role of non-physician  providers.  He opined  that the medical                                                              
home model needed  to take into account all the  health care needs                                                              
of the  individual.   He opined  that the  startup costs  would be                                                              
minimal  and  could  be accomplished  with  existing  staff.    He                                                              
reported  the  necessity of  a  project  coordinator,  and that  a                                                              
pilot  project   with  the  Indian   Health  Services   should  be                                                              
initiated no later than January 1, 2011.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:24:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. STREUER  detailed the  Program of All  Inclusive Care  for the                                                              
Elderly (PACE), and  stated that it was provided  by non-profit or                                                              
public  entities.     He  listed  the  requirements   to  include:                                                              
regulation  by the  Centers  for  Medicare and  Medicaid  Services                                                              
(CMS), a  governing board, a  complete service package,  a defined                                                              
service  area,  safeguards  against   conflict  of  interest,  and                                                              
participants  must be at  least 55  years of age  with a  need for                                                              
nursing facility  level of care.   He expressed that  all Medicaid                                                              
and  Medicare  services plus  16  additional  services  had to  be                                                              
provided.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:26:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CISSNA asked  if the PACE  program was  structured                                                              
for rural Alaska.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:27:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. STREUER  replied that  the PACE program  was an  urban service                                                              
model.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON asked if this was a new program.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. STREUER replied that it was a new program in Alaska.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON asked what the program would cost.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR. STREUER  opined that there would  not be an increase  in costs                                                              
over the currently provided services.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:28:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER  asked if  there  was  a  pilot program  for  the                                                              
medical home model.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:29:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STREUER expressed  a desire  to  develop a  program with  the                                                              
community health centers.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR KELLER asked  about a timeline for the  PACE program, and                                                              
he offered any help necessary from the committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STREUER  offered his  belief  that  contacts with  CMS  would                                                              
begin shortly to initiate the pilot program.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:30:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON  asked  if   the  wait  list  for  Medicaid                                                              
waivers would affect the program.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. STREUER  replied that the wait  list was for  individuals, and                                                              
that this was a different waiver request.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:31:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WARREN   TODD,    Executive   Director,   International    Disease                                                              
Management Alliance, spoke about his background.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:34:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  TODD said  that there  was a  wealth of  experience from  the                                                              
Lower  48 for  Alaska  to  draw on,  though  it was  difficult  to                                                              
decipher.  He  expressed the difficulty for  measuring performance                                                              
of the programs.   He stated that  the costs of the  programs have                                                              
been  too high  as  they have  been delivered  through  for-profit                                                              
organizations.     He   reflected  that   management  of   disease                                                              
prevention  and wellness  programs  had devoted  attention to  the                                                              
current  problems  of  the  elderly.     He  opined  that  disease                                                              
management programs  had a greater chance to  demonstrate economic                                                              
savings in the short term.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:37:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. TODD  shared that the  disease management industry  would soon                                                              
expand  into  prevention  and wellness  programs.    He  expressed                                                              
concern for  the core issue that  chronic disease was viewed  as a                                                              
medical problem, although  it was a social problem,  and could not                                                              
be  solved  in  the medical  infrastructure.    He  expressed  his                                                              
desire for  newly designed  state programs  to address  the social                                                              
issues.  He recommended  that it was necessary  to design medical,                                                              
social, and  economic programs  for "the  very, very specific  and                                                              
unique needs of  your populations throughout your  state" in order                                                              
for there to be any benefit from the programs.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:40:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  TODD,  in  response  to  Representative   Cissna,  said  that                                                              
obesity was a global epidemic.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:42:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   CISSNA  opined   that  these  programs   required                                                              
creativity.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR. TODD agreed.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:43:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  T.  WILSON asked  if  these PACE  management  home                                                              
programs had been offered by the private sector.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR.  TODD  hesitantly  said  yes, and  referred  to  the  Medicare                                                              
program  to implement  the  MHS pilot  programs  for the  elderly,                                                              
which were discontinued.   He proposed that it  was most important                                                              
to have an understanding of why these failed.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T.  WILSON asked if  any there were  any successful                                                              
privately run programs.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR.  TODD  said that  2  or  3  of the  pilot  programs  generated                                                              
results which exceeded expectations, a net 5 percent savings.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON  asked for Mr. Todd to forward  a list of                                                              
these programs.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:46:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SHELLEY HUGHES,  Government Affairs Director, Alaska  Primary Care                                                              
Association  (APCA), declared  this  to be  the best  bill in  the                                                              
building.   She explained  that  the APCA mission  was to  promote                                                              
health care  access to all  Alaskans, with  a focus of  support to                                                              
primary  care and  safety net  providers for  underserved and  low                                                              
income  populations.   She  detailed  that  APCA was  the  regular                                                              
source  of   primary  care   for  23   percent  of  the   Medicaid                                                              
population.  She  pointed out that APCA represented  the community                                                              
health  centers  which she  determined  would become  the  patient                                                              
centered  healthcare  home  models,  and noted  that  the  patient                                                              
would  be personally  involved with  their own  care.  She  stated                                                              
that  the  community  health  centers   were  non-profits  in  the                                                              
private sector,  and that APCA would  partner with the  state as a                                                              
solution.   She relayed  that data from  other states  indicated a                                                              
10  -33  percent  savings  when Medicaid  patients  use  a  health                                                              
center as  the regular source for  primary care.  She  opined that                                                              
although the savings  may not be that high for Alaska,  even a 3-5                                                              
percent  savings on  the 2029  projected Medicaid  budget of  $3.5                                                              
billion would  be millions of dollars.   She stated that  this was                                                              
"a very  good bill."   She pointed to  page 2, and  stated support                                                              
for an  annual report  as accountability  was an important  aspect                                                              
of  the   bill.    She  emphasized   the  importance   of  disease                                                              
management and the cost savings generated by prevention.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:51:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER  said that  this  was  "an  idea whose  time  has                                                              
come."    He  summarized  that PACE,  medical  home,  and  disease                                                              
management  were ways  to improve  the  quality of  life and  save                                                              
money.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:52:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[HB 260 was held over.]                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
          SCR 12-FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS DAY                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON  announced that the  next order of  business would                                                              
be SENATE CONCURRENT  RESOLUTION NO. 12, Proclaiming  September 9,                                                              
2010, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:53:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KEVIN MEYER,  Alaska  State Legislature,  explained  that                                                              
SCR 12  proclaimed September  9, 2010,  as Fetal Alcohol  Spectrum                                                              
Disorder  Day  (FASD).   He  shared  that  FASD day  was  observed                                                              
internationally.   He  pointed  out that  Alaska  had the  highest                                                              
rate  of FASD  in  the United  States.   He  noted  that FASD  was                                                              
caused  by prenatal  exposure  to alcohol,  and  could "result  in                                                              
permanent  brain  damage, birth  defects,  learning  disabilities,                                                              
behavioral problems,  and most tragically, the loss  of individual                                                              
potential."   He  directed attention  to the  millions of  dollars                                                              
spent  for lifetime  medical and  residential  treatment costs  by                                                              
the  state.    He expressed  frustration  that  this  was  totally                                                              
preventable.    He stated  that  SCR 12  was  an effort  to  bring                                                              
attention  and  awareness  to  the  problem  and  the  devastating                                                              
effects on the children.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:55:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR   HERRON   applauded  Senator   Meyer   for   maintaining                                                              
awareness  of FASD.   He referred  to the  earlier testimonies  by                                                              
parents  of  FASD  children  and  directed  attention  to  Alaskan                                                              
businesses and institutions which disregarded FASD.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:56:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER moved  to report  SCR  12 out  of committee  with                                                              
individual  recommendations.   There  being no  objection, SCR  12                                                              
was forwarded from  the House Health and Social  Services Standing                                                              
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
           SB 101-STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:57:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON announced  that the final order  of business would                                                              
be SENATE  BILL NO.  101, "An Act  relating to questionnaires  and                                                              
surveys administered in the public schools."                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:57:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BETTYE  DAVIS,  Alaska   State  Legislature,  offered  to                                                              
present the bullet points of the bill.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:58:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TOM  OBERMEYER,  Staff  to  Senator  Bettye  Davis,  Alaska  State                                                              
Legislature, explained  that SB  101 strengthens current  parental                                                              
notification provisions  on the Youth Risk Behavior  Survey (YRBS)                                                              
as   it  allows   for   passive   parental  consent   to   student                                                              
participation   in   the   YRBS,    ensures   two   week   advance                                                              
notification,  and allows  parents to choose  not to  participate.                                                              
He  explained that  the YRBS  was a  voluntary, anonymous,  school                                                              
based survey  of high  school students,  developed by  the Centers                                                              
for Disease Control  (CDC), and administered every two  years.  He                                                              
