SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE LOGNOTES March 3, 1999 GENERAL SUBJECT(S): KEY CAMPAIGN The following overview was taken in log note format. Tapes and handouts will be on file with the Senate Finance Committee through the 21st Legislative Session, contact 465-2618. After the 21st Legislative session they will be available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808. Time Meeting Convened: 8:07 AM Tape(s): SFC-99 # 41, Side A & B PRESENT: Senator Parnell Senator P. Kelly, Chaired the Meeting Senator Adams Senator Wilken Senator Donley Senator Green Senator Leman NOT PRESENT: Senator Phillips Senator Torgerson ALSO PRESENT: Senator Kim Elton; Senator Johnny Ellis; Representative Tom Brice; Representative Ben Grussendorf; Representative Mary Kapsner; Representative Beth Kertulla; Representative Fred Dyson Tape: SFC - 99 #41, Side A 8:07 AM 0 SENATOR PETE KELLY Introduction. EMILY ENNIS From Fairbanks, Member of Key Coalition. Executive Director, Fairbanks Resource Agency. We're here to help you better understand the needs of the disabled. Through your decisions, a child with a disability can get a better start in life and an adult with a disability can become a more productive member of society. Disabled people make up the second largest minority group in Alaska next to Natives. This morning 9 people are going to share with you what it takes to have a normal life. Three issues that a disabled person is faced with: 1) Institutional prevention. 2) The waiting list for infant learning and services. Today there are 100 people on that list. Alaska has the 5th longest waiting list. We hope you will support HB 72, sponsored by Rep. Brice that will shorten the waiting list. 3) Funding for adult preventative dental care. For someone with a disability, the keys to the community are often limited to legal and constitutional rights. SENATOR PETE KELLY 201 HOWARD COLBERT From Sitka. I have two daughters. The oldest is mentally delayed and has cerebral palsy. She deserves the right to live in the community. Without the support services she will be unable to do that. While she is on the waiting list she loses the skills she has already learned. SENATOR PETE KELLY Ask members to hold their questions to the end for Ms. Ennis. 248 TRACY MANNING With daughter Kaitlin. Kaitlin is six years old and has cerebral palsy. I'm on the Advisory Board for Catholic Services. Speak about the waiting list. We were lucky with Kaitlin. She was diagnosed early and received treatment early. If you work with children early you can keep the costs down in the long run. Denying the kids early intervention is like denying someone with an infection treatment saying they have to get on the waiting list. SENATOR PETE KELLY 305 PATRICK CHIKLAK, JR. Has a daughter with a disability. Read letter from the Bristol Bay Learning Corp. describing their services and limitations. They are only able to visit children in outlying areas once a month. Very limited staff and resources. Shows photograph of daughter and describe her disability. Show photograph of Dillingham learning center. SENATOR PETE KELLY 378 STEVE LESKO Executive Director, Hope community Resources. Despite the perceived economic problems there is good news. For the past 12 years the Legislature has supported the Key Campaign. We are institution-free. Alaska is the leader in the US for community programs. We need to run like a business and get lean. We are now anemic. The raise of the minimum wage affected our programs. McDonald's pays its employees more than we can. We cannot keep our work force. We ask you to say that our kids are your kids too. SENATOR PETE KELLY 443 KATHY FITZGERALD President, Key Coalition. Child with disabilities. Talk about the inability to keep staff when they are only paid $7 an hour. We have trained many respite care workers for our daughter. We can't keep them. It's difficult for our daughter to adjust to the care worker changes. We're happy to provide all the economic needs, but there are some things that we can't do. SENATOR PETE KELLY 477 ROGER BROBST Executive Director, Center for Community in Sitka. 484 NATHAN KNOWLES I'm 17 and getting ready to graduate from high school. I plan to go to college and eventually have a career. I'm here to speak about independent learning. Some day I want to be able to live on my own. 495 DR. NED MAGEN Member of Key Campaign, Emergency Room physician, Father of disabled child. I am fortunate in that we have insurance. Most disabled people either have no insurance or are only covered by Medicare. Currently there is no dentist in Kenai that accepts Medicare. Speak to emergency dental services. Preventative dental care is cost effective. SENATOR PETE KELLY 520 LINDA GIANI My son is 23 and lives alone. He has severe medical needs. He has serious dental problems. When he inhales the bacteria from his mouth it causes pneumonia. He needs dental cleaning twice a year at $100 each visit. Or he must go to the hospital and be treated in the intensive care unit. The cost is much higher. SENATOR PETE KELLY 545 EMILY ENNIS Reiterate the three key issues. SENATOR PETE KELLY SENATOR GARY WILKEN During 90-96 the waitlist has declined. I'm surprised to hear you say that the number had gone from 200 to 1000. What has changed that? EMILY ENNIS The wait list is not just for infant learning. Also includes other programs. The health care is better and more children are living. We are also doing more outreach and getting more children involved especially in the rural areas. SENATOR GARY WILKEN Most of the services come from the Department of Health and Social Services budget? Could you go through and note the line items that pertain to you so we can focus on them? EMILY ENNIS We will do that. REPRESENTATIVE BEN GRUSSENDORF You said that you are a family. Is this dental care addressed in the Governor's proposed budget, or is it a new request that you are bringing out. EMILY ENNIS It was addressed. SENATOR PETE KELLY Refer to Ms. Giani's request to put dental care back in the Medicare budget. What is the history? EMILY ENNIS It was in the budget for preventative care, but that has been removed. 589 Tape: SFC - 99 #41, Side B 10:21 AM EMILY ENNIS Continued. LINDA GIANI His cleanings were covered under Medicare when he was a child. When he turned 21 it was not longer covered even with a specific recommendation from his doctor. SENATOR PETE KELLY Ask Ms. Giani to come to the table and restate into the microphone. LINDA GIANI Restate. SENATOR PETE KELLY So, Medicare has never covered adult preventative dental care? EMILY ENNIS Correct. BERTHA SCHMOY (PH SPELLING) Member of the Key Campaign. I've been taken off the DD list. Detail her disability. SENATOR PETE KELLY Conclusion. Committee will take a break and then begin hearing supplemental budget request testimony. [Minutes for that portion of the meeting are separate.] Recess 9:01 am. SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE LOG NOTES 03/03/99 Page 1