topAlaska Health Policy Review
comprehensive, authoritative, nonpartisan

March 9, 2012 - Vol 7, Issue 8
In This Issue
Important Information about this Newsletter
An Interview with Fred Brown
Drivers of Health Care Costs in Alaska
Please Respect Our Copyright
Health Policy Calendar
Bills on the Move
Bill Watch: Drugs
Bill Watch: Health Professional Workforce and Education
Bill Watch: Medical Assistance and Health Insurance
Bill Watch: Mental Health Issues
Bill Watch: State Boards and Issues
Bill Watch: Family Health Issues
Bill Watch: Worker's Compensation
Bill Watch: Public Safety
Bill Watch: General Health Policy
Bill Watch: Bill Tracking Methodology
AHPR Staff and Contributors
Resources

 

Alaska State Legislature  

 

 

 

From the Editor

Dear Reader:   

 

This week we have two feature articles in AHPR. One is about a coalition of self-insured organizations in Alaska and the greater Northwest who are interested in better quality health care at lower cost -- a question of value. The second is a detailed study about the extraordinarily high cost of health care in Alaska. I thought it would be useful to briefly explore a missing piece of the picture, a study of health care quality in Alaska:

 

The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System is pleased to sponsor the 2009 State Score Card on Health System Performance. The second edition of the State Scorecard, first published in 2007, provides current information and trends on states' progress toward achieving systems and models of health care that meet their residents' needs. Building on the first edition and the National Scorecard on U.S. Health System Performance, the 2009 State Scorecard examines variation across the states on key indicators of health care access, prevention and treatment, potentially avoidable hospital use and costs, and population health. By enabling states to compare themselves with others on critical aspects of their health care systems, we hope to motivate the development of strategies and action toward higher performance across the entire nation. [Note that the 2009 Scorecard is the most recent comprehensive state study of health system performance released by the Commonwealth Fund. -- ed.]

 

How did Alaska fare on the 2009 State Scorecard on Health System Performance across 42 key indicators of health care quality, access, efficiency, equity, and healthy lives? In short, not very well. We may have by far the most expensive health care in the United States, but we fall far short of having the best health care system performance. In a rank ordering of health system performance, Alaska ranked 34th. In other words, 33 of 50 states ranked higher than Alaska. Not good.

 

The authors of the Scorecard asked this question, "If Alaska improved its performance to the level of the best-performing state for a selection of Scorecard indicators, how much better would it do?" A few examples follow:

  • Adults with a Usual Source of Care -- If Alaska improved its performance to the level of the best-performing state for this indicator, then 98,267 more adults (age 18 and older) would have a usual source of care to help ensure that care is coordinated and accessible when needed.
  • Children with a Medical Home -- If Alaska improved its performance to the level of the best-performing state for this indicator, 30,991 more children (ages 0-17) would have a medical home to help ensure that care is coordinated and accessible when needed.  
  • Adult Preventive Care -- If Alaska improved its performance to the level of the best-performing state for this indicator, 28,691 more adults (age 50 and older) would receive recommended preventive care such as colon cancer screenings, mammograms, pap smears, and flu shots at appropriate ages.
  • Diabetes Care -- If Alaska improved its performance to the level of the best-performing state for this indicator, 7,661 more adults (age 18 and older) with diabetes would receive three recommended services (eye exam, foot exam, and hemoglobin A1c test) to help prevent or delay disease complications.
We could have a great health care system in Alaska at a much more reasonable cost. Why don't we? Perhaps in part we have the McAllen, Texas problem, and I am sure our local economists have other explanations. What's yours?
   
Lawrence D. Weiss PhD, MS
Editor, AHPR

 

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Important Information about this Newsletter

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 Interview with Fred Brown

 Fred Brown is the executive director of Health Care Cost Management Corporation of Alaska (HCCMCA). HCCMCA is a coalition of 25 participating self-insured Alaska organizations with health plans representing nearly 70,000 lives in Alaska, and 10 participating plans with more than 50,000 covered lives outside Alaska. In part 1 of this interview Brown discusses the history and surprising origins of HCCMCA, his own winding path to the leadership of the organization, how the mission statement is implemented, and the regional and national ties that HCCMCA maintains. This interview was conducted February 22, 2012, and has been edited for length and clarity. Part 2 of this interview will be published in the upcoming issue of AHPR, to be published March 16, 2012.

 

TopicsList of Selected Topics 

Introduction

Personal Background

HCCMCA Membership

Ensuring Access to Quality Health Care

Alaska Representation 

 

IntroIntroduction

 

AHPR: I wonder if you could give us the introductory elevator speech about HCCMCA -- what is it, what does it do, and for whom does it do it? We will get into all of the details later, but just give an overview of what HCCMCA is.

 

Brown: HCCMCA stands for Health Care Cost Management Corporation of Alaska. Back in 1994, Mano Frey, who was at that time the president of the Alaska AFL-CIO, and also the business manager of the Labors' International Union local in Anchorage, together with business managers of the Teamsters, the IBEW, the Ironworkers, and one or two others, met and agreed to create a volume-buying cooperative for the purpose of acquiring access to more reasonably priced health care for their employee benefit plans.  

 

According to the organization's founders, "The purpose of the corporation is to negotiate service agreements with area hospitals, physicians groups, vision care providers, and prescription drug providers." They went on to say, "The corporation continuously monitors these providers to guarantee the best possible service."

 

The group grew from that small number of organizations. In the year 2000, the Alaska State Employees Association created a Health Benefits trust for the purpose of acquiring access to self-directed health coverage for its 7,500 members, and in 2002 the ASEA Health Benefits Trust joined the Coalition. At that time, I was the chair of the ASEA Health Benefits Trust, and when we joined the Coalition, I was asked to fill an open seat on the board, as secretary of HCCMCA. I remained in that office until 2009. Meanwhile, by 2008 the Coalition had grown to the point it needed to hire an executive director. After doing a nationwide search, I was selected to become the Coalition's first executive director. At that point, I stepped down from my board position, to become the executive director, beginning in February of 2009.

 

For me, these last three years have been very gratifying, as we have continued to enjoy wonderful growth. Not only do we have more members in Alaska now, we have a growing presence in the Pacific Northwest. When I interviewed for the executive director position, the Coalition consisted of 19 member health benefit plans, representing about 25,000 employees. These participating plans were based both in and outside of Alaska. Now, our Coalition consists of at least 33 plans, with 20 headquartered in Alaska, representing over 60,000 covered lives, and the additional 13 Northwest-based plans, representing over 50,000 covered lives in that region.

 

AHPR: That's a fascinating history. I had no idea that the birth of HCCMCA was in organized labor.

 

Brown: To further explain the organized labor history and connection, these labor leaders also sit as trustee / board members on their respective Taft Hartley trust funds, which by definition means there are management members on these trusts, as well. So, using the IBEW as an example, trustees on the management side of their trust include the manager of the Alaska chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). When they decided to join the Coalition, the labor and management trustees on these trusts met and agreed they saw the benefit of joining themselves with the other trust funds, and creating the volume-buying capacity of the Coalition. I will give you another quote from the founders. They used to say, "Our firms are little guys in the health care marketplace, but when we combine with other purchasers to negotiate prices, we get bigger, and we get better results".

 

AHPR: You are now the executive director?

 

Brown: Correct.

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BackgroundPersonal Background

 

AHPR: Tell us a little bit about your background, relative to HCCMCA.

 

Brown: I grew up on a farm in Southern Oregon, and I did not know anyone who was a lawyer, or who was active with organized labor. But after I graduated from college I became an intern, and then a staff member, of Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield, in Washington, D.C. There, I met many lawyers, and labor leaders.

 

AHPR: No doubt!

 

Brown: After the completion of that period in Washington, D.C., I decided to attend law school, and enrolled at the University of Oregon. Senator Hatfield was up for reelection, so I also volunteered in his Oregon campaign.

 

After graduation, I practiced in Oregon for a few years, then met the chief of adjudications for the Alaska Workers Compensation Division. In short, I became an Alaska Workers' Compensation hearing officer, and worked for the Division the next 25 years, until I retired to take on the role of executive director of this organization.

 

AHPR: I take it that it was while you worked as a classified employee that you became involved with union activities?

 

Brown: Yes, a year or two after I started as a hearing officer in 1984, I became active in the public employees union, which was preparing to negotiate a renewal of its collective bargaining agreement. I was elected a member of the bargaining team, and that was my first exposure to union politics.

 

Thereafter, aside for the time when I stepped back from union activities when my children were young, I've been active in some aspect of union politics ever since.

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HCCMCAHCCMCA Membership

 

AHPR: I wonder if you could talk a bit about HCCMCA's membership, like what criteria do you use to accept new members, and who are typical members?

 

Brown: Most of our members are union-related health care purchasers. Many are Taft-Hartley trust funds, as I described. Others include public sector health plans or trusts, and single employer plans.

I mentioned the founding Teamsters, IBEW, Laborers, Ironworkers, and others as examples of the construction trade groups, with Taft-Hartley trust funds. Each of these groups remains active with the Coalition, and continues to benefit from membership in HCCMCA.

 

The Mat-Su Borough, the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, and Kenai Peninsula Borough School District are examples of public employers, which are members. Public employee trust fund examples include the Public Employees Local 71 Trust Fund, the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Health Benefits Trust, and the APEA-AFT Health and Welfare Trust.

