05/17/2021 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 117                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of                                                                     
     Certified Direct-Entry Midwives; and providing for an                                                                      
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:24:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop introduced the bill.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:24:47 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:25:59 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop noted it was the second hearing of HB 117.                                                                      
He discussed FN 1, from Department of Commerce, Community                                                                       
and Economic Development, OMB Component Number 2360. He                                                                         
cited the analysis on page 2 of the fiscal note:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     HB 117 extends statutory authorization for the                                                                             
     existing Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives to                                                                       
     June 30, 2023.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                              
     If the bill passes the following expenses will be                                                                        
     incurred:                                                                                                                
          Travel: $20.3 (5 board members and 1 staff                                                                          
          member, to attend four board meetings per year)                                                                       
          Services: $0.4 (advertising of public notice of                                                                     
          board meetings)                                                                                                       
               $1.0 (training and conference fees)                                                                              
               $0.1 (stipends for board members attending                                                                       
               board meeting in community of residence)                                                                         
9:27:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  understood that there  had been some  type of                                                                    
legal proceeding that occupied the board.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Ortiz   stated   that   the   Division   of                                                                    
Legislative   Budget  and   Audit   Recommendation  for   an                                                                    
extension  of two  years  was  due to  issues  of which  the                                                                    
sponsor had not been privy.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson contended that if  the lawsuit was serious the                                                                    
extension recommendation should have been for one year.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz reiterated  that he  was not  aware of                                                                    
the issues had been raised  and that the two-year extension,                                                                    
which  was   a  shorter  extension  than   usual,  had  been                                                                    
recommended  by  the  Division  of  Legislative  Budget  and                                                                    
Audit.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson  expressed  concern with  the  legal  matters                                                                    
connected to the board.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:28:57 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:31:19 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop stated  he would set HB 117  aside until the                                                                    
afternoon  meeting, at  which time  the legislative  auditor                                                                    
would be available to testify.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  commented that  he was  fine with  a two-year                                                                    
extension.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop  affirmed the committee  would set  the bill                                                                    
aside until the afternoon meeting.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
HB  117  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:32:19 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:36:36 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED