SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

January 15, 2001 Hearing Room B

1:00 PM Tape 1

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Bill Fisher, Chair

Sen. Gary George

Sen. Frank Shields

MEMBER EXCUSED: Sen. Margaret Carter, Vice-Chair

Sen. Ken Messerle

STAFF PRESENT: Rick Berkobien, Administrator

Andrew Morris, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: Organizational Meeting SB 43 Public Hearing and Work Session

SB 44 Public Hearing and Work Session

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 1, A
004	Chair Fisher	Calls meeting to order at 1:18 p.m. and opens an organizational meeting.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
015	Sen. George	MOTION: Moves to ADOPT the proposed Committee Rules dated 01/15/01.
		VOTE: 3-0 EXCUSED: 2 – Sen. Carter, Sen. Messerle
020	Chair Fisher	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
022	Chair Fisher	Closes the organizational meeting and opens a public hearing on SB 43.
SB 43 PUBLIC HEARING
043	Rick Berkobien	Administrator. Explains SB 43 to the committee.
063	Chair Fisher	Discusses his role on the audit committee. Describes the background of SB 43. States appreciation to the Commission for the Blind for their willingness to work with the audit committee.
075	Sen. Shields	Asks who was previously providing fiscal oversight.
076	Chair Fisher	Responds no one was responsible for oversight.
078	Berkobien	Adds the duties fell on agency administrators to report oversight to the commission.
080	Sen. Shields	Asks if staff was performing oversight without supervision from the commission.
081	Berkobien	Responds the policies were not necessarily being followed as designed.
091	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing and opens a work session on SB 43.
SB 43 WORK SESSION
093	Sen. Shields	MOTION: Moves SB 43 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation.
099	Sen. George	Asks if the bill is to formalize current practices.
100	Chair Fisher	Responds affirmatively.
102	Sen. Shields	Asks how long the commission has been providing oversight.
104	Chair Fisher	Responds about four to six months.
		VOTE: 3-0 EXCUSED: 2 - Sen. Carter, Sen. Messerle
113	Chair Fisher	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED. SEN. FISHER will lead discussion on the floor.
116	Chair Fisher	Closes the work session on SB 43 and opens a public hearing on SB 44.
SB 44 PUBLIC HEARING
121	Berkobien	Explains SB 44 to the committee.
133	Linda Mock	Commission for the Blind. Testifies in support of SB 44. Gives background of the proposed legislation. Recommends removing the word “needy” from line 7 of SB 44.
169	Sen. Shields	Asks about current language and if it is unnecessary.
177	Mock	Responds the original wording was done with the Department of Human Services (DHS) programs in mind, however, not all programs are need based.
184	Chair Fisher	Comments on the language.
189	Sen. Shields	States concern about broadening the language.
202	Chair Fisher	Reviews current administrative rules regarding eligibility.
215	Sen. Shields	Points out differences in language relating to administrative rules.
242	Mock	Suggests using the wording “eligible applicant.”
258	Chair Fisher	States the Commission for the Blind does not have monetary aid. States the bill directs the commission to work with other divisions in determining financial aid.
291	Berkobien	Comments on the amendment process.
299	Chair Fisher	Outlines amendment recommendations.
307	Mock	States agreement with Chair Fisher.
311	Sen. George	Asks for an analysis of the word “needy.”
316	Chair Fisher	Explains “needy.”
335	Chair Fisher	Closes the public hearing and opens a work session on SB 44.
SB 44 WORK SESSION
338	Sen. Shields	States dislike for the word needy. Gives suggestion for new wording to include “financial aid for eligible blind.”
349	Chair Fisher	States the intent was to not involve the financial aid aspect because of the affects on other programs.
359	Sen. Shields	Asks if Mock would like the wording “financial aid” in line 7, to be deleted.
362	Mock	Responds affirmatively.
370	Sen. Shields	States concern about eligibility.
380	Mock	Gives recommendations to the committee.
395	Chair Fisher	Asks for amendments to be drafted.
425	Chair Fisher	Closes work session and adjourns the meeting at 2:46 p.m.

Submitted By, Reviewed By,

Andrew Morris, Rick Berkobien,

Committee Assistant Administrator