 

AHPR: Okay, and the criteria used to accept new members -- I'm assuming they all have to self-insured, for example?

 

Brown: Our member plans range in size from just 100 employees to more than 8,000 employees. The common denominator is that each of these groups has access to a menu of options from which they can select, to best fit their respective health benefit needs.

 

AHPR: Can an individual join, or in anyway become involved with HCCMCA?

 

Brown: Well, we've had this discussion in light of changes that are occurring due to the Affordable Care Act. In the past, we've generally thought, in order to benefit from being a member of our group, employers would need to have at least 100 employees, but we foresee a benefit for even smaller employers to join our Coalition. The HCCMCA's members are limited to health plans or health plan sponsors, however.

 

The other observation I would make is that any health plan sponsor who is a member would be welcome and encouraged to participate in our annual health fair, so even if that is the only item on the menu of services that they choose to use, it still would be beneficial. So, I guess there would be no limit as to who could join, provided that entity subscribes to our founding principles.

 

AHPR: I saw in your website you have a newsletter. Can an individual sign up for that?

 

Brown: Certainly. These are distributed primarily via email, so the individual would need to provide an email address. Additionally, our newsletters are posted in the archives of our website.

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EnsuringEnsuring Access to Quality Health Care

 

AHPR: I see on your website you have a mission statement. I thought I would go through each of the points of the mission statement and ask you to explain in a little bit more detail what the points mean or what programs address those issues. The opening part of your mission statement is: "To ensure that workers and their families have access to value and quality based health care products and services." Then, the first bullet in the mission statement is, "Serving the needs of the HCCMCA membership plans and their plan participants." That's kind of general. Do you have anything you want to add to that?

 

Brown: We used as the model for our mission statement the language first developed for the National Labor Alliance of Health Care Coalitions (NLA). This is a larger coalition comprised of over 20 coalitions from around the United States, and one from Canada. All of these coalitions share the same goals that we have. HCCMCA has been a member of the NLA since the 1990s, and we generally incorporated the ideas from their mission statement into our own.

 

Partly in an effort to help the NLA grow, we originally thought of helping develop a sister coalition in the Pacific Northwest. We could foresee a benefit for our Alaska members by helping create a system of reciprocity wherein our Alaska participants, who might need additional treatment or who may be traveling, or who may actually live in the Pacific Northwest, would be able to get access to additional value and quality-based coverage in the Pacific Northwest. We could also foresee that, to the extent any Northwest resident participants might choose to travel or work in Alaska, they would have access to our networks as well.

 

But after only two or three discussions with interested groups in the Northwest, their observation was, "Why do we need to reinvent your wheel; can we just join you?" So a decision was made about two-and-a-half years ago to allow those in the Pacific Northwest who wanted to participate in our coalition to join us.

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RepresentationAlaska Representation

 

AHPR: You mentioned your group represents over 60,000 Alaska covered lives. That's a very big number for Alaska. That makes you quite a major player.

 

Brown: Yes, that computes to representing some 10 percent of Alaska's population. Although we've kept a relatively low profile until now, we do have initiatives that will require support from the Alaska Legislature, so we are becoming a bit more visible.

 

AHPR: The next point in your mission statement is, "Promoting the concept of a health care coalition."

 

Brown: As I described earlier, based on the founders' original concept, the goal was to bring small groups together for the purpose of gathering additional strength and, therefore, capacity to gain access to the value- and quality-based coverage they were seeking. I have also described the rationale for our related expansion into the Pacific Northwest.

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Executive Summary: Drivers of Health Care Costs in Alaska 

Prepared by:

Milliman, Inc.

1301 Fifth Ave.

Seattle, WA 98101-2605

November 29, 2011

 

Background

 

The Alaska Health Care Commission (AHCC) engaged Milliman to compare Alaska's health care payment rates and underlying drivers to those in certain other states. The comparison states are Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and North Dakota. Hawaii was also included in the comparison states where practical. The comparison states were selected by the AHCC.

 

This report is the third of three reports. This report is focused on how Alaska's health care costs and underlying drivers compare to other states. The first report analyzed physician payment rates in Alaska. The second report analyzed facility payment rates in Alaska.

 

The previous two reports indicated that Alaska's reimbursement exceeds that in the comparison states for both physician and hospital services. Our analysis of the drivers behind those higher reimbursements suggests that some portion results from higher costs incurred by the providers. However, some component of the higher reimbursement is resulting in higher profit for private sector facilities in Alaska, particularly in the urban areas, and higher compensation for physician services relative to the overall cost of living. A brief summary of conclusions is presented below.

 

Our initial reports showed that the mean physician reimbursement from commercial payers in Alaska is approximately 169% of the average in the comparison states, and that across all payers, physician reimbursement is approximately 160% of the comparison state average. Similarly, commercial reimbursement for facilities in Alaska is approximately 137% of the average in the comparison states.

 

Key Conclusions  

  • Commercial health care premiums in Alaska are approximately 130% of the average in the comparison states.
  • Commercial hospital reimbursement is approximately 137% of the average in the comparison states.
  • Average hospital costs are approximately 138% of the average in the comparison states.
  • Hospital operating margins in Alaska were 13.4% on average in 2010, compared with 5.7% for the comparison states (or in other words, average hospital margins in Alaska are 233% of those in the comparison states). Margins for hospitals in rural areas were similar to the comparison states. Margins for hospitals in urban areas were 16.2%, driven largely by higher margins in two for-profit hospitals.
  • Physician reimbursement in Alaska is approximately 160% of the average in the comparison states. Looking only at commercial payers, this increases to approximately 169%.
  • Our analysis of discounts revealed that physicians have significant negotiating leverage relative to insurers in the State of Alaska relative to the comparison states.
  • Salaries for health care professionals (excluding self-employed) are between 100% and 110% of those in the comparison states.
  • Overall health care utilization rates for Medicare patients are similar to the comparison states. Utilization rates for commercial patients are similar to the comparison states for urban areas, but significantly higher in rural areas.

Summary of Analyses

 

Section 2 of this report shows that commercial premiums in Alaska are approximately 130% of the average in the comparison states. This is directionally consistent with the higher physician and facility costs, but is likely dampened somewhat by other elements of health care such as prescription drugs, which may have costs that are more similar to the comparison states.

 

The remaining report can be subdivided into two categories, utilization and unit cost. Sections 3 and 4 compare the utilization of health care services in Alaska against the comparison states. More efficient use of health care resources can offset higher unit costs. Our analyses found that urban areas in Alaska are similar to the comparison states in its resource utilization which makes it more efficient than the nationwide average. Utilization in rural Alaska areas appears to be higher than in the comparison states. Utilization efficiency in rural areas is likely constrained by the delivery system and the relative lack of population density.

 

The remaining sections of the report focus on the cost per unit of service. On the hospital side, this can be further subdivided into the operating costs incurred by the facility (Section 5) and the profit margin (Section 6). Operating costs for hospitals in Alaska are approximately 138% of the average operating costs in the comparison states. This ratio increases to 186% when restricting to only the rural Alaska facilities. As a result, Alaska facilities have suffered higher losses from Medicare patients than in the comparison states. However, across all payers, average margins for Alaska facilities exceed those in the comparison states in each year of our analysis. The higher margins are driven primarily by two of the urban facilities, which have margins that are considerably higher than averages elsewhere in Alaska or the comparison states.

 

Sections 7 and 8 look at hospital occupancy rates and staffing ratios to explore contributors to the higher costs for Alaska facilities. Occupancy rates in Alaska are lower than the comparison states, particularly in the rural areas, consistent with the relationship between rurality and occupancy across the comparison states. As a result, there are fewer admissions over which to spread the fixed costs of operation, raising unit costs. Staffing ratios (measured as nurses per occupied bed) in Alaska are also higher than in the comparison states, further increasing costs.

 

Section 9 compares compensation for nurses and other employed health care professionals in Alaska against those in the comparison states. The analysis shows that salaries for nurses in Alaska are approximately 100% to 110% of those in the comparison states, as compared to the 160% ratio in commercial professional unit cost reimbursement. Similarly, Section 12 shows that the composite cost of living in Alaska is approximately 120% - 130% of the average in the comparison states excluding Hawaii.

 

Section 10 compares the relative availability of primary care by state. Approximately 12% of Alaska residents live in medically underserved areas. While this issue is a concern, it is not limited to Alaska, as the nationwide average is similar (and the percentage of medically underserved is higher in three of the six comparison states).

 

Section 11 compares negotiated discounts for commercial payers by state. Hospital discounts are similar to the comparison states (though the comparison states have a considerable range), but physician discounts are lower than each of the comparison states, which contributes to the higher reimbursement. We believe that the low discounts are indicative of physician negotiating leverage relative to the health plans, which is likely driven in turn by the relative scarcity of physicians (particularly specialists).

 

Overall, the higher commercial premiums in Alaska are being driven by higher unit costs, rather than by higher utilization of health care resources. The higher physician reimbursement is caused, at least in part, by the relative scarcity of providers. On the hospital side, higher reimbursement can be explained by higher facility costs in the rural areas, but is leading to higher profit margins in urban areas where the reimbursement in Alaska (relative to the comparison states) is greater than the relative cost.

 

This report did not review the relative quality of care provided to Alaskans, nor the relative health

outcomes from treatment. Those issues were beyond the scope of our report but should be considered when evaluating the relative value of health care in Alaska.

