03/25/2008 02:30 PM House MLV

HB 383-DENTIST LICENSE EXAM EXCEPTION                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:30:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROSES announced  that the first order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 383, "An  Act establishing an exemption  from the                                                               
dentist licensing exam for certain persons."                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:30:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KAREN  LIDSTER,  Staff  to Representative  John  Coghill,  Alaska                                                               
State Legislature, introduced HB  383 on behalf of Representative                                                               
John Coghill, sponsor.  She  informed the committee that the bill                                                               
is a  small change in  existing statute  in order to  capture the                                                               
talent and  expertise of military  dentists who serve  in command                                                               
positions.  Ms.  Lidster indicated that the bill  has the support                                                               
of  the  state  Board  of Dental  Examiners,  the  Alaska  Dental                                                               
Society,  and  the Department  of  Military  & Veterans'  Affairs                                                               
(DMVA).   She explained  that it  is in  the state's  interest to                                                               
allow the exchange of 20 hours  of active clinical practice to be                                                               
exchanged  for  military  service   in  a  full-time  supervisory                                                               
position.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:32:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVE  EICHLER, D.D.S.;  President, Alaska  State Board  of Dental                                                               
Examiners, informed  the committee that  he was testifying  as an                                                               
individual.     He  stated  that   he  personally   pursued  this                                                               
legislation  to correct  an oversight  in  statute.   He gave  an                                                               
example of a  highly qualified dentist, in a  command position in                                                               
the armed services,  who did not qualify for  licensure under the                                                               
existing statute.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:33:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROSES closed public testimony.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:34:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM expressed her support for the bill.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:34:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS thanked Dr. Eichler for his testimony.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:35:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved  to report HB 383,  Version A, out                                                               
of   committee   with    individual   recommendations   and   the                                                               
accompanying fiscal notes.  There  being no objection, HB 383 was                                                               
reported  out of  the  House Special  Committee  on Military  and                                                               
Veterans' Affairs.