Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
04/21/2021 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB85 | |
| Presentation(s): Covid-19 Vaccinations & Re-opening Alaska's Economy | |
| Presentation(s): Licensure Processing | |
| Board of Veterinary Examiners | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
April 21, 2021
3:22 p.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Zack Fields, Co-Chair
Representative Ivy Spohnholz, Co-Chair
Representative Calvin Schrage
Representative Liz Snyder
Representative James Kaufman
Representative Ken McCarty
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative David Nelson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 85
"An Act relating to the Alaska Banking Code; relating to mutual
savings banks; relating to interstate state banks and
international banks; relating to the pledging of bank assets as
collateral security to tribal organizations; relating to the
pledging of bank assets for interest swap agreements; relating
to state business licenses; relating to persons who make loans
secured by interests in vessels or facilities; relating to
liability for the release or threatened release of hazardous
substances; relating to the Model Foreign Bank Loan Act; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 85(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION(S): COVID-19 Vaccinations & Re-Opening Alaska's
Economy
- HEARD
PRESENTATION(S): Licensure Processing
- HEARD
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy
Steve Jordan - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Marijuana Control Board
Christopher Jaime - Soldotna
Bruce Schulte - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Real Estate Commission
Traci Heaton - Juneau
Elizabeth Schok - Fairbanks
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Board of Professional Counselors
Dorene Hagen - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Board of Veterinary Examiners
Hal Geiger - Juneau
Scott Flamme - Fairbanks
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 85
SHORT TITLE: FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS; LIABILITY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) LEBON BY REQUEST
02/18/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/18/21 (H) L&C, FIN
04/07/21 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/07/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/07/21 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/19/21 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/19/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/19/21 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/21/21 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE BART LEBON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, commented during the
hearing on the committee substitute for HB 85.
ROBERT BREWSTER, President & CEO
The Alaska Club
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony during the presentation on
COVID-19 Vaccinations & Re-Opening Alaska's Economy.
SARA GREEN, Owner
Sara's Gift Cache
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony during the presentation on
COVID-19 Vaccinations & Re-Opening Alaska's Economy.
RYAN STRONG, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer
First National Bank Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony during the presentation on
COVID-19 Vaccinations & Re-Opening Alaska's Economy.
HEIDI HEINRICH, Co-Owner
Lucky Wishbone
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony during the presentation on
COVID-19 Vaccinations & Re-Opening Alaska's Economy.
JANE ERICKSON, RN, President
Alaska Nurses Association
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony during the presentation on
COVID-19 Vaccinations & Re-Opening Alaska's Economy.
SARA CHAMBERS, Director
Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a PowerPoint during the
presentation on Licensure Processing.
SARA MASSMANN, RN, Legislative Committee Co-Chair
Alaska Nurses Association
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony during the presentation on
Licensure Processing.
WENDY SCHRAGE, Vice President of State Government Affairs
Fresenius Medical Care
Newton, Kansas
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony during the presentation on
Licensure Processing.
TONIE PROTZMAN, Executive Director
National Association of Social Workers, Alaska Chapter
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony during the presentation on
Licensure Processing.
RICHARD WEIN, MD, Chair
State Medical Board
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony during the presentation on
Licensure Processing.
JEANNIE MONK, Senior Vice President
Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony during the presentation on
Licensure Processing.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:22:43 PM
CO-CHAIR IVY SPOHNHOLZ called the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:22 p.m.
Representatives Kaufman, Schrage, McCarty, Snyder, Fields, and
Spohnholz were present at the call to order.
HB 85-FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS; LIABILITY
3:24:54 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 85, "An Act relating to the Alaska
Banking Code; relating to mutual savings banks; relating to
interstate state banks and international banks; relating to the
pledging of bank assets as collateral security to tribal
organizations; relating to the pledging of bank assets for
interest swap agreements; relating to state business licenses;
relating to persons who make loans secured by interests in
vessels or facilities; relating to liability for the release or
threatened release of hazardous substances; relating to the
Model Foreign Bank Loan Act; and providing for an effective
date." [Before the committee, adopted as a work draft during
the meeting on 4/29/21, was the proposed committee substitute
(CS) for HB 85, Version 32-LS0371\I, Bannister, 4/17/21
("Version I")].
3:25:38 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:25 p.m. to 3:27 p.m.
3:27:16 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ opened public testimony on HB 85, Version I.
After ascertaining that no one wished to testify, she closed
public testimony.
3:27:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BART LEBON, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor of HB 85, thanked the committee and the Alaska Bankers
Association and expressed his approval of the committee
substitute (CS).
3:28:05 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved to report the CS for HB 85, Version 32-
LS0371\I, Bannister, 4/17/21, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHB 85(L&C) was reported out of the House Labor
and Commerce Standing Committee.
^PRESENTATION(S): COVID-19 Vaccinations & Re-Opening Alaska's
Economy
PRESENTATION(S): COVID-19 Vaccinations & Re-Opening Alaska's
Economy
3:28:34 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the next order of business
would be a presentation on COVID-19 Vaccinations & Re-Opening
Alaska's Economy.
3:29:32 PM
ROBERT BREWSTER, President & CEO, The Alaska Club, characterized
COVID-19 as having been "disproportionately" challenging for the
gym business. He said that The Alaska Club served 10 percent of
the population before the pandemic, in the cities in which it
operates, but now approximately 10,000 customers are "missing."
Having high fixed costs means that a business can't scale
according to demand, he said, with staff already low but
building and equipment purchases in place. He expressed that
the best path forward, to quell fear and reopen the economy, is
through the use of vaccinations. He said there have been over a
million visits to The Alaska Club since reopening in May 2020,
but the public is still "rightly" concerned about contracting
COVID-19. He said The Alaska Club, and the gym industry in
general, has done well at keeping transmission rates low.
Financial aid to the gym industry helps, he said, but it's not a
long-term solution and what needs to be done is "beat the virus"
through vaccinations and herd immunity.
3:35:16 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ pointed out that 20 percent of workers in
Alaska are non-residents, and she asked Mr. Brewster what he
thinks of mandatory airport testing.
MR. BREWSTER replied that it's logical to test upon entering the
state. He said that for people to want to be tested, the
process can't be onerous.
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ noted that not only is airport testing
optional, but the cost is also $250 for non-residents. She said
that it "seems a pretty high barrier" for a public safety
measure.
3:37:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY expressed the belief that people who have
gotten COVID-19 are subsequently immune. He asked what Mr.
Brewster thinks of those people.
MR. BREWSTER said he's not an immunologist and has heard that
some people who have gotten COVID-19 may have some degree of
natural immunity. He clarified that he doesn't believe it's a
political issue, saying that he's been a pro-business
conservative his entire life and that he sees vaccinations as
being "pro-business."
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked for Mr. Brewster's suggestion
regarding vaccine verification for members of The Alaska Club.
MR. BREWSTER replied that The Alaska Club is not planning on
verifying vaccination status. He said the business has held
vaccination clinics and hopes to encourage people, through
education, to get vaccinated.
3:41:05 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS noted that people in Mr. Brewster's position can
be helpful in encouraging people to get vaccinated, expressing
that many people may not have thought about how vaccination is
part of rebuilding the economy.
MR. BREWSTER expressed that he, personally, likes being
protected through vaccination and said that he sees vaccination
as an act of kindness towards others, as well as a business-
centric solution. He noted that some businesses won't
experience activity at a reasonable level until there are very
low levels of transmission, and that not every business is going
to get back to normal.
3:42:56 PM
SARA GREEN, Owner, Sara's Gift Cache, shared that her store re-
opened in October 2020 at partial capacity. She said the way
her business operates has changed, and now includes Facebook
activity as well as increased philanthropic and community
involvement. She noted that her business received CARES Act
funding in December 2020. She then described seeing empty
storefronts around downtown Anchorage and talked about creating
an Iditarod-related community event. She said that her
employees all stayed with her business even though there was no
revenue with which to pay them, and that her vendors accepted
sporadic payment until she was able to pay them completely with
CARES Act funds. She stated that her view on vaccinations is
that they're necessary for getting businesses "up and running."
3:49:38 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS commented that it's remarkable that so many
businesses are staying open even though they're not making
money. He then asked by what percentage Ms. Green's business
has decreased compared to a normal year.
MS. GREEN replied that her business has decreased by
approximately 80 percent. She described getting new customers
from the Lower 48 through her Facebook activity.
3:51:34 PM
RYAN STRONG, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer,
First National Bank Alaska (FNBA), shared that FNBA has fared
relatively well during the pandemic thanks to its history of
investment in Internet-based and mobile banking options. He
said the bank is fortunate to be well-capitalized with
sufficient resources for continued operation. He said many
customers have low levels of financial liquidity, so the
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was especially helpful as
businesses began closing. He said that his primary concern is
currently bank customers who rely on the hospitality and tourism
sectors and are facing another "catastrophic" year. Loans in
the PPP program are ongoing, he said, with most businesses
having already taken advantage of the option, and he hopes to
keep the momentum going. He expressed that as the vaccination
rate rises, he expects to see improvements in the economy, since
consumer confidence and willingness to frequent businesses will
likely also improve. Additionally, he said, a higher
vaccination rate should attract visitors to Alaska.
3:56:09 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ commented that evidence she has seen has
shown that Mr. Strong's statement about the correlation between
vaccination rates and consumer confidence is correct. She then
asked how important he thinks it is to have COVID-19 testing at
airports.
MR. STRONG replied that his personal opinion is that available
testing is helpful. He related a story of visiting Hawaii and
said that while he was willing to undergo the "onerous"
requirements, he thought that many tourists would not be
willing, and he said that he wouldn't want there to be any
obstacles for tourists who want to visit Alaska.
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ pointed out that over 3,000 positive test
results in 2020 were from airport testing. She asked whether
Mr. Strong would support waiving the $250 testing fee for non-
residents.
MR. STRONG replied that if the test isn't required and comes
with a price of $250 it defeats the purpose of having the
testing available in the first place. He said that he sees free
testing as another tool to increase consumer confidence.
4:00:06 PM
HEIDI HEINRICH, Co-Owner, Lucky Wishbone, said the business's
dining room was last open on March 23, 2020, and that they are
currently remodeling while providing takeout menu options. She
said that 70 percent of the population of Anchorage and 50
percent of her own employees are vaccinated. She discussed the
possible success of getting more young people to choose
vaccination by making them aware that things could "get back to
normal" if vaccination rates were higher. She said that
Hawai'i, which mandates vaccinations and onsite testing for
tourists, is seeing a return of tourism. She said Alaska has a
"great opportunity" to reopen for tourism.
4:04:44 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS thanked Ms. Heinrich for her work and dedication
to the community.
4:05:27 PM
JANE ERICKSON, RN, President, Alaska Nurses Association, shared
that she works in the adult intensive care unit (ICU) at
Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. She stated that
she has taken care of patients who suffered from illness,
tragedy, and diseases, and that she has "never seen anything
like the COVID-19 pneumonia." She said that despite of the
efforts and expertise of the medical teams, most of the patients
died. She described the arduous process of using personal
protective equipment (PPE) necessary to protect herself and
other patients; if an emergency arose, she said, she couldn't
just go help but would have to remove her PPE one step at a
time, sanitizing in between each step, then put on many layers
of fresh PPE before being able to assist. She said that during
the initial surge of COVID-19, nurses were told to use only one
set of gloves instead of two; to clean their face shields with
cleaning wipes or spray cleaner; and to hope supplies lasted
through the surge. She said medical professionals have always
been taught that PPE is for single use only, but they were
cleaning their own PPE supplies. She said, "So the pandemic
changed everything. The simple, one-time-use mask, now we wore
all day, every day, and the hospital said they couldn't get any
more PPE, no matter how many avenues they tried. And they did
try."
