04/02/2024 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS

        HB 228-MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCHEDELIC MED. TASK FORCE                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:54:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW  announced that  the next order  of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO. 228,  "An  Act  establishing the  Alaska  mental                                                               
health and psychedelic medicine task  force; and providing for an                                                               
effective date."  [Before the committee was CSHB 228(MLV).]                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:54:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARRICK moved  to adopt  Amendment 1  to HB  228,                                                               
labeled 33-LS0976\P.1, Bergerud, 3/20/24, which read as follows:                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 1:                                                                                                            
          Delete  "mental  health and  psychedelic  medicine                                                                  
     task force"                                                                                                              
          Insert   "task  force   for   the  regulation   of                                                                  
      psychedelic medicines approved by the United States                                                                     
     Food and Drug Administration"                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 6:                                                                                                            
          Delete  "MENTAL  HEALTH AND  PSYCHEDELIC  MEDICINE                                                                    
     TASK FORCE"                                                                                                                
          Insert   "TASK  FORCE   FOR   THE  REGULATION   OF                                                                    
      PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINES APPROVED BY THE UNITED STATES                                                                       
     FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION"                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 7:                                                                                                            
          Delete  "mental  health and  psychedelic  medicine                                                                    
     task force"                                                                                                                
          Insert   "task  force   for   the  regulation   of                                                                    
      psychedelic medicines approved by the United States                                                                       
     Food and Drug Administration"                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, lines 16 - 17:                                                                                                     
          Delete  "mental  health and  psychedelic  medicine                                                                    
     task force"                                                                                                                
          Insert   "task  force   for   the  regulation   of                                                                    
      psychedelic medicines approved by the United States                                                                       
     Food and Drug Administration"                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:54:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT objected.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARRICK  explained that  Amendment  1  to HB  228                                                               
changes the name of the task  force to provide clarity about what                                                               
the task force will do.   She emphasized that the task force will                                                               
not take  a position on  the legalization,  decriminalization, or                                                               
medicalization  of psychedelic  drugs.   She said  the new  title                                                               
accurately  describes the  task  force as  being responsible  for                                                               
making  statutory and  regulatory recommendations  to the  Alaska                                                               
State Legislature  should the Food and  Drug Administration (FDA)                                                               
approve psychedelic medicine.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:55:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:56:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT removed his objection.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHAW  announced that  there  being  no further  objection,                                                               
Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:56:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW opened public testimony on HB 228.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:56:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL  DEMOLINA, PhD,  President,  Wisdom Traditions,  provided                                                               
his  personal  background as  a  veteran  and behavioral  science                                                               
specialist.    He  provided   information  about  the  California                                                               
Institute of Integral Studies program,  which is likely to become                                                               
the  program the  FDA  will approve  if  psychedelic medicine  is                                                               
approved.  He  explained that he is in support  of HB 228 because                                                               
it  puts  Alaska ahead  of  the  curve,  if the  FDA  medicalizes                                                               
psychedelic medicine,  which may  occur as  soon as  August 2024.                                                               
He  noted  his  experience  and  expertise  on  traumatic  stress                                                               
disorders and  the potential opportunities for  trauma treatment.                                                               
He  explained  that, without  a  task  force, Alaska  would  lack                                                               
necessary guidelines.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:59:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHAW,  after  ascertaining  that no  one  else  wished  to                                                               
testify, closed public testimony on HB 228.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:59:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER  ARMSTRONG, Alaska State  Legislature, as                                                               
prime sponsor, provided  wrap up comments for HB 228.   She noted                                                               
that many medical treatments can  be controversial.  The creation                                                               
of the task  force is not intended to promote  or take a position                                                               
on psychedelic  medicines.  The reason  for the task force  is to                                                               
ensure a thorough conversation around licensing in the state.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:01:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  expressed her appreciation and  asked about                                                               
the makeup of the task force.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG  answered that  there would be  16 slots                                                               
on the task force, which  include a commissioner or designee from                                                               
the Departments  of Health, Military  and Veteran's  Affairs, and                                                               
Commerce, Community,  and Economic  Development.  There  would be                                                               
spots on  the task force  for people who represent  mental health                                                               
issues  in  the state,  members  from  the Alaska  Native  Health                                                               
Board, a psychiatrist, a member  who represents health care needs                                                               
of  survivors  of  domestic  violence  and  sexual  assault,  and                                                               
medical  professionals.   Finally, the  task force  would include                                                               
members from  the Alaska State Senate,  House of Representatives,                                                               
and three members selected by the task force once assembled.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:03:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WRIGHT  moved  to  report CSHB  228(MLV)  out  of                                                               
committee, as  amended, with  individual recommendations  and the                                                               
accompanying  fiscal  notes.   There  being  no  objection,  CSHB
(STA)  was  reported from  the  House  State Affairs  Standing                                                               
Committee.