ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE  May 7, 2007 1:35 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Bettye Davis, Chair Senator Joe Thomas, Vice Chair Senator Fred Dyson Senator Kim Elton MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator John Cowdery COMMITTEE CALENDAR  SENATE BILL NO. 151 "An Act relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid classes for initial applicants for driver's licenses and instruction permits." MOVED CSSB 113(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 151 SHORT TITLE: NEW DRIVER'S LIC. /PERMIT:CPR/ FIRST AID SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) ELLIS BY REQUEST 04/02/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/02/07 (S) HES, STA 05/07/07 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 WITNESS REGISTER Senator Johnny Ellis Alaska State Legislature Juneau, AK POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 151 Jim Foster, Chief Medical Officer Anchorage Fire Department Anchorage, AK POSITION STATEMENT: In support of SB 151 Suzanne Meunier, Alaska Advocacy Director American Heart Association Anchorage, AK POSITION STATEMENT: In support of SB 151 Shad Engkilterra, Southeast director Red Cross of Alaska Juneau, AK POSITION STATEMENT: In support of SB 151 Kate Herring, staff to Senator Ellis Alaska Capitol Building Juneau, AK POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions on SB 151 ACTION NARRATIVE CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS called the Senate Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:35:30 PM. Present at the call to order were Senators Thomas, Dyson, and Chair Davis. SB 151-NEW DRIVER'S LIC. /PERMIT:CPR/ FIRST AID  1:36:19 PM CHAIR DAVIS announced SB 151 to be up for discussion. SENATOR THOMAS moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute to SB 151, labeled 25-LS0724\M, Version M, as the working document of the committee. There being no objection, the motion carried. SENATOR ELLIS, sponsor of SB 115, said that he had made brief remarks on the floor about how the bill was brought forward by request of the family of a person who died. It's brought forward in the hope of saving lives in the future; the bill requires first-aid training prior to the initial reception of an Alaska driver's license or permit. There are classes and online training available to meet this requirement, and there is no known opposition. He added that Alaska is a state prone to natural disasters, and hopefully this bill will help save lives. 1:40:00 PM JIM FOSTER, Chief Medical Officer for the Anchorage Fire Department, said that the cardiac arrest survival rate nationwide is very low but could be improved by CPR aid; citizens should know how to perform CPR effectively. 1:41:38 PM SUZANNE MEUNIER, Alaska Advocacy Director for the American Heart Association, cited statistics for deaths from heart attack, and explained how they could be lowered with the help of CPR. She talked about the cardiac arrest process and how CPR is beneficial, and gave an example of such a situation. The mission of the American Heart Association is to help increase the number of lay-people who can aid in CPR and thus prevent more deaths. 1:45:17 PM CHAIR DAVIS acknowledged that Senator Elton had arrived. 1:45:36 PM SHAD ENGKILTERRA, Southeast director, Red Cross of Alaska, said that Red Cross classes also teach how to think in an emergency. Alaska is a large state with a lot of rural area and potential for danger; he related personal stories about the benefits of CPR training. 1:48:01 PM CHAIR DAVIS asked for an explanation of the committee substitute. 1:48:19 PM KATE HERRING, staff to Senator Ellis, explained the changes, which included a word in the title and application of the bill as regards first-time Alaskan license holders. 1:49:32 PM SENATOR ELLIS referenced a previous bill regarding CPR training in schools, and said that SB 151 is a simplified approach to the problem with a zero fiscal note. It won't burden older folks and those coming in from other states; it takes the burden off of school districts and equips citizens equally well. MS. HERRING explained a final minor language change in the bill. 1:51:43 PM SENATOR THOMAS made a motion to move CSSB 151(HES), referred to as Version M, from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objections, the motion carried. There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Davis adjourned the meeting at 1:52:18 PM.