MS. ERICKSON described the loneliness and isolation of the
patients, who were initially able to hold a phone to video call
with their families; as their conditions deteriorated, however,
nurses would be the ones communicating with the families. Ms.
Erickson said, "The COVID-19 vaccine is a lifesaver. I believe
that every effort should be made to encourage people to get one.
Nurses are the number one trusted profession and can be a part
of the messaging that the vaccine is important." She said that
vaccination is critical, and that when vaccination rates
plateau, cases of COVID-19 rise and she experiences more
patients in the hospital, fighting for their lives.
4:10:46 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ thanked Ms. Erickson for the difficult work
she and her colleges in health care have had to undertake. She
then pointed out that the Anchorage Daily News just reported
that the state will have enough vaccines for every eligible
Alaskan by the end of May 2021.
4:12:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER referenced Ms. Erickson's stated support
for "outside the box" solutions and asked for more information.
MS. ERICKSON responded that she likes the idea of offering free
testing and vaccinations at the airport. She also said that
school nurses could perform vaccinations if the parents allowed
it. She stated that she wanted to note the work done by the
nurses at Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC), who went
throughout the state giving vaccines.
4:14:37 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ commented on the success of the Alaska Native
Tribal Health Consortium in getting vaccinations to communities
across the state.
4:15:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY mentioned an organization called the
"British Academy of Sciences" and shared his belief that it has
recently recognized the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin as being
effective against COVID-19. He asked Ms. Erickson for her
opinion on that topic.
MS. ERICKSON said that she rarely sees parasitic infections in
the adult ICU and suggested that ANMC sees those types of cases,
since the population it serves is more likely to have poor
sanitation.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY clarified by stating his belief that
Ivermectin has been found to be an effective treatment of COVID-
19.
MS. ERICKSON replied that she would like to see data. She
wondered whether Ivermectin is being administered for an active
infection or as a prophylactic.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY said the "British Academy of Sciences"
recognizes its effectiveness for both uses.
MS. ERICKSON responded that it would be great if it worked.
4:18:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE stated his assumption that Ms. Erickson
would advise caution in recommending treatments without broader
analysis.
MS. ERICKSON stated her agreement.
^PRESENTATION(S): Licensure Processing
PRESENTATION(S): Licensure Processing
4:19:14 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the next order of business
would be a presentation on licensure processing.
4:20:10 PM
SARA CHAMBERS, Director, Division of Corporations, Business, and
Professional Licensing (CBPL), Department of Commerce,
Community, and Economic Development (DCCED), presented a
PowerPoint titled "Professional Licensing Process Overview"
[hard copy included in the committee packet] during the
presentation on Licensure Processing. She began with slide 2,
"CBPL: Self-Funded Services to Support Businesses & Protect
Consumers," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Business Licensing
? Answer questions about applications
? Issue business licenses
? Grant endorsements to sell nicotine products
Corporations
? Assist corporations with registration
? Register trademarks
? Maintain corporate reporting records
Professional Licensing
? License qualified professionals per AS 08
? Provide administrative support for twenty-one boards
Enforcement
? Enforce licensing statutes and regulations
? Investigate public complaints regarding violations
of licensing law
? Assist boards, commissions, and the division
director when considering license discipline
Administrative Support
? Provide front-line customer service
? Support division's clerical and fiscal functions
MS. CHAMBERS presented slide 3, "22 Programs Regulated by the
Division," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Acupuncturists
Athletic Trainers
Audiologists
Behavior Analysts
Collection Agencies
Guardians & Conservators
Construction Contractors
Concert Promoters
Dietitians & Nutritionists