stated that  current law  required a  signed permission  slip from                                                              
the parents,  which hindered the  data collection, as many  of the                                                              
permission  slips   were  not  returned.    He   acknowledged  the                                                              
importance of  parental support and  engagement, and the  need for                                                              
parents to be kept  informed and involved.  He stated  that SB 101                                                              
balanced  the  parental  need for  information  with  the  state's                                                              
interest to protect  children from high risk behavior.   He shared                                                              
that the  Anchorage School District  had barely met  the necessary                                                              
minimum participation  for the 2009  YRSB survey, and that  SB 101                                                              
would endeavor to change this.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:02:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DAVIS asked  if the committee would like a  synopsis of SB                                                              
101.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:02:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR   HERRON  replied   that  he  would   listen  to   public                                                              
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:02:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LYNN asked if  there was a  loss of  federal money                                                              
if there was not a minimum return of surveys.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR  OBERMEYER replied  that there  might be  a loss  of money  for                                                              
non-participation.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LYNN asked  to clarify  that there  was money  for                                                              
the school districts for minimal participation in YRBS.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DAVIS  replied  that  it was  necessary  for  60  percent                                                              
participation,  as that  threshold  determined that  organizations                                                              
did receive money.  She pointed out the importance of the data.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:05:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR KELLER  noted that some testimony reflected  concern with                                                              
sharing private  family information.   He  said that the  question                                                              
was not about the  value of the data, but that  passive permission                                                              
was the default  position for the sharing of  private information.                                                              
He stated  that the data  was good, but  he expressed  his concern                                                              
for the lessening of privacy.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:07:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DAVIS,  in  response,  emphasized  that SB  101  did  not                                                              
lessen privacy.   She stated that  the permission letter  would be                                                              
mailed, not  sent home with  the student.   She said this  was not                                                              
the only  survey given in the  schools.  She emphasized  that both                                                              
the parent  and the student had  the right to  deny participation.                                                              
She stated  her support  for parental rights.   She  declared that                                                              
there were other obligations, as well.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:09:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER offered  his  belief that  privacy  was the  main                                                              
issue with the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:09:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  T.  WILSON asked  why  the parental  consent  slip                                                              
signed   during  school   registration  was   not  sufficient   in                                                              
Anchorage.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:10:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  OBERMEYER,   in  response,  offered  his  belief   that  this                                                              
permission  slip was  offered  in August  and  that the  anonymous                                                              
surveys required  two week's notice.   He pointed out that  SB 101                                                              
included a  long notification  process.  He  noted that  the issue                                                              
was both legal and procedural.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:12:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   T.   WILSON   asked   if   there   were   federal                                                              
requirements regarding notification time.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DAVIS  replied  that  this   referenced  state  law,  not                                                              
federal law.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. OBERMEYER said  that the process was already a  state law, and                                                              
that SB 101 was  asking to allow non-response as  consent for this                                                              
survey.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:13:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  T.   WILSON  asked  why  the  current   system  of                                                              
permission during school enrollment was not acceptable.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:13:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR   DAVIS,  in   response  to   Representative  T.   Wilson,                                                              
explained  that   there  had  been  insufficient   returns.    She                                                              
reiterated that SB 101 would not take away parental rights.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:15:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES  recalled that parents were  encouraged, but                                                              
not required, to show up at registration.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:15:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER  asked if  there  was  evidence that  receipt  of                                                              
federal money had been hindered because of the current law.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:16:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DAVIS  said that  she was  more concerned with  collecting                                                              
the survey data than about receiving the money.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:16:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  HERRON  referred to  the  information in  the  committee                                                              
packets.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:17:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RYAN  KAUFFMAN said  that he  was  the local  coordinator for  the                                                              
YRBS survey in the  Sitka School District.  He opined  that a high                                                              
response rate gave  a clearer picture for the  necessary services.                                                              
He pointed out  that an incorrect distribution  of service funding                                                              
was equivalent  to a loss of  revenue.  He reminded  the committee                                                              
that the YRBS was  anonymous, which was the highest  priority.  He                                                              