 

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For all related matters, please contact the editor Lawrence D. Weiss.


Health Policy Calendar 

 

This calendar of health policy and related meetings is current as of March 7, 2012, at 1:00 PM. Please visit the Alaska State Legislature's committee schedule for the most current information about bill hearings. Other upcoming general health policy meetings and community events are listed below.

 

Alaska Health Care Commission

When: Thursday and Friday, March 8 and 9, 2012

Where: UAA Student Housing, Gorsuch Commons, Room 107, 3700 Sharon Gagnon Lane, Anchorage, AK.

Other information: Visit the Alaska Health Care Commission website for more information.

 

House Health & Social Services Standing Committee
When: Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 3:00 PM
Where: Capitol 106, Juneau

Other information: Presentation by State of Alaska Department of Health & Social Services representatives and others: State Funding for Pregnancy Termination, Public Testimony, teleconferenced

 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Housing Webinar
When: Thursday, March 15, 2012, from noon - 3:00 PM AKST
Where: Webinar

Other information: The regional office of HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity has scheduled several fair housing webinars over the next year. The training will cover basic facts about the Fair Housing Act, including what housing is covered, prohibited activities and HUD's role.

For more information visit the HUD webinar web site or contact Kristina Miller at 509-368-3214.   

 

House Health & Social Services Standing Committee
When: Thursday, March 15, 2012, 3:00 PM
Where: Capitol 106, Juneau

Other information: SB 127 Fetal Alcohol Disorders Awareness Day; HB 343 Disclosure for Children's Records; HB 218 Prescription Drug Specialty Tiers, teleconferenced

 

Senate Health & Social Services Standing Committee

When: Friday, March 16, 2012, 3:30 PM

Where: Beltz 105 (TSBldg)

Other information: FY 13 Budget Pre-Closeout, testimony by invitation only, teleconferenced

 

Prevention and Health Reform: The Glass is Still More than Half Full

When: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 11:00 - noon AKST

Where: Webinar. Visit the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice website for registration and call in information.

Other information: In this Hot Topics in Practice presentation, Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of the Trust for America's Health and professor of Health Policy at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, will address recent how budget cuts to state, local, and tribal health departments have considerably reduced public health capacity across the country. Yet, health reform at the federal level promises new and exciting opportunities for prevention.

 

Senate Health & Social Services Standing Committee

When: Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 3:30 PM

Where: Beltz 105 (TSBldg)

Other information: FY 13 Budget Pre-Closeout, testimony by invitation only, teleconferenced

 

Trust Training Cooperative: 11th Annual Full Lives Conference

When: Wednesday and Thursday, April 18 and 19, 2012

Where: Sheraton Hotel, Anchorage

Other information: The Full Lives Conference is an annual statewide motivational, educational, and networking opportunity for direct service frontline staff working in the following fields: developmental disabilities, behavioral health, Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and substance abuse/prevention. Also invited are supervisors, administrators, and individuals/families receiving services. Call for presentations information is available on the Trust Training Cooperative's website. Contact Raelynn Smith at 907-264-6244 for more information.   

 

Alaska Rural Health Conference
When: Tuesday through Thursday, April 24 - 26, 2012 

Location: Marriott Hotel, Anchorage 
Other information: The theme of this year's rural health conference is "Growing Our Systems of Care: Strength through Partnerships & Networks." The health conference will feature four tracks:
  • Health Information Technology
  • Optimizing Systems
  • Quality Improvement
  • Workforce Development

To download an agenda for this year's conference, go hereContact Faith Allard at 907-929-8116 or [email protected] for more information. 

  

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Bills on the Move

 

The following health policy-related bills moved through various committees since March 2, 2012. The information is current as of March 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM.

 

SB 86 Protection of Vulnerable Adults/Minors was referred to House Rules Committee on March 2, 2012.

 

SB 116 Workers' Comp.: Coll Bargaining/Mediation was heard and held in Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on March 1, 2012.     

 

SB 127 Fetal Alcohol Disorders Awareness Day is scheduled to be heard in House Health and Social Services Committee on March 15, 2012 at 3:00 PM in Capital 106.

 

SB 140 Cathinone Bath Salts version CSSB 140(JUD) passed the Senate and was transferred to the House on March 6, 2012.

 

SB 151 Fetal Alcohol Spec. Disorder as Mitigator was amended in Senate Health and Social Services Committee, and version CSSB 151(HSS) was referred to Senate Judiciary Committee on March 6, 2012.

 

HB 50 Access to Licensed Premises is scheduled to be heard in House Judiciary Committee on March 14, 2012 at 1:00 PM in Capital 120.

 

HB 78 Incentives for Certain Medical Providers was heard and held in House Finance Committee on March 2, 2012.

 

HB 128 Ban Cell Phone Use By Minors When Driving was amended in House Transportation Committee, and version CSHB 128(TRA) is scheduled to be heard in House Judiciary Committee on March 14, 2012 at 1:00 PM in Capital 120.     

   

HB 218 Prescription Drug Specialty Tiers is scheduled to be heard in House Health and Social Services on March 13, 2012 at 3:00 PM in Capital 106.   

   

HB 266 Practice of Naturopathy was scheduled but not heard in the House Labor and Commerce Committee on March 5, 2012.

 

HB 285 Approp: Mental Health Budget was scheduled to be heard in House Finance Committee on March 7, 2012.

 

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Bill Watch: Drugs

 

HB 7 Synthetic Cannabinoids as Schedule II

Committees and date of last action: SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, 6/23/11, EFFECTIVE 7/1/11 
Sponsors: Reps. Munoz, Herron, Kerttula, Gatto, Lynn, Pruitt, Millet, Costello, Fairclough, Johansen, Johnson, Petersen, Doogan, Tuck, P. Wilson, and Thompson
Description: CSHB 7 (JUD) amends section 1. AS 11.71.160(f) by adding language and including 10 synthetic cannabinoids as schedule IIIA controlled substances. SCS CSHB 7(JUD) changes the title to: "An Act classifying certain substances as schedule IIIA controlled substances and relating to penalties for possession of those substances; and providing for an effective date."     

 

HB 42 Prescription Drug Discounts
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 01/18/11
Sponsor: Rep. GUTTENBERG
Description: This bill directs the Department of Health and Social Services to conduct a study of the feasibility of providing discounted prescription drug pricing to every person in the state who is not otherwise covered by a prescription drug plan. The Department of Health and Social Services shall, after conducting the study, prepare a report summarizing the study and submit the report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2012.     

 

HB 43 Prescriptions and Generic Drugs
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 01/18/11
Sponsor: Rep. GUTTENBERG
Description: This bill amends state statute that directs pharmacists to substitute generic drugs for brand name drugs except under specific circumstances, and directs the Department of Health and Social Services to approve and maintain a publicly available list of therapeutically equivalent drugs. 

     

HB 44 Prescription Drug Program
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 01/18/11
Sponsor: Rep. GUTTENBERG
Description: This bill adds a new section to the uncodified law of the State of Alaska that expands the state's role as a participant in the prescription drug marketplace, negotiating voluntary rebates from drug companies, and subject to appropriation, using the rebates to make prescription drugs more affordable to the medical assistance program and to state residents.     

 

HB 45 Drug Marketing Costs
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 01/18/11
Sponsor: Rep. GUTTENBERG
Description: This bill adds a new section to the uncodified law of the State of Alaska that requires manufacturers or labelers of prescription drugs dispensed in this state, with some exceptions, to report marketing costs to the Department of Health and Social Services, and directs the Department to provide a written report every two years to the attorney general and the legislature that analyzes the information submitted to the Department during the two previous fiscal years.    

 

HB 47 Clinical Trials of Drugs/Biol. Products
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 01/18/11
Sponsor: Rep. GUTTENBERG
Description: The Department of Health and Social Services commissioner is directed to establish and maintain a comprehensive repository of information regarding all clinical trials conducted in the state, with some exemptions, including information about the results of clinical trials, regardless of outcome, for access by the public, based on standards established by regulation and information available from the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, and from all other credible sources.  

 

HB 50 Access to Licensed Premises
Committees and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) JUD, 03/14/12 at 1:00 PM in Capital 120
Sponsor: Reps. SADDLER, Hawker, and Thompson

Description: This bill amends Alaska statute in regards to access by persons under 21 years of age  to a club's licensed premises when alcoholic beverages are present.       

 

HB 116 Correct Spelling of Lorazepam/Oxymorphone
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, EFFECTIVE 4/23/11
Sponsor: RULES by request of legislative council
Description: An act correcting the spelling in Alaska statute of the word " lorazepam" and providing for an effective date.
HB 116 am reads, "An Act making corrective amendments to the Alaska Statutes as recommended by the revisor of statutes by correcting the spellings of 'oxymorphone' and 'lorazepam' and providing an applicability section; and providing for an effective date."    

 

HB 153 Controlled Substances
Committees and date of last action: Heard in (H) JUD, 03/07/11
Sponsors: Reps. JOHANSEN and Lynn
Description: This bill would add Salvia divinorum and Salvinorin A (Divinorin A) to the list of Schedule IIA controlled substances.      

 

HB 167 Controlled Substances/Dextromethorphan
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) JUD and FIN, 02/23/11
Sponsor: Rep. JOHANSEN by request
Description: This bill restricts the sale of products in Alaska that contain dextromethorphan and makes violations a class B misdemeanor.     