Dispensing Opticians
Electrical Administrators
Animal Euthanasia Permits
Professional Geologists
Hearing Aid Dealers
Home Inspectors
Mechanical Administrators
Morticians
Naturopaths
Nursing Home Administrators
Pawnbrokers
Speech-Language Pathologists
Underground Storage Tank Workers
MS. CHAMBERS presented slide 4, "21 Programs Regulated by
Boards," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and
Land Surveyors
Board of Barbers and Hairdressers
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Board of Dental Examiners
Board of Marine Pilots
State Medical Board
Board of Marital and Family Therapy
Board of Massage Therapists
Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives
Board of Nursing
Board of Examiners in Optometry
Board of Professional Counselors
Board of Pharmacy
Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate
Examiners
Board of Public Accountancy
Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
Real Estate Commission
Board of Social Work Examiners
Board of Veterinary Examiners
4:23:06 PM
MS. CHAMBERS presented slide 5, "40% Increase in Professional
Licenses since 2010," which showed a bar graph illustrating
52,333 licenses in 2020; 71,642 licenses in 2015; and 88,331
licenses in 2020. She then presented slide 6, "40% Increase in
Professional Licenses Since 2010," which was subtitled, "13%
Increase in Division Staff Since 2010," and displayed a bar
graph showing 83 new staff in 2010 and 96 in 2020. She noted
that CBPL is self-funded, with licensees paying for personnel
costs.
4:25:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE asked whether CBPL experienced a decrease
in licensure applications during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also
asked whether Ms. Chambers anticipates growth in licensees as a
continuing trend.
MS. CHAMBERS responded that the division saw an increase in
applications stemming from the demand in the healthcare sector.
She pointed out that hospitals urgently needed personnel and
that CBPL was under "constant demand" to get professionals
licensed quickly. She said that as legislation adds new
licensing programs, and as business and the demand for
healthcare grows, the demand for licensure will also grow.
REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE asked about the growth of licensure
applications for non-healthcare industries.
MS. CHAMBERS replied that she would get the information.
4:27:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked when CBPL migrated to electronic
servicing of licensure.
MS. CHAMBERS said that most of the corporate and business
license filing services have been online for at least 10 years.
She noted that some corporate filings that still require paper,
but that most of the largest programs had an online renewal
feature in 2011, the licensing system was revamped in 2015 to
add an online renewal feature, and initial applications could be
filed online beginning in 2018.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked what percentage of the 2020
licensure applications were initial applications stemming from
COVID-19.
MS. CHAMBERS responded that most of the 2020 licenses were new
and renewing licensees and said that she would get more
information.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY shared his understanding that license
fees were not being collected in 2020.
MS. CHAMBERS explained that businesses were struggling to
survive during 2020 and business licensing fees were waived as a
response. She pointed out that professional licensing fees were
not waived, but that there exists a statutory prohibition from
increasing licensing fees. She noted that CBPL has asked for
$400,000 from the general fund to offset the lack of increase in
fees.
4:34:46 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ referred to Ms. Chambers' earlier assertion
that one new board and five new programs were added between 2010
and 2020 and asked for more information.
MS. CHAMBERS responded that the legislature added pawnbrokers,
athletic trainers, and behavior analysts to the programs
serviced by CBPL. She said the Board of Massage Therapists was
also added.
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ commented that while there's a "fairly
steady" increase in the number of licenses, the division's staff
has not grown at the same rate.
MS. CHAMBERS agreed and said that CBPL is trying to find a
responsible balance of overhead without increasing fees. She
pointed out that the division is staffed largely by junior level
positions, and the mobility out of the division means the
division can't keep up with demand.
[Co-Chair Spohnholz passed the gavel to Co-Chair Fields.]
