12-07-04: Lawmakers to Hold Joint Hearing on Office of Children's Services
OCS Officials Will Testify to HESS Committee

09-29-04: Senator Fred Dyson to Speak at Child Maltreatment Conference

02-29-04: Senate Takes Up K-12 Education Funding
Discussion Will Also Include PERS/TRS

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Lyda Green 66 KB

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Lyda Green 533 KB

01-15-04: Alaska Seniors Top Priority in First Week of Session
Thumbs Up for SeniorCare Program

10-27-03: Joint HESS Committee Hearings about Dept. of Health & Social Service Issues

10-22-03: Your Voice is Welcomed
Be Heard When it Comes to the State's Health and Social Service Department

SB 372 : Secondary School Assessments
Sponsored by the Sen. Health, Education & Social Services Committee

An Act relating to secondary school assessments for students with disabilities; and providing for an effective date.

| Sponsor Statement |

SB 373 : Physician Interns And Residents
Signed Into Law! Chapter 73 SLA 04
Sponsored by the Sen. Health, Education & Social Services Committee

An Act relating to residency and internship permits issued by the State Medical Board; and providing for an effective date.

Version: SB 373
Contact: Jason Hooley, 465-3762
Action: 06-16-04: Signed Into Law

SB 373 passed the Senate May 3 by a vote of 38 to 1. It extends residency and internship permits issued by the State Medical Board for residents participating in the Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WAMI) Family Practice Residency program from 18 months to 36 months.

| Sponsor Statement |
| Fact Sheet | [PDF - 1 Page - 32 KB]

SB 376 : Public Assistance and Subpoena Power
Signed Into Law! Chapter 97 SLA 04
Sponsored by the Sen. Health Education & Social Services Committee

An Act relating to public assistance and subpoena powers.

Version: CS SB 376 (HES) Am
Contact: Jason Hooley, 465-2199
Action: 06-25-04: Signed Into Law

SB 376 authorizes the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Revenue to issue subpoenas in their investigations of suspected public assistance and permanent fund dividend fraud.

| Sponsor Statement |

SB 383 : Children's Trust Grants
Sponsored by the Sen. Health, Education & Social Services Committee

An Act relating to the Alaska children's trust grant awards.

Version: SB 383
Contact: Jason Hooley, 465-2199
Action: 04-14-04: (S)HES » (S)FIN

SB 383 removes the $50,000 maximum cap on annual grants awarded to projects aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect. The Alaska Children's Trust Board will receive more flexibility in determining grant amounts in preparation for an anticipated increase in federal funding. By requiring the grant recipient to create a self-sustainability plan and lowering the yearly funding percentage, SB 383 will allow the board to emphasize that these grants are to be used as start-up funds for these community-based programs.

| Sponsor Statement |

SB 385 : Security; Div. Homeland Security/ Emergency Management
Passed Legislature! Await Transmit to Gov.
Sponsored by the Sen. Health, Education & Social Services Committee

An Act relating to homeland security, to civil defense, to emergencies and to disasters, including disasters in the event of attacks, outbreaks of disease, or threats of attack or outbreak of disease; establishing the Alaska division of homeland security and emergency management in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and relating to the functions of that division and that department; and providing for an effective date.

Version: HCS CS SB 385 (RLS) Am H
Contact: Wes Keller, 465-4729
Action: 05-11-04: Passed the House » Awaits Trans to Gov

On May 11, with a 19 to 1 vote the Senate passed House amendments made to SB 385. It consolidates two Divisions in the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs. The Division of Emergency Services and the Division of Homeland Security are combined into a new Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. Besides providing organizational efficiency, the bill updates civil defense laws that were written in the Cold War era. The updates address homeland security and proper responses to terrorism threat situations. The Rules Committee deleted the Homeland Security and Emergency Services subcommittee and instead gives the Speaker and President authority to appointe legislators or committees to review the department. It also created a homeland security coordinator position in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

| Sponsor Statement |
| Sectional Analysis |