recollected that  twenty percent did  not respond, ten  percent of                                                              
students were  absent or travelling,  and eight percent  had opted                                                              
out.  He  said that the passage  of SB 101 would translate  to the                                                              
saving  of many  man-hours and  dollars necessary  to collect  the                                                              
permission.   He  offered his  belief  that signatures  had to  be                                                              
collected  two weeks prior  to the  survey.   He stated  that many                                                              
parents did  not return  paperwork, even at  the beginning  of the                                                              
school year.  He pointed out that most parents were supportive.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:21:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LYNN asked if  any federal money  was tied  to the                                                              
percentage of surveys returned.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  HERRON confirmed  that  Ms. Owen  was  better suited  to                                                              
answer that.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:22:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  KAUFFMAN, in  response to  Representative  Holmes, said  that                                                              
parents were not required to show up at registration.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:23:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  T. WILSON  asked how children  were registered  at                                                              
the school.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR.  KAUFFMAN  opined  that students  were  re-enrolled  from  the                                                              
prior year.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:23:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T.  WILSON offered her  belief that the  law stated                                                              
that at least two  week's notice be given prior to  the survey, so                                                              
that the  permission could  have been  collected at the  beginning                                                              
of the  school year.   She asked  if this  would have  made things                                                              
easier.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR.  KAUFFMAN  replied   that  school  registration   was  a  very                                                              
difficult  and busy  time, and  it would  be a  difficult time  to                                                              
organize a large survey.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:24:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER  clarified  that   AS  14.03.110(b)  allowed  for                                                              
anonymous  survey  permission to  be  obtained annually,  and  was                                                              
valid until the subsequent year.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:25:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JIM  MINNERY,  President,  Alaska Family  Council,  declared  that                                                              
they  had just  finished another  statewide parental  notification                                                              
campaign.    He  said  that  SB  101  undermines  parental  rights                                                              
because  it  places the  burden  on  the parent  to  say  no.   He                                                              
questioned  the  content and  the  usefulness  of  the data.    He                                                              
opined that it  was difficult enough for parents  to shelter their                                                              
children.    He  suggested  that   school  districts  experiencing                                                              
problems  with  collecting  enough permission  should  speak  with                                                              
other school  districts which have  been successful.   He stressed                                                              
that  parent's   rights  were  being   usurped.     He  encouraged                                                              
opposition to SB 101.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:29:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
EMILY  NENON,  Alaska  Government   Relations  Director,  American                                                              
Cancer Society  Cancer Action  Network (ACS  CAN), testified  that                                                              
after watching  this issue  for many years,  SB 101  maintains and                                                              
strengthens  parental  notification provisions,  "while  improving                                                              
the  opportunities  to better  serve  our youth."    She spoke  in                                                              
support of SB 101.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:30:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARY  FRANCIS,  Executive  Director,   Alaska  Council  of  School                                                              
Administrators,  said  that school  administrators  believed  that                                                              
the information  was very important,  and could be used  for grant                                                              
purposes.    She stated  that  it  was  about  the data,  not  any                                                              
limitation on parental rights.  She stated support for SB 101.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:31:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PAULA  EASLEY,  Trustee,  Alaska Mental  Health  Trust  Authority,                                                              
reported   that   the   trustees    supported   allowing   student                                                              
participation  in   the  YRBS,  unless  the  parent   or  guardian                                                              
objected in  writing.  She stressed  that students had  to also be                                                              
free to determine  their own level of participation.   She pointed                                                              
out  that  the  data ensured  for  Alaska's  health,  safety,  and                                                              
prevention programs  to be evidence  based and properly  targeted.                                                              
She  reported  that  one parent  had  stated  "parents  absolutely                                                              
needed to be  aware of other teenager's behaviors  and concerns to                                                              
help them  better protect  their own  children's interests."   She                                                              
referred  to  the  DHSS  scorecard  which  compared  national  and                                                              
Alaska  data  on  issues  impacting   Trust  beneficiaries.    She                                                              
expressed  the need  for accurate  and current  information.   She                                                              
stated that  as a mother, a  grandmother, and a  conservative, she                                                              
was a very strong  advocate for the protection  of privacy rights,                                                              
but  she did  not  believe  SB 101  violated  these  rights.   She                                                              
stated her support for SB 101.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:34:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANNIE DOUGHERTY,  Teacher, shared that  she had been a  teacher in                                                              
rural and urban  schools, and was familiar with  the difficulties.                                                              
She  stressed  that it  was  critical  to retain  active  parental                                                              
permission.   She  declared  that  the role  as  educators was  to                                                              
