1998-07-15                     Senate Journal                      Page 4280
SB 160                                                                       
Message dated and received June 9, stating:                                    
                                                                               
Dear President Miller:                                                         
                                                                               
On this date I have signed the following bill and am transmitting the          
engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governor's Office for          
permanent filing:                                                              
                                                                               
HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO.                                           
160(FIN) am H An Act relating to radiological                                  
equipment used in the practice of dentistry.                                   
                                                                              
		Chapter 79, SLA 1998                                                         
		Effective Date: 9/7/98                                                       
                                                                               
                                                                               
The ultimate responsibility of any dental radiological equipment               
inspection program is to ensure the public's safety, both in the               
condition of the equipment itself and the way it is used. I am                 
signing SB 160 with the expectation that privatization of the                  
inspections will improve efficiency and, therefore, better guarantee           
public safety. However, I also realize some provisions of this bill            
need further evaluation and will be refined as deemed necessary in             
the coming year.                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               

1998-07-15                     Senate Journal                      Page 4281
SB 160                                                                       
I am instructing my Board of Dental Examiners to work with the                 
Department of Health and Social Services and the Alaska Dental                 
Society to reexamine the inspector qualifications in this bill and             
determine whether amendments are necessary. I also want the Board              
and Dental Society to consider how this bill will affect the cost of           
inspections in rural areas of the state and recommend ways to keep             
this necessary program affordable.                                             
                                                                               
Finally, this bill only addresses inspection of dental radiological            
equipment and removal of that program from the Department of                   
Health and Social Services. It does not address evaluation of how              
dental technicians in the state are using the equipment. I urge the            
Board and Society to work with the Department of Health and Social             
Services to ensure technicians are properly educated in the use of             
this equipment.                                                                
                                                                               
						Sincerely,                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
						Tony Knowles                                                             
						Governor