 

HB 218 Prescription Drug Specialty Tiers
Committees and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) HSS, 03/13/12, at 3:00 PM in Capital 106
Sponsor: HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Description: Full title: "An Act prohibiting an insurer from using a drug formulary system of specialty tiers under certain circumstances."     

 

HB 253 Cathinone Bath Salts    

Committees and date of last action: Scheduled but not heard in (H) FIN, 02/22/12

SponsorsReps. STOLTZE, THOMPSON, MILLETT, PRUITT, TUCK, Lynn, Costello, Keller, Gara, and Holmes
Description: "An Act classifying certain substances as schedule IIA controlled substances.

 

HB 259 Pharmacy Audits
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) L&C, 02/27/12 

Sponsors: Sponsors: Reps. MUNOZ , P. WILSON, and Olson
Description: This bill establishes procedures and guidelines for auditing pharmacy records.

 

SB 17 Classifying MDPV & Others as Sched. IA
Committees and date of last action: Heard in and held in (H) JUD, 02/25/11
Sponsor: Sens. MEYER, Dyson, and Giessel
Description: AS 11.71.150(b) is amended to include 10 synthetic cannabinoids as schedule IIA controlled substances.    

 

SB 140 Cathinone Bath Salts 

Committees and date of last action: Version CSSB 140(JUD) passed the Senate and was transferred to the House, 03/06/12

Sponsors: Sens. MEYER, GIESSEL, OLSON, Egan, McGuire, Wagoner, and Huggins  

Description: This is the companion bill to HB 253. "An Act classifying certain substances as schedule IIA controlled substances; and providing for an effective date." 
Bill Watch: Health Professional Workforce and Education

 

HB 28 Occ. Licenses: Temporary/Fees/Pawnbrokers
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, EFFECTIVE 6/27/11
Sponsors: Reps. Thomas, Herron, FEIGE, P. Wilson, Tuck, Kerttula, Chenault, Lynn, Petersen, Millet, Johnson, Saddler, Gara, Costello, Fairclough, and Pruitt

Cross Sponsors: Sens. Wielechowski, Dyson, Giessel, Meyer, Ellis, Menard, Paskvan, Egan, Davis, McGuire, Thomas and Wagoner  

Description: "An Act relating to temporary courtesy licenses for certain nonresident professionals and to a temporary exemption from fees and other licensing requirements for active duty members of the armed forces; authorizing temporary licenses for pawnbrokers not currently licensed by a municipality; and providing for an effective date," and adds language that pertains to current nonmunicipal pawnbrokers.     

 

HB 38 University Institutes of Law and Medicine
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) EDC, 04/01/11
Sponsor: Rep. KAWASAKI
Description: Alaska statute is amended to allow the University of Alaska to establish institutes of medicine and law.     

 

HB 78 Incentives for Certain Medical Providers
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) FIN, 03/02/12
Sponsors: Reps. HERRON, Feige, Millett, Tuck, and Edgmon

Description: HB 78 is an Act establishing a loan repayment program and employment incentive program for certain health care professionals employed in the state.  

 

HB 122 Naturopaths  

Committees and date of last action:Scheduled but not heard in (H) L&C, 03/23/11 

Sponsors: Reps. MUNOZ and Kerttula

Description: Establishes an Alaska Naturopathic Medical Board; authorizes medical assistance program coverage of naturopathic services and amends the definition of "practice of medicine."    

 

HB 152 Grants for Seniors' Medical Care
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 02/11/11
Sponsors: GARA and Kawasaki
Description: HB 152 establishes a grant fund for health care providers serving seniors 65 years of age or over. The grants would provide payments to those providers that see seniors in a cost effective manner and expand access to health care for this underserved population.      

 

HB 266 Practice of Naturopathy  

Committees and date of last action: Scheduled but not heard in (H) L&C, 03/05/12   

SponsorsReps. Munoz, Tuck, Thompson, Kerttula, Keller, Miller, Kawasaki, and Gruenberg

Description: The Alaska Division of Occupational Licensing, which oversees the naturopathic profession in Alaska, adopted regulations in 1994 that "prescription drugs" do not include a "device or herbal or homeopathic remedy or dietetic substances in a form that is not a controlled substance" with further clarification that "herbal remedies" include the extract of a plant, tree, root, moss, fungus or other natural substance. The Alaska DOL asked medical suppliers in Alaska and the Lower 48 not to sell anything that is restricted by the prescription (Rx) legend to naturopathic doctors in Alaska. HB 266 codifies the status quo.     

 

SB 92 Dentists/Dental Hygienists/Assistants

Committees and date of last action: Heard in and moved out of (H) L&C, 02/08/12 and referred to (H) FIN, 02/08/12 

Sponsor: Sen. EGAN

Description: SB 92 amends the current statutes to ensure that all dental care providers are properly licensed and accredited.

 

SB 175 Practice of Naturopathy 

Committee and date of last action: Referred to (S) RLS, 02/24/12

Sponsors: Sens. McGuire, Ellis, Davis, Giessel, Dyson, Huggins, Thomas, Wagoner, and Stevens

Description: The Alaska Division of Occupational Licensing, which oversees the naturopathic profession in Alaska, adopted regulations in 1994 that "prescription drugs" do not include a "device or herbal or homeopathic remedy or dietetic substances in a form that is not a controlled substance" with further clarification that "herbal remedies" include the extract of a plant, tree, root, moss, fungus or other natural substance. The Alaska DOL asked medical suppliers in Alaska and the Lower 48 not to sell anything that is restricted by the prescription (Rx) legend to Naturopathic Doctors in Alaska. SB 175 codifies the status quo.   

 


Bill Watch: Medical Assistance and Health Insurance

 

HB 1 Policy for Securing Health Care Services
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (S) HSS, 04/12/11
Sponsors: Reps. GATTO, LYNN, P. Wilson, Johnson, and Dick
Description: Alaska statute is amended to add a new section that it is the policy of the State of Alaska that a person has the right to choose or decline any mode of obtaining health care services without penalty or threat of penalty. CSHB 1(HSS) adds language to the final sentence: however, liability for the cost of health care services is not a penalty.

HB 11 Colonoscopy: Pub. Employee Retirees
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) L&C, 03/18/11
Sponsors: Reps. GARA, Gruenberg, Tuck, Holmes, Thompson, Kerttula, and Lynn
Description: Alaska statute is amended to include colonoscopy coverage for retired public employees and other who receive benefits under AS 14.25.110, AS 22.25, AS 39.35, or former AS 39.37.

HB 29 Public Retiree Medical Benefits Coverage
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) L&C, 01/18/11
Sponsors: Reps. MILLET, Gruenberg, and Lynn
Description: Alaska statute is amended by adding a new paragraph that reads, "Preventive health services benefits provided to a person receiving retiree medical benefits under AS 14.25, AS 22.25, or AS 39.35 may not be less than the preventive health services medical benefits provided to the active members of the respective system."

HB 79 Ins. Coverage: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 01/18/11
Sponsors: Reps. PETERSEN, KAWASAKI, Gruenberg, Gara, Kertulla, Johansen, Munoz, Millett, Tuck, Guttenberg, Cissna, Olson, Gardner, Foster, Costello, Holmes, and Herron
Description: HB 79 requires insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders, describes the method for establishing a covered treatment plan, and defines the covered treatment for those disorders.

HB 152 Grants for Seniors' Medical Care
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 02/11/11
Sponsors: Reps. GARA and Kawasaki
Description: HB 152 establishes a grant fund for health care providers serving seniors 65 years of age or over. The grants would provide payments to those providers that see seniors in a cost effective manner and expand access to health care for this underserved population. Companion bill to SB 87.

HB 164 Insurance: Health Care and Other
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, EFFECTIVE 6/23/11
Sponsor: HOUSE LABOR & COMMERCE
Description: This bill is a compilation of various provisions to make changes to the insurance code to enhance, update, and provide uniformity with national standards to improve the regulation of the insurance industry.

  
HB 209 Insurance Coverage for Tobacco Cessation
Committees and dates of last action: Heard and held in (H) HSS, 02/14/12
Sponsors: Reps. HERRON, Kerttula, and Holmes
Description: A health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews a health care insurance plan in the state shall provide coverage for a minimum of two courses of tobacco cessation treatment during each plan year.

HB 211 Eye Drop Prescription Refills
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS and L&C, 03/29/11
Sponsors: Rep. P. WILSON
Description: From the sponsor statement: HB 211 would require insurance coverage for prescription eye drops by authorizing a refill or renewal even when it is requested prior to the expiration of the intended period of use, limited to the amount of the remaining dosage initially prescribed.

HB 227 Drug Pricing: Medical Assist. Recipients
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS and FIN, 04/05/11
Sponsor: Rep. HERRON
Description: "An Act relating to generic drug pricing for medical assistance recipients; and providing for an effective date."

HB 275 Retiree Benefits: Colorectal/Drug Benefits
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) L&C and FIN, 01/17/12

Sponsors: Reps. LYNN, Gara, Miller, P. Wilson, Munoz, Thompson, and Kertula
Description: This bill requires that a policy of group health insurance offered by the state and certain local governments include coverage for colorectal screening, allow retirees to choose between brand-name and generic drug products, and limit certain prescription drug benefit payments to an amount based on the cost of the generic drug product.

