Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/27/2007 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB85 | |
| HB108 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 108 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
MINUTES
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 27, 2007
9:02 a.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Lyman Hoffman convened the meeting at approximately
9:02:01 AM.
PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice Chair
Senator Kim Elton
Senator Joe Thomas
Senator Fred Dyson
Senator Donny Olson
Also Attending: REPRESENTATIVE KURT OLSON; RICHARD BENAVIDES,
Staff to Senator Bettye Davis; PAT DAVIDSON, Director, Division
of Legislative Audit; RICK URION, Director, Division of
Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, Department
of Commerce, Community and Economic Development; ELEANOR WOLFE,
Staff to Representative Kurt Olson
Attending via Teleconference: There were no teleconference
participants.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
SB 85-EXTEND STATE MEDICAL BOARD
The Committee heard from the sponsor, the Division of
Legislative Audit and the Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development. The bill was reported from Committee.
HB 108-BOARD OF MARINE PILOTS
The Committee heard from the sponsor and the Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development. The bill was
reported from Committee.
9:02:40 AM
SENATE BILL NO. 85
"An Act extending the termination date for the State
Medical Board; and providing for an effective date."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
Co-Chair Stedman announced intent to report this bill from
Committee unless concerns were identified.
AT EASE 9:02:59 AM / 9:03:06 AM
9:03:28 AM
RICHARD BENAVIDES, Staff to Senator Bettye Davis, sponsor of the
bill, testified reading the sponsor statement into the record as
follows.
Senate Bill 85 extends the sunset date of the State Medical
Board until June 30, 2013, in accordance with the
recommendations of the Legislative Auditor. The legislative
auditor has concluded that the State Medical Board meets
the statutory requirements of public need and should
continue to regulate the occupations under its purview.
The board consists of five licensed physicians, one
licensed physician assistant, and two persons with no
direct financial interests in the healthcare industry. The
board serves the public interest by establishing the
minimum education and work experience requirements that
individuals must meet to become licenses physicians,
osteopaths, podiatrists, paramedics, and physician
assistants. The board further serves the public interest by
investigating complaints against licensed professionals and
taking disciplinary licensing action when appropriate.
The board has consistently proven to be efficient,
therefore I recommend that the State Medical Board be
extended to June 30, 2013, and ask for your support in
passage of this bill.
9:05:08 AM
Co-Chair Stedman directed attention to an updated fiscal note
prepared by the Senate Finance Committee. The original fiscal
note incorrectly included an estimate of $846,000 as
expenditures for FY 07. This legislation would have no impact on
the current year budget.
9:05:48 AM
Senator Dyson inquired about the auditor recommendation that the
State Medical Board update certain regulations.
9:06:15 AM
PAT DAVIDSON, Director, Division of Legislative Audit, testified
that other than the Board's response to the preliminary audit
report recommendations that the Board was willing to making the
regulatory changes, she was unaware of whether the changes had
been made.
Co-Chair Stedman requested a response from the Board as to the
status of the regulatory changes.
9:07:04 AM
RICK URION, Director, Division of Corporations, Business, and
Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development, testified in support of this legislation.
He informed that the Board had taken necessary action in
amending regulations.
9:07:36 AM
Senator Dyson asked the estimated date that the new regulations
would be in effect.
9:07:41 AM
Mr. Urion responded that the proposed regulations were currently
before the Department of Law for review.
9:07:51 AM
Co-Chair Stedman ascertained that no further testimony was
forthcoming and that Members had no additional comments or
questions.
9:08:15 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman offered a motion to report the bill, 24-
LS0584\A, from Committee with individual recommendations and
updated fiscal note.
Without objection SB 85 was REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE with a new
fiscal note dated 3/27/07 from the Senate Finance Committee.
AT EASE 9:09:01 AM / 9:09:24 AM
9:09:36 AM
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 108(L&C)
"An Act extending the termination date for the Board of
Marine Pilots; and providing for an effective date."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
Co-Chair Stedman announced his intent to report this bill from
Committee at this hearing unless concerns were raised to warrant
additional consideration.
REPRESENTATIVE KURT OLSON, Chair, House Labor and Commerce
Committee, sponsor of this legislation, testified that this bill
would extend the term of the Board of Marine Pilots to June 30,
2013.
9:10:44 AM
ELEANOR WOLFE, Staff to Representative Kurt Olson, informed of
those present to respond to questions.
9:11:14 AM
RICK URION, Director, Division of Corporations, Business, and
Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development, encouraged passage of this bill. The Board
had completed its audit process. Recommendations made in the
audit report regarding corrections to drug testing procedures
had been implemented.
9:11:57 AM
Senator Dyson noticed the audit recommended that the Legislature
should consider "clarifying statutes" pertaining to drug
testing. He asked what measures had been taken to accomplish
this.
9:12:28 AM
Mr. Urion explained that questions were raised about whether
"enough people were being tested". Corrections had been made to
ensure that the "appropriate number of people" would be tested.
Senator Dyson understood the recommendation to extend the
mandatory drug testing to include trainees and apprentices and
asked if statutory changes had been considered.
9:13:17 AM
Mr. Urion responded that these members had been added "in the
mix" to receive random drug testing. He was unsure whether
statutory changes would be necessary.
9:13:27 AM
Senator Dyson next asked about the audit recommendation
concerning investigative functions, which were not occurring
during long absences of investigative personnel. Some accidents
were not investigated until six months after occurring.
9:13:48 AM
Mr. Urion knew of one such incident. A change in staffing was
deemed to be the cause. A vacancy occurred and when filled, the
new investigator was unaware that the case had existed. No harm
resulted from this delay.
9:14:24 AM
Senator Dyson asked if such vacancy occurred in the future if
action was taken to ensure that the duties would be delegated to
another position.
Mr. Urion assured that the current chief investigator was better
apprised of the cases.
9:14:54 AM
Senator Olson assumed that the drug tests were administered to a
"random consortium".
Mr. Urion affirmed.
9:15:04 AM
Senator Olson asked how often a member was tested and whether
the tests were of urine or blood.
Mr. Urion was unsure of the details of the testing procedures.
9:15:18 AM
Senator Olson asked if this applies to all marine pilots
including those employed by the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Mr. Urion replied marine pilots employed by the State were not
included. This Board governs those marine pilots affiliated with
private enterprise.
9:15:32 AM
Senator Olson asked the number of violations and the
disciplinary actions taken in the past year.
9:15:44 AM
Mr. Urion told of one case that had been ongoing. Otherwise he
estimated the number of cases to be three.
9:16:20 AM
Co-Chair Stedman commented that the fiscal note appeared in
order.
9:16:28 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman offered a motion to report the bill, 24-
LS0445\C, from Committee with individual recommendations and
accompanying fiscal note.
There was no objection and CS HB 108(L&C) was REPORTED FROM
COMMITTEE, with fiscal note #2 from the Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development.
9:16:59 AM
ADJOURNMENT
Co-Chair Lyman Hoffman adjourned the meeting at 9:18:06 AM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|