Legislature(2015 - 2016)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/16/2016 03:00 PM Senate FINANCE
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
HB118 | |
HB373 | |
SB55 | |
HB41 | |
HB290 | |
HB41 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | HB 118 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | HB 373 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 290 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 55 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+= | HB 41 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 55 "An Act relating to the practice of optometry." 3:28:33 PM Vice-Chair Micciche MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee substitute for SB 55(FIN), Work Draft 29-LS0524\G (Bruce, 4/13/16). Co-Chair MacKinnon OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion. 3:28:58 PM ERIN SHINE, STAFF, SENATOR ANNA MACKINNON, explained that the cs incorporated the amendments adopted by the committee during the April 15, 2016 meeting: Page 1, line 12: Delete "by agreement with the State Medical Board," Co-Chair MacKinnon REMOVED her OBJECTION. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. 3:29:35 PM Vice-Chair Micciche discussed the fiscal note attached to the legislation: CSSB 55(L&C) expands the practice of optometrists to include additional prescriptive authority, with the prescription of controlled substances limited to a seven-day supply. It authorizes the board to establish in regulation licensee continuing education standards, prescriptive standards, and the scope of practice to perform ophthalmic surgery and noninvasive procedures. If the bill passes the division will require $2.5 to cover legal costs to amend regulations, printing, and postage in the first year. Professional licensing programs within the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing are funded by Receipt Supported Services, fund source 1156 Rcpt Svcs (DGF). Licensing fees for each occupation are set per AS 08.01.065 so the total amount of revenue collected approximately equals the occupation's actual regulatory costs. 3:30:54 PM SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, SPONSOR, stated that she was satisfied with the committee substitute. She relayed that the bill would update the statutes governing the practice of optometry in the state, and would authorize the board to continue regulating the practice of optometry in the state. 3:31:39 PM Co-Chair Kelly spoke to public testimony that had referenced an optometry school in Washington State. Senator Giessel clarified that an eye surgeon had testified that he had been denied acceptance to a school of optometry in Washington State. She said that there is not now, nor had there ever been a school of optometry in Washington State or in Washington D.C. Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that the public hearing had closed on April 14, 2016. 3:32:34 PM Vice-Chair Micciche wondered whether the changes in the current bill version allowed for optometrists to perform surgery. 3:33:56 PM DR. JEFF GONNASON, ALASKA OPTOMETRY, KENAI (via teleconference), explained that under the new definition optometrists scope of practice would be determined and authorized by the board. He said that the old definition allowed for minor surgeries to be performed, but nothing invasive. He stated that under the legislation the board would be able to determine the scope of practice, while still protecting the public. He asserted that legislators were not equipped to make decisions on the details of medical procedures, which was why regulatory boards existed. 3:36:28 PM Vice-Chair Micciche referred to the limitation of practice in the bill, and wondered whether it was similar to the same provision in dentistry. Dr. Gonnason agreed with the comparison. He noted that Section 5 of the bill stated that no licensee could perform an act beyond their level of training and qualification. He reiterated that the board existed to protect the public. 3:37:27 PM Senator Olson referred to Page 2, line 18 of the bill: * Sec. 4. AS 08.72.272 is amended by adding new subsections to read: (e) A licensee may not perform an injection in the ocular globe of the eye that is a derivative of clostridium botulinum. Senator Olson expressed concern that the language could be interpreted to read that licensees were allowed to give injections into the ocular globe as long as it was not clostridium botulinum. Dr. Gonnason responded that no one injected clostridium botulinum into the eye; it simply was not done. He thought that the language had been written into the document because of the fear that botox injections were being administered, which was not the case. He added that the provision would not need to be in statute, the board would put it in regulation. He stated that optometrists did not administer injections into the eye. He explained that due to increasing demand, ophthalmologists would eventually need assistance for injecting drugs for macular degeneration, and were currently training nurses to perform the procedure. 3:39:31 PM Senator Olson wanted assurances that optometrists did not inject anything into the globe of the eye. Dr. Gonnason replied in the affirmative. 3:39:48 PM Vice-Chair Micciche MOVED to report CSSB 55(FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. CSSB 55(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one previously published fiscal impact note: FN1 (CED). 3:40:18 PM AT EASE 3:42:09 PM RECONVENED
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
---|---|---|
SB 55 AOA AKOMA Letter.pdf |
SFIN 4/16/2016 3:00:00 PM |
SB 55 |
SB 55 Public Testimony Morris.pdf |
SFIN 4/16/2016 3:00:00 PM |
SB 55 |
SB 55 ASPS NWSPS Comments - Scope Optometric - AK SB55 - 04-15-16.pdf |
SFIN 4/16/2016 3:00:00 PM |
SB 55 |
HB 118 - PACE Legislation Steele.pdf |
SFIN 4/16/2016 3:00:00 PM |
HB 118 |
SB 55 Opposition Letter Reinhardt.pdf |
SFIN 4/16/2016 3:00:00 PM |
SB 55 |
SB 55 work draft version G.pdf |
SFIN 4/16/2016 3:00:00 PM |
SB 55 |