ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 3, 2006
1:28 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Fred Dyson, Chair
Senator Lyda Green
Senator Kim Elton
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Gary Wilken, Vice Chair
Senator Donny Olson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING:
Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services - Karleen
Jackson
CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
SENATE BILL NO. 177
"An Act eliminating the requirement that persons using titles or
descriptions of services that incorporate the terms
'psychotherapy,' 'psychotherapeutic,' or 'psychotherapist' be
licensed by the Board of Psychologist and Psychological
Associate Examiners."
MOVED CSSB 177(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 235
"An Act relating to a public school performance incentive
program; and providing for an effective date."
BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 177
SHORT TITLE: PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY
SPONSOR(s): HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES BY REQUEST
04/15/05 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/15/05 (S) HES, L&C
04/20/05 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/20/05 (S) Scheduled But Not Heard
01/25/06 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
01/25/06 (S) Heard & Held
01/25/06 (S) MINUTE(HES)
02/01/06 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/01/06 (S) -- Rescheduled to 02/03/06 --
02/03/06 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
Karleen Jackson, Acting Commissioner
Department of Health and Social Services
PO Box 110601
Juneau, AK 99801-0601
POSITION STATEMENT: Confirmation candidate.
Anne Henry, Chair
Board of Professional Counselors
Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
PO Box 110800
Juneau, AK 99811-0800
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 177.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR FRED DYSON called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:28:31 PM.
Present were Senators Kim Elton, Lyda Green, and Chair Fred
Dyson.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING: COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES
CHAIR DYSON announced the confirmation of Karleen Jackson to be
up for consideration.
KARLEEN JACKSON, Acting Commissioner, Department of Health and
Social Services (DHSS), informed members that she came to Alaska
in the mid-1960s. She returned to school after raising her
children and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, a
master's degree in community development, and a Ph.D. in human
services. After completing her education, she served as manager
of Beyond Shelter; director of Emergency Outreach and Support
Services, and executive director of Catholic Community Services.
She accepted her recent position as deputy commissioner of DHSS
at the request of the former commissioner, Joel Gilbertson. She
remarked that she feels very fortunate to work with the
incredible management team at DHSS, without whom she could not
fulfill her duties as acting commissioner.
1:36:53 PM
SENATOR ELTON asked if Acting Commissioner Jackson planned to
make any changes to the staff.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON replied that she was not planning to
make any such changes and that her directors made a commitment
to her to stay with the department.
CHAIR DYSON asked her to describe the subject of her doctoral
thesis.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON replied that she wrote her thesis on
how social networking assists homeless people in acquiring and
maintaining housing.
1:38:35 PM
CHAIR DYSON asked if that was the basis of her book.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON replied that she used her
dissertation as the basis of her book when a publisher told her
he'd like to use it in a series on children in poverty.
CHAIR DYSON asked if her book is available in any of the state's
local libraries.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON replied that it is available in the
state library in Anchorage and online for purchase.
1:39:22 PM
CHAIR DYSON asked her to explain the high turnover rate among
employees working for the Division of Child Protective Services
(CPS). He asked whether the department has plans to correct
this situation.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON replied that many factors contribute
to the high turnover rate, one of the main ones being that it's
dangerous, stressful work. She added that while the turnover
rate for CPS is high, it is comparable to the national average
for such services. She said the department is making efforts,
such as working with the University of Alaska, to improve
recruitment and retention.
1:41:53 PM
SENATOR ELTON asked if prospective CPS employees face a higher
standard of employment criteria than other DHSS employees and,
if so, whether these standards are an obstacle to recruiting in
that area.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON replied that there are criteria, but
she would get him more detailed information about it.
SENATOR GREEN asked if she could offer the committee information
or suggestions regarding its efforts to reform its Certification
of Need.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON replied that the department is not
yet able to suggest an alternative to the current certification
process, but she is working on it with legislators and other
interested parties.
SENATOR GREEN said it is in everybody's interest to improve the
efficiency of the system by updating its antiquated elements.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON agreed and acknowledged that while
the department has made some recent progress in updating the
system, she recognized the need for additional improvement.
SENATOR ELTON remarked that he'd like to participate in the
improvement of the system. He expressed his concern over the
department's consideration of lease payments in determining
whether or not someone exceeds the monetary cap for
certification.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON responded that the administration is
currently trying to gather information in order to establish a
well-informed dialogue with all interested parties regarding the
subject.
1:46:31 PM
CHAIR DYSON noted that earlier this year the governor mentioned
his interest in extending a direct subsidy to hospitals to help
them recover the cost of providing emergency health care to
indigent people. He asked whether DHSS was making any efforts
on behalf of this interest.
1:47:26 PM
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON replied that the governor is
concerned that overall health costs rise when hospitals absorb
the cost of charity care. She said the department is
considering how these costs can be managed more appropriately.
CHAIR DYSON asked what the department is doing and who is doing
it.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON replied that the FY 07 budget has an
increment item for these expenses and that Janet Clark,
assistant commissioner of DHSS, is the point person.
CHAIR DYSON asked whether it is possible for the department to
preclude this form of cost shifting through regulation or if it
must be done in statute.
ACTING COMMISSIONER JACKSON said she didn't have enough
information to answer that question.
CHAIR DYSON said that at some point he'd like to know how the
department arrived at the figure used in the budget increment.
He also commended the department for its efforts to find a
better way to cover these expenses.
1:49:48 PM
SENATOR GREEN moved to forward the name of Karleen Jackson to
the full Senate for consideration. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
CHAIR DYSON thanked Acting Commissioner Jackson for her service
to the people of Alaska.
SB 177-PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY
1:51:05 PM
CHAIR DYSON announced CSSB 177(HES), version G, to be up for
consideration.
CHAIR DYSON remarked that the committee has, at least
temporarily, abandoned its intent to use this bill to combine
two of the mental health boards. He said members of the
committee are concerned that one impetus of this bill is to
qualify more mental health professions for third-party payments.
ANNE HENRY, Chair, Board of Professional Counselors, explained
that this bill should not qualify more mental health
professionals for third-party payments because insurance
companies make reimbursement decisions based on the type of
license that a practitioner holds; this bill will not change any
of the licenses that the state issues to mental health workers.
1:57:05 PM
SENATOR ELTON moved to report CSSB 177(HES), version G, from
committee with attached fiscal notes and individual
recommendations. There were no objections and it was so
ordered.
CHAIR DYSON adjourned the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting at 1:59:21 PM.