HB 228: "An Act establishing the Alaska mental health and psychedelic medicine task force; and providing for an effective date."
00 HOUSE BILL NO. 228 01 "An Act establishing the Alaska mental health and psychedelic medicine task force; and 02 providing for an effective date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 05 to read: 06 ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE TASK FORCE. 07 (a) The Alaska mental health and psychedelic medicine task force is established in the 08 Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. The purpose of the task 09 force is to 10 (1) assess the potential use of psychedelic medicine in addressing the state's 11 ongoing mental health crisis; 12 (2) consider barriers to implementation and equitable access; 13 (3) consider and recommend licensing and insurance requirements for 14 practitioners in the state in the event that psychedelic medicines are federally reclassified and
01 approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and 02 (4) consider legal and regulatory pathways to the legalization of psychedelic 03 medicines in the state, and the potential effects of the medicines on public health. 04 (b) The task force consists of the following members: 05 (1) the commissioner of health, or the commissioner's designee; 06 (2) the commissioner of military and veterans' affairs, or the commissioner's 07 designee; 08 (3) the commissioner of commerce, community, and economic development, 09 or the commissioner's designee; 10 (4) one member representing mental health issues in the state, selected by the 11 state chapter of a national alliance focused on mental health and mental illness; 12 (5) two members representing the health care needs of Alaska Native 13 communities, selected by the board of directors of the Alaska Native Health Board, one of 14 whom must be a recognized indigenous ethnoherbalist; 15 (6) one member representing the health care needs of survivors of domestic 16 violence and sexual assault, selected by the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and 17 Sexual Assault; 18 (7) one member representing the psychiatric profession, selected by the 19 governing body of the Alaska Psychiatric Association; 20 (8) one member of the faculty of the division of population health sciences at 21 the University of Alaska, selected by the president of the University of Alaska; 22 (9) one member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; 23 (10) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of 24 the house of representatives; 25 (11) up to three members selected by the task force, once assembled, that the 26 task force determines would serve the purpose of the task force; the task force is not required 27 to make an appointment under this paragraph. 28 (c) The task force shall elect a chair from among its members. 29 (d) A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original 30 selection or appointment. 31 (e) Members of the task force serve without compensation but are entitled to per diem
01 and travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180. 02 (f) The task force shall 03 (1) meet at least four times to fulfill the purpose of the task force; 04 (2) ensure members are available for legislative hearings; and 05 (3) on or before December 31, 2024, submit to the senate secretary, the chief 06 clerk of the house of representatives, and the governor a report consisting of its 07 recommendations, and notify the legislature that the report is available. 08 (g) The task force terminates when the First Regular Session of the Thirty-Fifth 09 Alaska State Legislature convenes. 10 (h) In this section, "task force" means the Alaska mental health and psychedelic 11 medicine task force. 12 * Sec. 2. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).