4:38:20 PM
SARA MASSMANN, RN, Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Alaska Nurses
Association, stated that the profession of nursing holds a large
number of professional licenses in Alaska. She shared that the
Alaska Nurses Association does not believe the licensing system
is broken but is in a position to help make the process easier,
smoother, and faster, and that the association assists nurses
through the licensure process. She expressed that the
association would like to start a coordinated discussion with
all groups with the intention of working with the administration
to address issues. She said that some examples would be
providing feedback on website design, a reexamination of
licensure requirements, and combining FBI background checks.
[Co-Chair Fields passed the gavel to Co-Chair Spohnholz.]
4:40:52 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ stated that the committee would return to Ms.
Massmann's testimony after Ms. Chambers concludes her PowerPoint
presentation.
4:41:30 PM
MS. CHAMBERS resumed her PowerPoint presentation with slide 7,
"Complications of COVID-19: Workload," which displayed a graph
comparing CBPL activities in 2019 to activities during the
pandemic, occurring from approximately March 2020 to February
2021. The slide showed that there were 4 meetings of the
Medical Board in 2019, compared with 25 during the pandemic; 0
medical courtesy licenses issued in 2019, but 75 during the
pandemic; a total of 28 board regulations projects in 2019,
compared with 77 during the pandemic; and 0 new license types
created in 2019, compared with 17 during the pandemic.
MS. CHAMBERS presented slide 8, ""Complications of COVID-19:
Staffing," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Budgeted:
29 examiner positions
7 executive administrator positions
March 2021:
21% key licensing positions were vacant.
Employees left Alaska, moved to less stressful state
positions, retired, or stopped working altogether.
Medical Board and/or Board of Nursing executive
positions were vacant during 10 of the last 14 months.
MS. CHAMBERS stated that five CBPL employees retired or resigned
within a four-day period.
4:46:35 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ asked how competitive the salaries for
positions in CBPL are.
MS. CHAMBERS replied that the prerequisite for a licensing
examiner is administrative, "clerk-level" experience and that it
isn't considered a professional position. She said that most of
the boards are managed by a licensing examiner who would be
making $35,000-$40,000 per year and be in charge of multiple
boards and all of the license processing for the boards. She
stated that her personal opinion is that the position is not
correctly classified, and that salaries should be addressed.
She then said that the executive-level positions are partially-
exempt roles that are "pretty fairly" classified. She said that
one of the most critical roles, the Board of Nursing executive
position, is one of the most difficult to recruit because it's
statutorily required that the role be filled by a registered
nurse who holds a master's degree in nursing. She said that
someone with those credentials would demand a much higher salary
in the private sector.
4:51:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY noted to Ms. Chambers' assertion that
license examiner is a transient position and asked whether the
vacancy rate of 21 percent was an anomaly.
MS. CHAMBERS responded that CBPL usually has a 12 percent
vacancy rate for licensing positions. She stated that she hopes
21 percent is not the "new normal," but when there is no margin
in staffing, even 12 percent is difficult.
4:52:49 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ expressed that there needs to be a little
redundancy in any system to prevent gaps in service. She asked
whether it's accurate to say that CBPL doesn't have the
redundancy to handle operations when someone gets sick or
resigns.
MS. CHAMBERS replied that the statement is reasonably accurate
and said that the licensing examiners are often asked to learn
other programs, with supervisors stepping in as board managers.
She pointed out that there are many other duties besides license
processing.
4:56:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN discussed quality management and the
predictability of need. He asked whether CBPL runs such
assessments.
MS. CHAMBERS replied that there is a management team that
regularly shares information such as known absences and renewal
schedules that provide natural, predictable increases in volume.
She said that events such as COVID-19 can cause the focus to
shift to the affected industries and away from industries that
are less critical.
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN asked whether the programs deliver good
value or whether the state is licensing industries that don't
need to be licensed.
MS. CHAMBERS responded that the governor had previously
introduced legislation that included reforming the professional
licensure process. She mentioned that there are ways to scale
the work and use different models, but there are various
outdated mechanisms in statute that the division is stuck with
until the laws change. She expressed that proposed legislation
which would modernize the practice parameters of certain
professions gives her hope for similar modernizations within
CBPL.