HB 288 Med. Assistance Eligibility: Prisoners
Committees and date of last action: Heard in and moved out of (H) HSS, 02/21/12; referred to (H) FIN, 02/21/12
Sponsor: Rep. KELLER
Description: "An Act prohibiting denial or withholding of medical assistance eligibility or coverage for a prisoner."

 

HB 326 Child-Only Health Care Coverage

Committees and date of last action: Read for the first time and referred to (H) L&C, then FIN, 02/17/12

Sponsor: Rep. GUTTENBERG

Description: HB 326 requires health care insurers to offer a child-only policy. Its purpose is to fill in the health insurance coverage gaps for certain children. From the sponsor: Children fall into this insurability gap for a number of reasons: children for whom coverage has lapsed due to parents' or guardians' loss of employer-sponsored health insurance; families who employer stopped covering dependents; families insured exclusively though ACHIA; loss of coverage through state or federal plans; children raised by grandparents covered by Medicare; children who lose insurance due to a death or separation of a family member.


HJR 5 Const. Am: Health Care
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 01/18/11
Sponsor: Rep. KELLER and P. Wilson
Description: This resolution proposes amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska prohibiting passage of laws that interfere with direct payments for health care services and the right to purchase health care insurance from a privately owned company, and that compel a person to participate in a health care system.

SB 5 Medical Assistance Eligibility
Committees and date of last action: Hearing on Denali KidCare in (S) HSS 10/13/11
Sponsors: Sens. DAVIS, ELLIS, FRENCH, WIELECHOWSKI, and Thomas
Description: This bill amends Alaska statute to include specific optional groups of persons for whom the state may claim federal financial participation for medical assistance, and the state may require premiums or cost-sharing contributions from recipients eligible for benefits and whose household income is between 150 and 200 percent of the federal poverty line.

SB 70 Alaska Health Benefit Exchange
Committees and date of last action: Heard in (S) FIN and referred to (S) RLS, 02/03/12.
Sponsors: Sens. French, Ellis, and Davis
Description: This bill would establish the Alaska Health Benefit Exchange, along with an effective
date. This act is designed:
(1) to facilitate the purchase and sale of qualified health plans in the individual market in this state;
(2) to establish a small business health options program exchange to assist qualified small employers in the state in enrolling employees in qualified health plans offered in the small group market;
(3) to provide consumer education and assist individuals with access to programs, credits, and cost-sharing reductions;  
(4) to reduce the number of uninsured Alaskans by creating an organized, transparent, and easy-to-navigate health insurance marketplace that offers a choice of high value health plans with low administrative costs for individuals and employers; and

(5) that the Alaska Health Benefit Exchange Board recommend to the legislature and the Office of the Governor methods to keep premium costs low and risk pools strong in the health insurance market place.  

SB 74 Ins. Coverage: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS and L&C, 02/24/12
Sponsors:
Sens. ELLIS, French, Wielechowski, Wagoner, Meyer, Menard, Paskvan, McGuire, Davis, Thomas, Olson, Egan, and Kookesh
Cross Sponsors:
Reps. Saddler, Austerman, Munoz, Tuck, Holmes, Gruenberg, Johansen, Costello, Kawasaki, Stoltze, Kerttula, Miller, Edgmon, Millett, Foster, and Gardner    

Description: This bill requires insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders, describes the method for establishing a covered treatment plan, defines the covered treatment for those disorders, and provides an effective date.

SB 81 Public Retiree Med. Benefits: Dependents
Committees and date of last action: Heard in (S) L&C, passed out of committee, and referred to (S) FIN, 03/16/11
Sponsors: Sens. DAVIS and Ellis
Description: This bill establishes a requirement that group life and health insurance benefits, in regard to dependents, may not be less than those benefits provided to active members.

SB 87 Grants for Seniors' Medical Care
Committees and date of last action: Passed in the Senate and transmitted to the House, 4/7/11; referred to (H) L&C, 4/8/11
Sponsors: Sens. FRENCH, Ellis, Davis, Wielechowski, Wagoner, Kookesh, McGuire, Paskvan, Egan, Menard, Stedman, Thomas, Meyer, and Stevens, Kerttula
Cross Sponsors: Reps. Kawasaki and Tuck
Description: SB 87 establishes a grant fund for health care providers serving seniors 65 years of age or over. The grants would provide payments to those providers that see seniors in a cost effective manner and expand access to health care for this underserved population. Companion bill to HB 152. 

SB 118 Medicaid Reimbursement for Family Therapy
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (S) HSS, 04/01/11
Sponsor: Sen. DAVIS
Description: "An Act providing medical assistance reimbursement for the services of licensed marital and family therapists.

 


Bill Watch: Mental Health Issues
 

HB 109 Approp: Mental Health Budget
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, 08/24/11, EFFECTIVE DATE 7/1/11   

Sponsor: RULES by request of the governor
Description: This act, a companion bill to SB 48, appropriates funds to the state's integrated mental health programs for operating and capital expenses. 

 

Committees and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) FIN, 03/07/12
Sponsor: RULES by request of the governor
Description: HB 285 makes appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program.
   
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) FIN, 02/21/11
Sponsor: RULES by request of the governor
Description: This Act appropriates funds to the state's integrated mental health programs for operating and capital expenses.

Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) HSS, 02/28/11
Sponsor: Sen. DAVIS
Description: This bill requires parity between health care coverage for mental health, alcoholism, and substance abuse benefits and other medical care benefits.

Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) HSS, 02/15/12
Sponsor: Sens. DAVIS, Wielechowski, and Ellis  
Description: This bill would add the right of mental health patients to file a grievance under AS 47.30.855, and the right to a designated representative to assist in filing the grievance under AS 47.30.847.

Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) FIN, 02/16/2012 
Sponsor: RULES by the request of the governor
Description: SB 162 makes appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program.

SB 186 Sentencing/Probation/Mentally Ill 

Committee and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) JUD, 02/15/12

Sponsor: Judiciary

Description: SB 186 is an Act relating to persons found guilty but mentally ill; relating to sentencing procedures for factors that may increase the presumptive range or affect mandatory parole eligibility; relating to the granting of probation; relating to procedures for finding aggravating factors at sentencing; and amending Rule 32.1, Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure.

 


Bill Watch: State Boards and Issues

HB 21 Suicide Prevention Council Members
Committees and date of last action: Heard in (H) HSS, passed out of committee, and was referred to (H) FIN, 03/16/11
Sponsors: Reps. FAIRCLOUGH, GARDNER, HERRON, Costello, Millet, P. Wilson, Johansen, Petersen, Kerttula, Tuck, Chenault, and Saddler
Description: This bill changes membership requirements for the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council. 

 

HB 46 Alaska Prescription Drug Task Force
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS and FIN, 01/18/11
Sponsor: Rep. GUTTENBERG
Description: This bill adds a new section to the uncodified law of the State of Alaska that establishes the Alaska Prescription Drug Task Force in the Department of Health and Social Services.    

 

HB 126 Board Extensions: Nurse/Dentist/Barbers
Committees and date of last action: VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR, 6/27/11
Sponsor: RULES by request of Legislative Budget and Audit
Description: Extends termination dates of certain boards, including the Board of Nursing and the Board of Dental Examiners, to June 30, 2019. CSHB 126(FIN) eliminated the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from the language in the bill.  

 

HB 206 Extend Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (S) FIN, 04/11/11
Sponsor: LABOR & COMMERCE
Description: HB 206 extends the life of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board until June 30, 2015; CSHB 206(FIN) changes the termination date to June 30, 2012.     

 

HB 257 Crime Victims Compensation
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) STA and FIN, 01/17/12
Sponsor: Rep. KERTTULA
Description: "An Act relating to time limitations on applications for compensation to victims of crime by the Violent Crimes Compensation Board."

 

HB 279 Extending Certain Boards & Commissions

Committees and date of last action: CSHB 279(FIN) transmitted to Senate, 02/27/12; referred to (S) FIN, 02/29/12 

Sponsor: RULES by request of Leg Budget & Audit

Description: HB 79 extends the termination date of the Board of Nursing, the Board of Dental Examiners, the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers, the Big Game Commercial Services Board, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, and the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission.   

 

HB 338 Licensing Radiologic Technologists

Committees and date of last action: Read and referred to (H) L&C, then (H) FIN, 02/22/12

Sponsor: Rep. TUCK

Description: HB 338 requires licensure of occupations relating to radiologic technology, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine technology
 

SB 12 Extend Board of Nursing
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (S) FIN, 02/04/11
Sponsor: Sen. DAVIS
Description: The bill amends Alaska statute to extend the Board of Nursing until June 30, 2019.     

 

SB 59 Extend Board of Dental Examiners
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (S) FIN on 02/02/11
Sponsor: (S) L&C
Description: The bill extends the termination date of the Board of Dental Examiners.

 

SB 119 Athletic Trainer Licensing
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) FIN, 02/01/12
Sponsors: Sens. MEYER, McGuire, Ellis, and Menard
Description: "An Act relating to the licensing and regulation of athletic trainers."      

 

SB 155 Extending Certain Boards & Commissions
Committees and date of last action: Heard in (S) L&C, 01/31/12 and referred to (S) FIN, 02/01/12
Sponsor: RULES by request of Leg Budget & Audit
Description: "An Act extending the termination dates of the Board of Nursing, the Board of Dental Examiners, the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers, the Big Game Commercial Services Board, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, and the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission.

