SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE                   
                           May 8, 1998                                         
                            9:05 a.m.                                          
                                                                               
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                
                                                                               
Senator Gary Wilken, Chairman                                                  
Senator Loren Leman, Vice-Chairman                                             
Senator Lyda Green                                                             
Senator Johnny Ellis                                                           
                                                                               
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                 
                                                                               
Senator Jerry Ward                                                             
                                                                               
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                             
                                                                               
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 350(L&C)                                                 
"An Act requiring that the cost of contraceptives and related                  
health care services be included in health insurance coverage."                
     PASSED CSHB 350(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                     
                                                                               
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION                                               
                                                                               
HB 350 - No previous Senate committee action.                                  
                                                                               
WITNESS REGISTER                                                               
                                                                               
Amanda Bohman                                                                  
Legislative Aide to Representative Croft                                       
Alaska State Capitol                                                           
Juneau, Alaska  99801-1182                                                     
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified for the sponsor of HB 350                       
                                                                               
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                               
                                                                               
TAPE 98-44, SIDE A                                                             
Number 001                                                                     
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social                 
Services (HESS) Committee to order at 9:05 a.m.  Present were                  
Senators Green, Ellis and Chairman Wilken.  The purpose of the                 
meeting was to consider HB 350, sponsored by Representative Croft.             
                                                                               
         HB 350 - INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CONTRACEPTIVES                        
                                                                               
AMANDA BOHMAN, legislative intern for Representative Croft,                    
explained HB 350 requires insurance companies to include coverage              
of contraceptives in health insurance policies with the exception              
of policies for fraternal benefit societies, policies issued to                
individuals, or policies for a qualified church-controlled                     
organization.                                                                  
                                                                               
Number 030                                                                     
                                                                               
SENATOR ELLIS moved CSHB 350(L&C) and its accompanying letter of               
intent from committee with individual recommendations.  There being            
no objection, the motion carried.                                              
                                                                               
SENATOR ELLIS thanked Chairman Wilken for chairing the Senate HESS             
committee this year.                                                           
                                                                               
There being no further business to come before the committee,                  
CHAIRMAN WILKEN adjourned the meeting at 9:08 a.m.