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN expressed interest in hearing ideas for
modernization.
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ commented that this could be an opportunity
to consider process improvement.
5:02:15 PM
MS. CHAMBERS resumed her PowerPoint presentation with slide 9,
"Complications of COVID-19: Staff/Board Review Times," which
displayed a chart showing the slow review times of social
worker, physician, and registered nurse licenses during COVID-
19. She then quickly described slide 10, which illustrated the
licensing process. She called the work done by the licensing
examiners a "qualitative review" and briefly discussed the
difficulty in putting together a complete application.
MS. CHAMBERS presented slide 11, "Solutions: Improved
Technology," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Self-service online portal launched in 2018.
Access license file through MyAlaska. Same login as
PFD application.
Apply for and renew professional licenses online.
Upload documents, allow access to credentialing
agencies, and track progress of application.
Go Paperless. Update email and mailing addresses.
Opt-in to receive electronic communication about
licensure, regulations changes, and other important
news.
MS. CHAMBERS continued her PowerPoint with slide 12, "Solutions:
Phased Response to Personnel Issues," which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
1.Reallocate existing staff from other programs to
reduce delays.
2.Add nonpermanent administrative positions to
normalize workload.
3.Review and implement systems changes, such as
reclassification of positions to address deficiencies
in support and improve employee retention.
MS. CHAMBERS presented slide 13, "Solutions: Improve
Statutory/Regulatory Systems," which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
1.Update regulations to utilize technology and
eliminate outdated requirements.
2.Adopt legislation to streamline the application
process without lowering standards.
5:08:57 PM
WENDY SCHRAGE, Vice President of State Government Affairs,
Fresenius Medical Care, explained that Fresenius Medical Care
provides life-sustaining dialysis to patients in facilities in
Anchorage, Juneau, Soldotna, and Wasilla. Each dialysis patient
has a multidisciplinary team of licensed professionals to care
for them, she said, including registered nurses, dietitians, and
social workers. She discussed a specific instance of a social
worker who delayed moving to Alaska for several months due to
problems with her licensure. She pointed out that the emergency
courtesy licenses have been of tremendous help in allowing
staffing flexibility. The advent and increased use of
telehealth during the pandemic, she said, could cause an
increase in license applications, as could the increased
acceptance of telehealth by insurers.
5:12:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked whether she sees challenges for
current procedural terminology (CPT) coding and modifications
with the use of telehealth.
MS. SCHRAGE replied that her company doesn't bill for
telehealth, as it's part of the service.
5:12:51 PM
TONIE PROTZMAN, Executive Director, National Association of
Social Workers, Alaska Chapter, shared her experience working
with the current Board of Social Work Examiners. She said the
most common reason why a social worker calls her is because the
worker is unable to access the licensing board. She said that
one social worker has been trying to get her license since 2019
and is unable to get questions answered, and that she has had
several social workers with temporary licenses contact her after
losing their insurance due to the lack of a permanent license.
She stated that she represents 400 social workers in Alaska and
asked the committee to help.
5:16:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked whether Ms. Protzman has heard any
discussion or interest regarding combining the five boards which
deal in matters of behavior sciences.
MS. PROTZMAN replied that she is open to any solution.
5:17:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER provided the context that, while she
doesn't have the specific budget for CBPL, the division's budget
has been reduced by 80 percent since 2015.
5:19:03 PM
MS. MASSMANN resumed her testimony. She said that military
spouses deserve an expedient transition to continuing their
career in Alaska and stated the Alaska Nurses Association's
support for a military spouse courtesy license to be available
to all professions licensed by the state. She said the
association would also like for there to be a review of all
areas of licensure which may allow emergency licensure to
respond to a health emergency. An example of a health
emergency, she said, could be helping the outlying communities
handle a viral outbreak.