 

SB 166 Laboratory Science Professional Licensing

Committees and date of last action: Referred to (S) L&C and FIN, 01/17/12
Sponsor: Sen. DAVIS
Description: "An Act relating to the licensing of medical laboratory science professionals; and providing for an effective date."     

 


Bill Watch: Family Health Issues

HB 15 Student Athlete Traumatic Brain Injuries
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, 05/2711, EFFECTIVE DATE 8/25/11
Sponsor: Reps. DOOGAN, Kerttula, Munoz, Gruenberg, Johnson, Lynn, Tuck, Gara, Millett, Guttenberg, Costello, Holmes, P. Wilson, and Johansen
Cross Sponsors: Sens. McGuire, Dyson, Davis, Paskvan, and Meyer

Description: Uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended to add a new section that directs the governing body of a school district to consult with the Alaska School Activities Association to develop and publish guidelines and other information to educate coaches, student athletes, and parents of student athletes regarding the nature and risks of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. CSHB 15(EDC) changes the full title to "An Act relating to prevention and evaluation of and liability for concussions in student athletes," and adds a new section that requires schools to provide written information annually to parents or guardians about the nature and risks of concussion, and prohibits student participation in school athletic activities without a signed verification of receipt of that information by the parent or guardian.

HB 16 Extend Senior Benefits Payment Program
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, 05/02/12, EFFECTIVE DATE 7/31/11
Sponsors: Reps. HAWKER, Millett, Lynn, Gara, Tuck, Petersen, Herron, Kawasaki, Johnson, Holmes, Kerttula, Doogan, Joule, Seaton, Gruenberg, Olson, Munoz, Guttenberg, Miller, Gardner, Stoltze, Johansen, Edgmon
Cross Sponsors: Sens. Wielechowski, Meyer, Ellis, Paskvan, Egan, Davis, McGuire, Olson, Huggins, Wagoner, Giessel, Dyson, French, Menard, and Thomas

Description: Extends the Senior Benefits Payment Program to June 30, 2015.

HB 63 Flame Retardants and Toxic Chemicals
Committees and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) L&C on 03/16/11, meeting canceled
Sponsors: Reps. HOLMES, Kawasaki, Kerttula, and Foster
Description: HB 63 will end the use of polybrominated fire retardants (PBDEs) in mattresses, upholstered furniture and the plastic housing of electronics in Alaska. In addition, it will give the Department of Environmental Conservation the authority to prohibit the use of other toxic flame retardants when safer alternatives exist. It will also allow the Department to participate with other states in learning about and sharing information on toxins.

HB 94 Student Athlete Traumatic Brain Injuries
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) EDC and HSS, 01/31/11
Sponsors: Reps. JOHNSON, Doogan, Millet, Munoz, and Kerttula
Description: Uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended to add a new section that directs the governing body of a school district to consult with the Alaska School Activities Association to develop and publish guidelines and other information to educate coaches, student athletes, and parents of student athletes regarding the nature and risks of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries.

 

Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS and L&C, 02/25/11
Sponsors: Reps. KERTTULA and Kawasaki
Description : This bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, or otherwise commercially distribute goods and foods for children that contain bisphenol-A, and it sets a effective date of January 1, 2012.

 

Committees and date of last action: Version CSHB 224(FIN) moved out of (H) FIN and referred to (H) RLS, 02/29/12  
Sponsor: Rep. SEATON
Description: Adds language throughout Section 1 AS 11.76.100(a) that prohibits selling or giving a product containing nicotine to a person under 19 years of age unless prescribed by a physician.

 

Committees and date of last action: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, EFFECTIVE DATE 7/19/11
Sponsors: Reps. MUNOZ, Herron, Millet, Kerttula, Keller, Lynn, Costello, Holmes, Fairclough, Gardner, Johansen
Cross Sponsors: Sens. Wielechowski, Giessel, Dyson, Ellis, Meyer, Menard, Egan, Davis, and McGuire
Description: This resolution acknowledges that support and protection of older Alaskans is a societal responsibility, and it encourages and supports the efforts of programs in Alaska that work to improve the health and safety of older Alaskans.

 

HCR 26 Reproductive Rights Awareness Week

Committees and date of last action: Read and referred to (H) HSS, then (H) FIN, 02/22/12

Sponsors: Reps. KERTTULA and Miller

Description: HCR 26 designates January 21 - 25, 2013, as Reproductive Rights Awareness Week.

Committees and date of last action:Referred to (S) FIN, 03/07/11
Sponsors: Sens. Wielechowski, Ellis, Davis, Egan, French, Kookesh, McGuire, Menard, Paskvan, Kawasaki, Petersen, Kerttula, Munoz, and Thomas
Cross sponsors: Kawasaki, Petersen, Kerttula, Munoz, Seaton, and Miller
Description: This bill amends Alaska statute to add a new section that directs state funding to supplement the cost of lunch and breakfast provided to each student who is eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch under 42 U.S.C. 1771 - 1784.

Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) EDC, 02/20/12  
Sponsor: Sen. DAVIS   

Cross Sponsor: Rep. P. Wilson

Description: The purpose of this bill is to increase participation in the national biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in order to meet the minimum 60 percent participation required by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the survey to be validated for assessment, recording and reporting of reliable results.

SB 22 Student Athlete Traumatic Brain Injuries 
 

Committees and date of last action: CSSB 22 (HSS) referred to (S) FIN, 04/01/11 

Sponsor: Sen. MCGUIRE

Description: Uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended to add a new section that directs the governing body of a school district to consult with the Alaska School Activities Association to develop and publish guidelines and other information to educate coaches, student athletes, and parents of student athletes regarding the nature and risks of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. CSSB 22 (HSS) changes the full title to "An Act relating to prevention and evaluation of and liability for concussions in student athletes," and adds a new section requiring schools to provide written information annually to parents or guardians about the nature and risks of concussion, and prohibiting student participation in school athletic activities without a signed verification of receipt of that information by the parent or guardian.

   

Committees and date of last action: Passed out of the Senate and transmitted to the House, (02/13/12) where it was referred to (H) EDC and FIN, 2/15/12

Sponsor: Sen. DAVIS, Ellis, Dyson, Coghill, McGuire, Meyer, Stedman, Menard, Paskvan, and Egan

Description: "An Act requiring suicide awareness and prevention training for certain school personnel."


SB 151 Fetal Alcohol Spec. Disorder as Mitigator   

Committees and date of last action: Amended in (S) HSS, and version CSSB 151(HSS) referred to (S) JUD, 03/06/12
Sponsor: Sens. Meyer, Hoffman, Dyson, Menard, Paskvan, Egan, Davis, Ellis, and McGuire
Description: "An Act relating to mitigation at sentencing in a criminal case for a defendant found by the court to have been affected by a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder."

 

SB 179 Missing Vulnerable Adult Response Plan 

Committees and date of last action: Heard in and moved out of (S) STA, 02/16/12; referred to (S) FIN, 02/17/12

Sponsor: Sen. DAVIS

Description: SB 179 creates a statewide alert system to help find vulnerable missing adults.

 

SB 191 Ultrasound Before Abortion

Committees and date of last action: Introduced and referred to (S) HSS, then (S) JUD, 02/08/12 

Sponsor: Sens. COGHILL, Huggins, Davis, Giessel, and Olson

Description: SB 191 would require that certain licensed health professionals are required to conduct an ultrasound before an abortion; it allows for a woman to decline viewing and hearing the explanation of the ultrasound.

 


Bill Watch: Worker's Compensation

HB 12 Workers' Compensation Advisory Council
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) L&C, 02/11/11
Sponsor: Rep. OLSON
Description: This bill establishes a Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, describes the membership, and other particulars.

HB 13 Worker's Compensation: Medical Fees
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, 09/28/11, EFFECTIVE 9/29/11
Sponsors: Reps. OLSON, Thomas, and T. Wilson
Description: Alaska statute is amended to adjust guidelines relating to fees and other charges for medical treatment or services connected with worker's compensation.

HB 232 Workers' Compensation for Firefighters
Committees and date of last action: Referred to the (H) L&C, 04/7/11

Sponsors: Reps. STOLTZE, Millett, and Lynn
Description: "An Act amending the medical examination requirements for firefighters entitled to a presumption of compensability for a disability resulting from certain diseases."

SB 103 Workers' Compensation for Firefighters
Committees and date of last action: CSSB 103 read and referred to (H) L&C and (H) FIN, 02/03/12
Sponsor: JUDICIARY
Description: SB 103 is, "An Act amending the medical examination requirements for firefighters entitled to a presumption of compensability for a disability resulting from certain diseases."

SB 116 Workers' Comp.: Coll Bargaining/Mediation
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) L&C, 03/01/12
Sponsor: LABOR & COMMERCE
Description: "An Act offering mediation of disputed workers' compensation claims by a hearing officer or other classified employee of the division of workers' compensation and allowing collective bargaining agreements to supersede certain provisions of the Alaska Workers' Compensation Act; and providing for an effective date."

