Title 44 — State Government

The principal executive officer of the Department of Health is the commissioner of health.

(a) The Department of Health shall administer state programs, including (1) maternal and child health services; (2) preventive medical services; (3) public health nursing services; (4) nutrition services; (5) health education; (6) laboratories; (7) mental health treatment and dia…

(a) The commissioner of health may establish by regulation a schedule of reasonable fees for services provided by the Department of Health under AS 44.29.020(a)(1) — (7) and (12), for services provided under AS 47.80.100 — 47.80.170, and for the administration of public health pr…

(a) The commissioner of health may establish by regulation a schedule of reasonable fees for services provided by a contractor or grantee of the Department of Health under AS 18 or AS 47. The fee established for a service may not exceed the actual cost of providing the service. T…

[Repealed or reserved.]

Article 2. Citations Concerning Tobacco Products.

A peace officer or an agent or employee of the Department of Health who is authorized by the commissioner of health to enforce this section may issue a citation for a violation of AS 11.76.100, 11.76.106, 11.76.107, or 11.76.109 if there is probable cause to believe a person has …

Article 3. Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. (a) A citation issued under AS 44.29.092 must comply with the standards adopted under AS 12.25.175 and 12.25.200 and must contain a notice to appear in court. A person receiving the citation is not required to sign the notic…

There is established in the Department of Health an advisory board on alcoholism and drug abuse.

The board consists of 15 members, 14 of whom are public members appointed by the governor, and the 15th who is the commissioner of health ex officio.

The governor shall appoint the 14 public members so that the board consists of the following public members: (1) one member who is licensed to practice medicine in the state; (2) one member who is admitted to practice law in the state; (3) four members who are chronic alcoholics …

(a) The governor shall appoint the public members of the board for staggered terms of four years. (b) The governor shall fill a vacancy of a public member on the board by appointment for the unexpired part of the vacated term. (c) Public members of the board serve at the pleasure…

The public members of the board are not entitled to a salary, but are entitled to per diem, reimbursement for travel, and other expenses authorized by law for other boards.

(a) The board, by a majority of its membership, shall annually elect a presiding officer and other officers it considers necessary from among its membership. (b) The board shall have a paid staff provided by the department, including an executive director who shall be selected by…

(a) The board shall (1) act in an advisory capacity to the legislature, the governor, and state agencies in the following matters: (A) special problems affecting mental health that alcoholism or drug abuse may present; (B) educational research and public informational activities …

Article 4. Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Revolving Loan Fund. In AS 44.29.100 — 44.29.200, “board” means the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

(a) There is created in the department an alcoholism and drug abuse revolving loan fund as required under 42 U.S.C. 300x-25 to qualify the state to receive block grant money from the United States Department of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. 300x-21. (b) The fund consi…

(a) There is established as a special account within the alcoholism and drug abuse revolving loan fund the foreclosure expense account. This account is established as a reserve from fund equity. (b) The department may expend money credited to the foreclosure expense account when …

(a) The department may (1) adopt regulations necessary to carry out its functions under AS 44.29.210 — 44.29.230 and to administer the program required under 42 U.S.C. 300x-4(a), including regulations to establish reasonable fees for services provided, procedures for foreclosure …

The department shall dispose of property acquired through default or foreclosure on a loan made under AS 44.29.210. Disposal shall be made in a manner that serves the best interests of the state and may include the amortization of payments over a period of years.

Article 5. Statewide Suicide Prevention Council. In AS 44.29.210 — 44.29.230, “department” means the Department of Health.

(a) There is established in the Department of Health the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, consisting of 17 members, as follows: (1) two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the majority and one of whom shall be a m…

(a) The governor shall appoint the members of the council under AS 44.29.300(a)(3)(D) — (L) for staggered terms of four years. (b) The governor shall fill a vacancy of a member on the council appointed under AS 44.29.300(a)(3)(D) — (L) by appointment for the unexpired part of the…

The members of the council who are not state employees are not entitled to compensation for service on the council, but are entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180.