5:21:07 PM
RICHARD WEIN, MD, Chair, State Medical Board, shared that the
State Medical Board oversees 6,497 active licenses covering many
types of medical professionals. He said that the board tells
applicants that an initial review of their application happens
within 25 days of submittal, with their permanent license coming
through 10 to 14 weeks later. The reality, he said, is that
initial reviews are taking up to 45 days. He expressed that
people still think of Alaska as the "last medical frontier," so
due diligence is especially important in reviewing license
applications. He said all staff members worked overtime to meet
the needs that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that
the applications have become more complex and include licenses
and credentials from multiple states and hospitals, which puts a
strain on due diligence. He stated, "We have been very
compliant. We have met whenever is necessary in order to move
things through real time."
DR. WEIN stated that other aspects relate to telemedicine, and
that it now appears that someone can practice telemedicine
within Alaska without being registered. He said telemedicine
oversight is needed; someone could be practicing medicine, with
no oversight, from a poolside in Florida. He discussed the
prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP), the registration
for which has now been merged with license renewal. He said the
State Medical Board has a 97 percent registration compliance
rate with PDMP and suggested that there are compliance issues
which could be addressed by an improved system.
5:29:14 PM
JEANNIE MONK, Senior Vice President, Alaska State Hospital and
Nursing Home Association, shared that her organization focuses
on the length of time it takes to get a medical professional
licensed to practice in a facility. She said the time is
tracked from the point at which a medical professional is hired
and begins to submit their application documents, and most of
the delays occur during the application-building process. She
stated that it often takes 18 weeks or more to get a physician
licensed, which is twice as long as in other states; this
creates a serious disadvantage, she said. She pointed out that
the lack of staff at the Division of Corporations, Businesses,
and Public Licensing limits timely communication and follow-up.
She stated the association's support for hiring more license
examiners. She then pointed out that the application process is
often duplicative, with applicants being required to submit the
same documentation multiple times. She expressed that the
online application process, as well as the expedited process,
have both been improvements, and the emergency courtesy licenses
have been especially helpful. She noted that licensure compacts
with other states would lessen the application period for
applicants who are already licensed in another state.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy
^Marijuana Control Board
Marijuana Control Board
^Real Estate Commission
Real Estate Commission
^Board of Professional Counselors
Board of Professional Counselors
^Board of Veterinary Examiners
Board of Veterinary Examiners
5:33:28 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the final order of business
would be confirmation hearings for consideration of the
governor's appointees to the Alaska State Board of Public
Accountancy, the Marijuana Control Board, the Real Estate
Commission, the Board of Professional Counselors, and the Board
of Veterinary Examiners. [The confirmation hearings commenced
on 4/19/21.]
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ stated that the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the
governor's appointees and recommends that the names be forwarded
to a joint session for consideration: Steve Jordan, Alaska
State Board of Public Accountancy; Christopher Jaime and Bruce
Schulte, Marijuana Control Board; Traci Heaton and Elizabeth
Schok, Real Estate Commission; Dorene Hagen, Board of
Professional Counselors; and Hal Geiger and Scott Flamme, Board
of Veterinary Examiners. She said that signing the report
regarding appointments to boards and commissions in no way
reflects an individual member's approval or disapproval of the
appointee, and the nomination is merely forwarded to the full
legislature for confirmation or rejection.
5:35:08 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
5:35 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| CBPL Licensure Processing Presentation, 4.20.21.pdf |
HL&C 4/21/2021 3:15:00 PM |
|
| Licensing Processing Testimony - AK Nurses Association, 4.21.21.pdf |
HL&C 4/21/2021 3:15:00 PM |
|
| Licensure Processing Testimony - ASHNHA, 4.21.21.pdf |
HL&C 4/21/2021 3:15:00 PM |
|
| Licensure Processing Presentation Follow-Up, CBPL, 4.28.21.pdf |
HL&C 4/21/2021 3:15:00 PM |