 


Bill Watch: Public Safety

HB 22 No Cell Phone Use When Driving
Committees and date of last action: CSHB 22 (TRA) heard and held in (H) JUD, 04/15/11
Sponsors: Reps. MUNOZ, HERRON, and Gruenberg
Description: HB 22 amends state statute that prohibits the use of cellular telephones while driving except in hands-free mode and in emergencies, to take effect July 1, 2011. CSHB 22 amends HB 22 by defining "hands-free mode" and limiting the use of hands-free mode to drivers over 18 years of age.

     

HB 35 Ban Cell Phone Use When Driving
Committees and date of last action: Scheduled but not heard in (H) TRA, 03/01/11
Sponsor: Rep. DOOGAN
Description: This bill amends Alaska statute to prohibit cellular phone use while driving, with exceptions for emergencies, to take effect July 1, 2011.    

 

HB 57 Bicycle Program
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) FIN, 03/30/11
Sponsors: Reps. SEATON and Gruenberg
Description: This bills amends Alaska statute to authorize municipalities and nonprofit groups in Alaska to apply for grant money for programs that promote safe ridership and directs the Department of Transportation to establish grant programs.    

 

HB 68 Ban Cell Phone Use When Driving
Committees and date of last action: Scheduled but not heard in (H) TRA, 03/01/11
Sponsor: Rep. GRUENBERG
Description: This bill amends Alaska statute to prohibit cellular phone use while driving, with exceptions for hands-free configuration and emergencies, to take effect July 1, 2011. It adds that a peace officer may not stop or detain a motor vehicle to determine compliance with section, or issue a citation for a violation of of this section, unless the peace officer has probable cause to stop or detain the motor vehicle other than for a violation of this section.   
 

 

HB 95 Seat Belt Violation Secondary Offense
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) TRA, 03/17/11
Sponsors: Reps. T. WILSON, GARDNER, and Stoltze
Description: Amends Section 1. AS 28.05.095(e) to read, "(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a peace officer may not stop or detain a motor vehicle to determine compliance with (a) of this section issue a citation for a violation of (a) of this section, unless the peace officer has probable cause to stop or detain the motor vehicle other than for a violation of (a) of this section," and repeals Sec. 2. AS 28.05.095(f).    

 

HB 128 Ban Cell Phone Use By Minors When Driving
Committees and date of last action: Amended in (H) TRA, 03/01/12; version CSHB 128(TRA) is scheduled to be heard in (H) JUD on 03/14/12 at 1:00 PM in Capital 120
Sponsor: Rep. GARDNER and Gruenberg
Description: Amends AS 28.35 by adding a new section that prohibits drivers under 18 years of age from using a cell phone while driving a motor vehicle. A peace officer is not authorized to stop or detain a motor vehicle to determine compliance with this provision unless the officer has probable cause to stop or detain the vehicle for reasons other than violation of provision. Effective date is July 1, 2011.   
 

 

HB 149 Driver's Licensing; Medical Conditions
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) STA, 04/14/11
Sponsor: Reps. FAIRCLOUGH and Olson
Description: Section 2 AS 28.15 is amended by adding a new section that reads: Sec. 28.15.156 Duty to disclose certain medical conditions; reports to department by physicians and other persons regarding persons with certain medical conditions.    

 

HB 150 Protection of Vulnerable Adults/Minors
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) FIN, 03/30/11
Sponsor: RULES by request of the governor
Description: From Governor Parnell's letter, "Financial exploitation of the elderly and other vulnerable adults is agrowing problem. Victims of financial exploitation may not need a guardian, but may need assistance stopping immediate misuse or theft of their money. ... With a temporary conservator, the vulnerable victim retains autonomy while receiving assistance. The ex parte relief from fraud procedure is similar to the existing domestic violence protection law, providing a means for vulnerable adults to independently obtain straightforward, expedited relief from immediate financial exploitation." 

 

HB 183 Application of Village Safe Water Act
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, 06/23/11; EFFECTIVE 06/24/11
Sponsor: Reps. DICK, Thomas, Herron, Edgmon, Joule, Foster, Chenault, Munoz, Petersen, Guttenberg, and Kerttula
Description: From the sponsor statement: House Bill 183 amends the definition of "village" under the Village Safe Water Act. Currently an unincorporated community, a second class city, or a first class city with not more than 600 residents is eligible to receive a grant under the Village Safe Water Program. House Bill 183 amends definition to include a home rule city with less than 600 residents; CSHB 183(CRA) changes language to be more inclusive of eligible places of residence.  

    

HB 191 Department of Agriculture and Food
Committees and date of last action: Moved out of (H) EDT, 04/07/11
Sponsors: Reps. THOMPSON by request, Kerttula, Tuck, Lynn, Dick, Miller, Munoz, and T. Wilson
Description: HB 191 was introduced at the request of the state-wide Alaska Farm Bureau. HB 191 establishes a new state Department of Agriculture and Food with the intent of using the current Division of Agriculture's budget. Currently, statutes and regulations that govern food, food products, land sales, loans, land development, and animals are spread between the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). HB 191 is an effort to stream-line government by bringing agriculture and agricultural foods products under the purview of one department.    

 

HB 195 Pesticides and Broadcast Chemicals
Committees and date of last action: Scheduled in (H) RES, 04/16/11; hearing canceled, 04/06/11
Sponsor: Rep. FEIGE
Description: From the sponsor statement: This bill repeals the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation to regulate application on public lands or with public funds pesticides and broadcast chemicals in a manner different than it requires of commercial applicators working on private property. It will not change the safety or licensing requirements for the application of pesticides or broadcast chemicals.

 

HB 202 Sales of Food by Producers to Consumers

Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) RES and L&C, 03/23/11
Sponsors: DICK and T. Wilson
Description: "An Act relating to the sale of food products by the producer to the consumer."    

 

HB 238 Chemicals in Children's Products
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) L&C and JUD, 04/14/11
Sponsors: Reps. KAWASAKI, Petersen, and Kerttula
Description: Full title: "An Act relating to chemicals in children's products; and adding an unlawful act to the Alaska Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act."   

 

HB 255 Prohibit Dialing or Texting While Driving 

Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) JUD on 02/13/12, which recommended the bill's replacement with CSHB 255(JUD) then referred it to (H) FIN, 02/13/12

Sponsors: Reps. GARA, THOMAS, GATTO, P. WILSON, GRUENBERG, TUCK, Costello, Gardner, and Holmes
Description: "An Act prohibiting the driver of a motor vehicle from reading or typing a text message or other nonvoice message or communication on a cellular telephone, computer, or personal data assistant while driving a motor vehicle."

 
HB 262 Passenger Security: Transport. Facility

Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) JUD, 02/22/12
Sponsor: Rep. CISSNA
Description: "An Act relating to the offense of interference with access to public buildings or transportation facilities, when a person conditions access to a public building or transportation facility on consent to certain physical contact or to an electronic process that produces a picture of the private exposure of the person."    

 

HB 270 Warning of Airport Pat Downs/Scans
Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (H) TRA, 02/21/12 

Sponsors: Reps. CISSNA, GRUENBERG, and TUCK

Description: "An Act requiring the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to require airports to post warning signs outside of security screening areas warning passengers that they are subject to searches of their bodies by physical touching and by electronic devices that emit radiation."  

 

HB 319 Study Health Effects of Airport Screening

Committees and date of last action: Heard in (H) HSS, 02/10/12 

Sponsors: Reps. CISSNA, DOOGAN, AND TUCK

Description: DHSS will conduct a study by January 1, 2014 of the mental and physical health effects of airport security screening and report the findings to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over health matters.

 

HB 321 State/Muni. Airport Security Screening

Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) TRA and FIN, 02/15/12

Sponsor: Rep. CISSNA

Description:This bill would require certain airports in the state to apply for the federal security screening opt-out program and to provide reimbursement to a municipality that applies for the federal security screening opt-out program. 
 

HCR 6 Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, 04/06/11, LEGISLATIVE RESOLVE 7, EFFECTIVE 07/19/11
Sponsors: COSTELLO, Fairclough, Kerttula, Munoz, Millett, Holmes, P.Wilson, Cissna, Gardner, T.Wilson, Austerman, Johansen, Johnson, Stoltze, Tuck, Herron, Olson, Lynn, Seaton, and Pruitt
Cross-Sponsors: Sens. McGuire, Meyer, Stedman, Davis, Egan, Ellis, Paskvan, Menard, Thomas, Coghill, Olson, Dyson, Huggins, Wagoner, French, and Giessel
Description: In conjunction with the governor's "Choose Respect" campaign and strides made in the past few years, the intention of HCR 6 is to continue public education and heighten awareness of the debilitating effects of sexual assualt on Alaskans of all ages and walks of life.   

 

HJR 17 Water and Waste Water Regulation
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, 05/1/11, LEGISLATIVE RESOLVE 17, EFFECTIVE 07/19/11
Sponsor: COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
Description: From the sponsor statement: This resolution urges Congress to bring forth legislation that would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide consistent and reasonable standards in their regulation of drinking water and waste water discharge in Alaska.  

 

SB 86 Protection of Vulnerable Adults/Minors
Committees and date of last action:
Referred to (H) RLS on 03/02/12 
Sponsor: RULES by request of the governor
Description: From Governor Parnell's letter, "Financial exploitation of the elderly and other vulnerable adults is a growing problem. Victims of financial exploitation may not need a guardian, but may need assistance stopping immediate misuse or theft of their money. ... With a temporary conservator, the vulnerable victim retains autonomy while receiving assistance. The ex parte relief from fraud procedure is similar to the existing domestic violence protection law, providing a means for vulnerable adults to independently obtain straightforward, expedited relief from immediate financial exploitation."    