deliver  education, not  surveys.   She agreed  that the data  was                                                              
important,  but  it was  necessary  to  maintain respect  for  the                                                              
parents.   She expressed concern  for losing students  and student                                                              
funding   to  private  or   home  schools   because  of   parental                                                              
dissatisfaction.    She  opined  that SB  101  would  create  more                                                              
parental  distrust.     She  emphasized  the  need   for  parental                                                              
participation  for  student  success.    She  suggested  alternate                                                              
methods for attaining  parental permission.  She  pointed out that                                                              
children were  taught to  wait for permission,  and not  to assume                                                              
permission when there  was not a response.  She  suggested a query                                                              
to parents for their response to SB 101.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:41:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MONICA  GROSS,  Doctor,  said  that  she  was  a  parent  of  four                                                              
teenagers,  and  that she  supported  SB  101.   She  offered  her                                                              
belief that  SB 101 supported families  and parents, as  it was so                                                              
important for parents  to know what was going on  with teens.  She                                                              
reiterated that the  survey was confidential and  that it provided                                                              
data about teenagers.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:43:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON  stated that the data was  for Alaska and                                                              
"not gonna  get what the kids, my  kids, hang out with,  you don't                                                              
get  that kind  of  data."   She  expressed concern  for  parental                                                              
awareness.  She  offered her belief that it was  more important to                                                              
test  the [school]  programs before  they are  funded, instead  of                                                              
"how a teenager  might check their activity on  drugs or suicide."                                                              
She opined that there  was too much focus on the  data and not the                                                              
focus on whether the programs were working.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:44:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. GROSS  replied that  the "world of  teens is rapidly  changing                                                              
all the time."   She directed attention to the  prior year problem                                                              
with prescription  drug abuse in  Juneau, and she stated  that the                                                              
survey offered community data, as well.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:44:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  T.  WILSON  asked  about the  survey  revealing  a                                                              
problem with prescription drugs.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:45:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. GROSS  expressed  the need for  constant  data updates  as the                                                              
teen world was rapidly evolving.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:45:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER acknowledged  the need,  and the difficulty,  for                                                              
parents  to  get  the  necessary  information.    He  opined  that                                                              
parents would be better informed with active permission.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:46:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  GROSS agreed  that in  a perfect  world,  parents would  give                                                              
active  permission,  but she  lamented  that often  children  lose                                                              
paperwork.   She  pointed out  that not  many parents  even go  to                                                              
parent teacher  conferences.  She  said that kids now  assert more                                                              
independence, and parents  are less involved.  She  said that if a                                                              
parent  was  opposed,   they  could  sign  a  statement   of  non-                                                              
participation.  She supported passive permission.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:47:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PATTY  OWEN, State  YRBS Survey  Coordinator,  Division of  Public                                                              
Health, Department  of Health and  Social Services, said  that she                                                              
was available for questions to the topics discussed.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:48:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON asked for her comments.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:48:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. OWEN  said that  the process  for collecting permission  forms                                                              
was  different  in  each  district, with  varying  success.    She                                                              
explained that  districts did  not always  have the permission  on                                                              
file,  and as the  law required  two weeks'  notice, parents  were                                                              
contacted again for  permission for the YRBS.   She clarified that                                                              
this was both YRBS  protocol and the law.  She  relayed that there                                                              
was not  any quantifiable  loss  to federal funding  from  lack of                                                              
YRBS data,  but that  the loss  of federal  grants for  health and                                                              
education programs was quantifiable.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. OWEN relayed  that CDC has predicted a 50  percent decrease of                                                              
student response  with the  request for  active parental  consent,                                                              
unless  extraordinary  measures were  taken.   She  applauded  the                                                              
efforts by school  districts to incentivize for the  return of the                                                              
permission slips.   She said that  lack of return  for permission,                                                              
and sickness  on the  day of  the YRBS,  jeopardized the  response                                                              
rate.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:51:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON closed public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:52:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON moved  to  adopt Amendment  1, labeled  26-                                                              
LS0524\A.2 Mischel, 2/17/10, which read:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 23 - 24:                                                                                                     
          Delete "guardian notice of the survey"                                                                                
          Insert "legal guardian notice of the survey as                                                                        
     provided under (d) of this section at least two weeks                                                                      
