SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE May 1, 1996 9:06 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Lyda Green, Chairman Senator Loren Leman, Vice-Chairman Senator Mike Miller Senator Johnny Ellis MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Judy Salo COMMITTEE CALENDAR HOUSE BILL NO. 529 "An Act giving notice of and approving the entry into, and the issuance of certificates of participation in, a lease-purchase agreement for a centralized public health laboratory." Confirmation Hearing: Board of Regents, Joe L. Hayes PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION HB 529 - See Senate Health, Education & Social Services minutes dated 4/29/96. WITNESS REGISTER Elmer Lindstrom, Special Assistant Office of the Commissioner Department of Health & Social Services PO Box 110601 Juneau, Alaska 99811-0601 POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SCS HB 529(HES). ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 96-37, SIDE A HB 529 APPROVE CENTRALIZED PUBLIC HEALTH LAB  Number 002 CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social Services (HESS) Committee to order at 9:06 a.m. and introduced HB 529 as the first order of business before the committee. SENATOR MILLER believed that the committee had a CS which is a good compromise. Senator Miller moved that the SCS HB 529(HES) be adopted in lieu of the original bill. Hearing no objection, the CS was adotped. SENATOR LEMAN wanted to hear from the department. Are there still substantial benefits from partial consolidation? How much more will this cost the state in the long run rather than doing the full consolidation now? Number 039 ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant to Commissioner Perdue in the Department of Health & Social Services, said that the department supports the CS adopted by the committee. The department's first priority throughout this process has been addressing the life, health, and safety issues in the Juneau and Anchorage labs. This bill does just that. Mr. Lindstrom noted that previously the department supported full centralization and those benefits have been discussed. However, this CS does address the aforementioned priority. There will be operating budget savings from the CS, although not as large as the centralization option. SENATOR LEMAN inquired as to how much more it would cost to have a facility in Fairbanks and a partially centralized facility in Anchorage. ELMER LINDSTROM stated that the full centralization option would save about $750,000 per year. Mr. Lindstrom believed that the estimated savings for the option under the CS is approximately $25,000. CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired as to the will of the committee. SENATOR MILLER moved that SCS HB 529(HES) be reported out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. Number 093 CHAIRMAN GREEN announced that the committee would now take up the Confirmation of the Board of Regents. She welcomed Joe Hayes and asked if he had any comments for the committee. JOE HAYES informed the committee that he has served on the Board of Regents since last May. Mr. Hayes said that his primary goal is to facilitate information from all the student governments across the UA campuses and to present problems that student bodies have with certain policies. SENATOR MILLER moved to forward Mr. Hayes' name to the full body for confirmation. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. There being no further business before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:11 a.m.