(a) The council, by a majority of its voting membership, shall annually elect a presiding officer and other officers it considers necessary from among its membership. (b) The council may employ a coordinator to assist the council. The coordinator is in the partially exempt servic…

(a) The council may meet and vote, by teleconference or otherwise, as often as considered necessary by the presiding officer of the council. (b) Seven voting members of the council participating in a meeting in person or by teleconference constitute a quorum for the transaction o…

The council shall serve in an advisory capacity to the legislature and the governor with respect to what actions can and should be taken to (1) improve health and wellness throughout the state by reducing suicide and its effect on individuals, families, and communities; (2) broad…

The council shall annually report its findings and recommendations in a report to the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives by March 1 of each year.

In AS 44.29.300 — 44.29.390, “council” means the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council established under AS 44.29.300.

Article 6. Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education.

There is established the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education. For budgetary purposes, the council is located within the Department of Health but is the interdepartmental planning and coordinating agency of the Department of Health, the Department of Education…

(a) The council consists of no fewer than 18 nor more than 26 members appointed by the governor in a manner that satisfies the requirements for a state interagency coordinating council under 20 U.S.C. 1482 and a state planning council under 42 U.S.C. 6024. (b) In the appointment …

(a) Council members serve staggered terms of three years. (b) A vacancy occurring in the membership of the council shall be filled by appointment of the governor for the unexpired portion of the vacated term. (c) Council members serve at the pleasure of the governor, notwithstand…

Members of the council receive no salary but are entitled to per diem and reimbursement for travel and other expenses authorized by law for other boards.

(a) The council, by a majority of its membership, shall elect a chairman and other officers it considers necessary from among its membership, to serve on a yearly basis. of the council receive no salary but are entitled to per diem and reimbursement for travel and other expenses …

The council, on approval of a majority of its membership, shall adopt and amend bylaws governing its composition, proceedings and other activities consistent with AS 44.29.600 — 44.29.670 and including, but not limited to, provisions concerning a quorum to transact council busine…

The council shall: (1) serve as a forum by which issues and benefits regarding current and potential services to disabled persons may be discussed by consumer, public, private, professional, and lay interests; (2) advocate the needs of disabled persons before the executive and le…

Article 7. Statewide Independent Living Council. (a) The legislature finds that: (1) self-direction and autonomy enhance quality of life, support independence, build self-confidence, and generate skills that help people protect themselves from abuse; (2) the people of the state s…

There is established the Statewide Independent Living Council. For budgetary purposes, the council is located in the Department of Health. The department shall provide reasonable and necessary professional and technical assistance when requested by the council.

(a) The governor shall appoint members to the council who meet the applicable requirements of 29 U.S.C. 796d after soliciting personal applications and after soliciting recommendations from the public, from organizations representing a broad range of individuals experiencing disa…

(a) The council shall perform the duties set out in 29 U.S.C. 796d in a manner that will maximize the state's receipt of federal financial assistance for independent living services and centers of independent living for residents with severe disabilities, including the following …

Article 8. Alaska Commission on Aging. In AS 44.29.700 — 44.29.730, “council” means the Statewide Independent Living Council established under AS 44.29.700.

(a) The Alaska Commission on Aging is established in the Department of Health. The members of the commission include (1) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee; (2) the commissioner of commerce, community, and economic development or the commissioner's designee…

(a) The commission shall meet at the call of the chair, at the request of a majority of the members, or at a regularly scheduled time as determined by a majority of the members. The commission shall meet at least four times each year. (b) A majority of the members of the commissi…

Members of the commission receive no compensation for their services, but are entitled to per diem and travel allowances authorized by law for other boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180.

The executive director of the commission shall formulate and submit to the department a comprehensive statewide plan that identifies the concerns and needs of older Alaskans and present that plan to the commission.

(a) The commission shall (1) subject to review by the department, approve a comprehensive statewide plan that identifies and addresses the concerns and needs of older Alaskans and, with reference to the approved plan, prepare and submit to the governor and legislature an annual a…

Article 9. Alaska Mental Health Board. In AS 44.29.750 — 44.29.795, (1) “commission” means the Alaska Commission on Aging; (2) “department” means the Department of Health; (3) “older Alaskan” means a resident who is 60 years of age or older.

The Alaska Mental Health Board is established. For budgetary purposes, the board is located within the Department of Health. The board is the state planning and coordinating agency for the purposes of federal and state laws relating to the mental health program of the state. The …

(a) The board consists of not fewer than 12 nor more than 16 members appointed by the governor, with due regard for the demographics of the state and balanced geographic representation of the state. The membership and committees of the board shall fulfill the requirements of P.L.…