     before the survey is administered"                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:52:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON objected for discussion.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON  explained  that  the  construction  change                                                              
would  include the  student's  legal  guardian and  would  require                                                              
inclusion of all  eight of the requirements in  AS 14.03.110(d) to                                                              
be met.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:53:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DAVIS said that she had no objection to Amendment 1.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:53:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HERRON  removed his  objection.   There being  no further                                                              
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  T. WILSON  asked how there  could be  verification                                                              
that every parent had been notified.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:54:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DAVIS said that she could not answer that.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:54:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  T. WILSON  said  that, currently,  permission  was                                                              
needed to  be given  for the YRBS.   She opined  that a  change in                                                              
the current  system could  not guarantee  that parents  would even                                                              
know about the YRBS.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:55:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DAVIS  expressed her assumption  that the  procedure would                                                              
be followed  and the  permission slips would  be mailed  two weeks                                                              
prior.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:56:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T.  WILSON asked if  a better solution would  be to                                                              
mail them out right now.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:57:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DAVIS said  that she  did  not know  what procedure  each                                                              
district was currently following.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:57:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CISSNA reported  that  Alaska lead  the nation  in                                                              
abuses to children.   She opined that the YRBS  could address some                                                              
of these  abuses.   She offered  her belief  that the parents  who                                                              
were staying  in contact were the  parents who would  be returning                                                              
the  forms, regardless  of  the decision  to  participate or  not.                                                              
She suggested  that the  parents who did  not want their  children                                                              
to take the  survey were the same  ones who would be  protected by                                                              
the testing.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:00:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON  stated that the only issue  was for parents                                                              
not responding  and not participating  in their children's  lives.                                                              
He  offered as  an example  the  Challenge Program  of the  Alaska                                                              
Military  Youth  Academy,  which  wanted  to  allow  the  personal                                                              
contact  information for  drop outs  to be  shared on  an opt  out                                                              
basis.  He offered  his belief that the amendment  would allow for                                                              
the protection  of privacy  for the YRBS,  and that this  would be                                                              
the only  survey allowing  for students  to participate  without a                                                              
specific parental approval.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
5:02:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER said  that, currently,  a  significant number  of                                                              
parents  were saying  no to  participation  in the  YRBS, yet  the                                                              
data was  still being collected.   He offered his belief  that the                                                              
bill abrogates the fundamental, inherent, parent rights.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  T. WILSON  pointed out  that it  was assumed  that                                                              
parents  had received  the notice  for the  YRBS.   She said  that                                                              
financial loss  was not the  issue.  She  offered her  belief that                                                              
the YRBS  should be  the survey that  most necessitated  an active                                                              
parental consent.   She  opined that the  YRBS was very  personal.                                                              
She  expressed   the  necessity  for  parents  to   actively  give                                                              
permission.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
5:06:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LYNN offered  his agreement  with the comments  of                                                              
Co-Chair Keller  and Representative T.  Wilson.  He  applauded the                                                              
survey  intent,  but  he  expressed his  dislike  for  the  survey                                                              
questions.   He noted that  everyone wanted to stop  inappropriate                                                              
behavior.  He  expressed concern for the unintended  consequences,                                                              
and  he declared  that  SB  101 took  away  parental  rights.   He                                                              
declared  that it  was  necessary for  [active]  permission to  be                                                              
granted by the parents for participation in the YRBS.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:08:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON  moved to report SB 101, as  amended, out of                                                              
committee with individual recommendations.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON and CO-CHAIR KELLER objected.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:09:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KELLER  commented  that  the money  spent  to  encourage                                                              
parental  participation for  the  YRBS was  also instrumental  for                                                              
encouragement and engagement to overall parental participation.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:11:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A  roll call  vote  was taken.   Representatives  Seaton,  Cissna,                                                              
Holmes,  and  Herron   voted  in  favor  of  SB101,   as  amended.                                                              
Representatives  T. Wilson,  Lynn,  and Keller  voted against  it.                                                              
Therefore, HCSSB  101(HSS) was reported from the  House Health and                                                              
Social Services Standing Committee by a vote of 4-3.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:11:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being  no further business  before the committee,  the House                                                              
Health  and   Social  Services  Standing  Committee   meeting  was                                                              
adjourned at 5:11 p.m.