      

SB 96 Application of Village Safe Water Act
Committees and date of last action: Scheduled but not heard in (S) FIN, 04/08/11
Sponsor: Sen. KOOKESH
Description:
This bill would add home rule language to AS 46.07.080 that would allow home rule cities with a population between 25 and 600 residents to be eligible for grants under the Village Safe Water Act. CSSB 96(CRA) changes language to be more inclusive of eligible places of residence.  

 

SB 147 Water and Sewer Task Force
Committees and date of last action: Moved out of (S) CRA, 02/28/12; referred to (S) FIN, 02/29/12 

Sponsor: Sen. KOOKESH
Description: This bill creates a Water and Sewer Task Force within the Alaska legislative branch.

   


Bill Watch: General Health Policy

HB 61 Advance Health Care Directives Registry
Committees and date of last action:
Heard and held in (H) HSS, 04/07/11
Sponsors: Reps. HOLMES, KAWASAKI, OLSON, GARDNER, Kerttula and Millet
Description: This bill amends a previous statute by adding that a health care facility will not be subject to civil or criminal liability in the event that they act in reliance to an advance health care directive or fail to check an advance health care directive registry for a patient in their facility. In addition, the bill proposes the establishment of an advance health care directive registry within the Department of Health and Social Services, where individuals or their guardians can file advance health directives. This registry would be confidential and may not be used for another purpose.

HB 233 Biometric Information for ID
Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS and JUD, 04/08/11
Sponsors: Reps. GARDNER, Neuman, Tuck, Dick, Kerttula, Keller, Gara, Millett, Kawasaki, Petersen, and Cissna
Description: "An Act relating to biometric information."   

 

HB 309 Care Directives/Do Not Resuscitate Orders

Committees and date of last action: Introduced and referred to (H) HSS, 02/01/12

Sponsors: Rep. LYNN

Description: "An Act relating to health care decisions, including do not resuscitate orders" adds protections for health care providers and facilities by clarifying the conditions under which a provider or facility may or may not comply with care directives or do not resuscitate orders.

 

HB 310 State Immunization Program 

Committees and date of last action: Moved CSHB 310(HSS) out of (H) HSS, 02/28/12; referred to (H) FIN, 02/29/12 

Sponsors: Reps. HERRON, P. Wilson, Costello, Gruenberg, Edgmon, and Holmes 

Description: HB310 temporarily reinstates the child and adult immunization program in the Department of Health and Social Services.

 

HCR 1 Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, 04/09/11, LEGISLATIVE RESOLVE 9, EFFECTIVE 07/19/11
Sponsors: Reps. Petersen, Herron, Millet, Kerttula, Costello, Holmes, Fairclough, Tuck, Johansen, Pruitt, and Thompson
Description: Proclaims November 2011 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

HCR 5 Vitamin D Supplements
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, 05/10/11, LEGISLATIVE RESOLVE 16, EFFECTIVE 07/19/11
Sponsors: Reps. SEATON, Millet, Gruenberg, Tuck, and Johansen
Cross Sponsors: Sens. McGuire, Meyer, Ellis, Menard, Paskvan, Egan, Davis, Stedman, Thomas, and Giessel
Description: Recognizing the importance of Vitamin D to human health, the Alaska State Legislature requests of the governor the establishment of a disease prevention model of health care in Alaska; encourages DHSS and health care providers to increase attention and promote awareness of the importance of Vitamin D; urges DHSS to provide Vitamin D to the elderly, pregnant women, and infants; and to investigate the use of Vitamin D supplementation as a replacement for the flu vaccine.

 

HCR 20 American Heart Month 

Committee and date of last action: Heard in (S) HSS and referred to (S) RLS, 02/15/12

Sponsor: P. Wilson, Herron, Kawasaki, Pruitt, and Holmes

Description: This bill designates February 2012 as American Heart Month.

 

SB 14 Protect Health Care Provider Conscience 

Committees and date of last action: Heard and held in (S) HSS, 03/07/11
Sponsors: Sens. DYSON AND COGHILL
Description: This bill amends Alaska statute to include accommodation and protection for health care providers' expressions of conscience pertaining to the delivery of a health care service.


SB 27 Flame Retardants and Toxic Chemicals
Committees and date of last action:  Referred to (S) RLS, 02/24/12
Sponsor: Sen. WIELECHOWSKI
Description: Amends Alaska statute to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of products containing certain toxic chemicals in Alaska.

 

SB 98 Biometric Information for ID 

Committees and date of last action: Referred to (H) HSS, 04/17/11
Sponsors: Sens. WIELECHOWSKI, Coghill, Ellis, Menard, McGuire, Giessel, Egan, Paskvan, Dyson, Wagoner, and Thomas
Cross Sponsors: 
Sens. Tuck, Petersen, and Kawasaki
Description: SB 98 updates Alaska statutes to protect not only Alaskans' DNA, but all similar forms of biometric information. The term "biometric information" refers to any information about an individual based on their unique behavioral or physiological characteristics. The most commonly known forms of biometric information are a person's fingerprints and their DNA, but also includes such information as iris and retinal patterns, hand geometry, voice patterns, and facial characteristics.  

Committees and date of last action: Scheduled to be heard in (H) HSS, 03/15/12 at 3:00 PM in Capital 106
Sponsors: Sen. MEYER, Hoffman, Kookesh, Coghill, French, Wagoner, Dyson, Giessel, Ellis, Menard, Paskvan, Egan, McGuire, Stedman, Thomas, Olson, and Stevens
Cross Sponsors: Reps. Tuck, Kerttula, and Gruenberg
 
Description: Establishes September 9 each year as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day.

Committees and date of last action: CSSB 144(FIN) was heard in and moved out of (S) FIN, 02/29/12
Sponsors: Sens. GIESSEL, OLSON, Davis, Dyson, and Thomas  
Description: SB 144 temporarily reinstates the child and adult immunization program in the Department of Health and Social Service.

 

SB 172 Care Directives/Do Not Resuscitate Orders

Committees and date of last action: Referred to (S) JUD, 02/01/12
Sponsors: Sens. DYSON, Davis, Coghill, McGuire, and Olson
Description: This bill amends current statutes.  

 

SCR 1 Lupus Awareness Month 

Committees and date of last action: Heard in and moved out of (H) HSS, and referred to (H) RLS, 02/22/12
Sponsor:Sen. DAVIS
Description: Proclaims May 2011 as Lupus Awareness Month.

SCR 7 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day
Committees and date of last action: SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, 04/28/11, LEGISLATIVE RESOLVE 11, EFFECTIVE 07/19/11
Sponsors:Sens. MEYER, Hoffman, McGuire, Menard, Paskvan, Davis, Egan, Kookesh, French, Wagoner, Dyson, Ellis, Olson, Giessel, Thomas, Stedman, Huggins
Cross Sponsors: Reps. Lynn, Keller, Pruitt, Seaton, Dick, Kerttula, Millett, Herron, Gara, Costello, Johnson, and Guttenberg
Description: Proclaims September 9, 2011 as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day.

SCR 16 Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Committees and date of last action: Heard in and moved out of (S) STA, 02/07/12; referred to (S) RLS, 02/08/12
Sponsor:Sen. GEISSEL
Description: Proclaims May 2012 to be Celiac Disease Awareness Month.

 


Bill Watch: Bill Tracking Methodology

Bills listed here were selected based on a series of subjective criteria to determine whether they were "health-policy related." All bills currently sitting in the Senate and House Health and Social Services committees were examined, and any that obviously dealt with non-health-related education or social services issues were eliminated. Every other House and Senate committee was then examined for health-related bills, which were included in the final list.

After determining the full set of health-related bills still in committee or pre-filed for the new session, they were divided into several general categories. This was done to facilitate finding bills that dealt with certain key health policy issues and to make overall navigation of the list easier. The remaining bills were categorized as "general" health policy-related because of the wide range of subjects they covered.
 
The information listed for each bill includes the bill number, the short title, the primary sponsor or sponsors, the committee in which the last action on the bill took place, and the date on which the last action on the bill took place. A short summary of each bill is also included.

Abbreviations have been used for committee names. The committee names and their abbreviations are:

(H) HSS: House Health and Social Services Committee
(S) HSS: Senate Health and Social Services Committee
(H) L&C: House Labor & Commerce Committee
(S) L&C: Senate Labor & Commerce Committee
(H) EDC: House Education Committee
(S) EDC: Senate Education Committee
(H) FIN: House Finance Committee
(S) FIN: Senate Finance Committee
(H) JUD: House Judiciary Committee
(S) JUD: Senate Judiciary Committee
(H) STA: House State Affairs Committee
(S) STA: Senate State Affairs Committee
(S) RLS: Senate Rules Committee
(H) CRA: House Community and Regional Affairs Committee
(S) CRA: Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee
(H) TRA: House Transportation Committee
(S) TRA: Senate Transportation Committee
(H) RES: House Resources Committee
(S) RES: Senate Resources Committee

AHPR Staff and Contributors

Lawrence D. Weiss
PhD, MS, Editor
Peter Knape, Communications Associate
Kelby Murphy, Contributor
Jeri Kopet,
Transcriptionist

Jacqui Yeagle, Contributor


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