Alaska is only as strong as its families — socially, spiritually, economically. The Republican-led Majority worked to strengthen parental rights, protect children from school violence, shield senior citizens from abuse and neglect, and make health care more user-friendly.

Upholding Parental Right to Know

• SB 27 guarantees parents' legal right to their children's school and driving records.

Building a safety net for children

• HJR 36 rejects conclusions in a recent article published by the American Psychological Association, which suggested that sexual relationships between adults and “willing” children might be positive.

Safeguarding Alaska's Seniors

• HB 158 permits the Division of Insurance to gather more in-depth statistical information about health insurance policies and mandate a different notice system for personal insurance policyholders over age 67.
• SB 56 lets the public see the results of state inspections and investigations of certain health care facilities, agencies and programs. It also authorizes the Department of Health and Social Services to license home health agencies, to help families make informed choices about home health care.

• SB 204 extends the termination date of the Alaska Commission on Aging to June, 2004.
• SB 57 preserves the state's ability to investigate alleged abuse of a vulnerable adult, even after the victim withdraws the complaint.

Making Health Care User-Friendly

• HB 121 sets out the rights of dental health care consumers.
• HB 211 requires managed care entities to provide a reasonable standard of health care, and holds them civilly liable if they do not. It also establishes requirements for contracts between managed care entities and their health care providers, between patients and their group managed care plans, and between health care insurers and those they insure.
• HB 298 requires that health insurers in Alaska provide coverage for diabetes equipment, supplies, training and education as deemed necessary by State licensed health care providers.
• HB 416 lowers the minimum age for insurance coverage of prostate cancer screening.

Creating a Safer Alaska

• HB 108 would establish a comprehensive recreational boating safety program in Alaska and would transfer the responsibilities and regulatory authority over recreational boat safety equipment requirements and vessel registration from the Coast Guard to the State of Alaska.
• SCR 12 declares March 2000 as Sobriety Awareness Month.
• SCR 16 declares November 2000 as Avalanche Awareness Month.