Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/01/2019 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB29 | |
| SB36 | |
| SB25 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 29 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 36 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 1, 2019
9:02 a.m.
9:02:17 AM
CALL TO ORDER
called the Senate Finance Committee meeting to order at
9:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Natasha von Imhof, Co-Chair
Senator Natasha von Imhof, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Peter Micciche
Senator Mike Shower
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Donny Olson
ALSO PRESENT
David Scott, Staff, Senator Bert Stedman; Kris Curtis,
Legislative Auditor, Alaska Division of Legislative Audit;
Charles Ward, Marine Pilots Coordinator, Division of
Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development;
Sara Chambers, Director, Division of Corporations, Business
and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development; Senator Cathy Giessel,
Sponsor; Joe LeFleur, Acting Chair, Alaska Board of
Nursing; Dave Logan, Executive Director, Alaska Dental
Society.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Beth Farnstrom, Professional Practices Director Alaska
Nurses Association, Anchorage; David Neilson, Member,
Alaska Board of Dental Examiners.
SUMMARY
SB 25 EXTEND BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS
SB 25 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 29 EXTEND BOARD OF MARINE PILOTS
SB 29 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 36 EXTEND BOARD OF NURSING
SB 36 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 29
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of
Marine Pilots; and providing for an effective date."
9:03:54 AM
DAVID SCOTT, STAFF, SENATOR BERT STEDMAN, introduced the
bill.
Senator Shower queried the reason for a separate Board, and
requested the authority if there were no Marine Board of
Pilots.
Co-Chair von Imhof stated that Ms. Curtis may provide more
information on the general purpose on the boards.
Mr. Scott replied that if the bill did not go through,
there would be a one-year winddown of the Board. The
Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional
license would take over that role.
9:07:45 AM
KRIS CURTIS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, ALASKA DIVISION OF
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, addressed the question by Senator Shower
about the need for the Board.
Senator Shower wondered whether the Board was needed in the
broader sense, and wondered who would execute the needs in
the event of Board elimination.
Ms. Curtis replied that it was a federal requirement that
required that every foreign and U.S. flagged vessels
engaged in international trade or moving in the state's
waters was required to use the services of a state-licensed
pilot. She stated that the question about a board required
to license those individuals was a question for policy
makers.
Ms. Curtis explained the audit.
Senator Micciche remarked that the Boards were self-
sustaining, and required thousands of hours of volunteer
work that the department would have to pay for without the
Boards.
Ms. Curtis noted that there was a statute that required
that the Division of Corporations, Business, and
Professional Licensing set the board fees at such a rate
that it covered the cost of regulation.
Co-Chair von Imhof remarked that Ms. Chambers could provide
further information. She remarked that there was a standard
formats in the audits, and the table of contents showed the
standard format. She remarked that as there would be more
board extensions, the committee members would get used to
what, why, and how the decisions were determined.
Ms. Curtis shared that the reports began with an
organization and function to address the board's
composition and duties. She remarked that there was also
information about the board budget.
9:16:49 AM
CHARLES WARD, MARINE PILOTS COORDINATOR, DIVISION OF
CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING,
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
introduced himself.
Senator Bishop announced that he had heard the bills in the
Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.
Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED public testimony.
Co-Chair von Imhof CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Stedman noted that an incident in the Gastineau
Channel would block other vessels. He stressed the
seriousness of the matter. He also pointed to the very
large vessels that travel through the waters near Alaska.
He felt that it was important to continue to have qualified
pilots in the water to minimize potential incidents.
Senator Micciche pointed out that March was the thirtieth
anniversary of the Exxon Valdez, and there would have been
a different outcome if the regulations that required a
pilot to be on board until the passing the narrows. The
regulations stabilized the skillset of everyone bringing a
vessel into the ports.
Senator Shower looked at the budget, and wondered what was
driving the budget surplus.
9:21:22 AM
SARA CHAMBERS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS
AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, remarked that she was
impressed at the ability and awareness to explain her work
at the committee. She provided an overview of the boards.
9:25:38 AM
Co-Chair von Imhof wondered how many boards were in the
department.
Ms. Chambers replied that the Governor's Office of Boards
and Commissions was the appointing authority for all state
boards and commissions. There were 21 in the division that
she managed, and there were over a hundred total statewide
boards and commissions.
Ms. Chambers discussed the fiscal note.
Co-Chair von Imhof announced that amendments were due by
5pm on Monday, March 4.
SB 29 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 36
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of
Nursing; and providing for an effective date."
9:28:24 AM
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, SPONSOR, explained the legislation.
9:34:41 AM
KRIS CURTIS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, ALASKA DIVISION OF
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, addressed the audit included in the
members' packets.
9:40:40 AM
Senator Micciche noted the gaps in the basic business
practices. He wondered who could suggest some solutions to
the ongoing management issues. He noted that the reduction
in the timeline process was to provide additional
oversight, and queried the criteria.
Ms. Curtis replied that it was an inexact science. She
remarked that there was an examination of the materiality
and severity of each recommendation.
Co-Chair von Imhof felt that Mr. LaFleur could address
questions about the inner management of the board.
9:44:40 AM
JOE LEFLEUR, ACTING CHAIR, ALASKA BOARD OF NURSING,
introduced himself.
Senator Wielechowski restated hid question pertaining to
funding and a downtrend in the surplus. He wondered about
increased fees for telehealth.
Mr. LeFleur responded that he had been in discussions about
the issue with a company in Texas that wanted to do
business in Alaska, but that company did not have the
appropriate license to practice in Alaska. He stated that
there was further review, and it was moved to the board
that dealt with licenses.
Senator Wielechowski asked whether telehealth was
increasing the workload. He wondered whether there were
discussions about increasing the fees for telehealth
nurses.
Mr. LeFleur responded that the desire was for the provider
to be licensed in Alaska for Alaskan patients.
Senator Wielechowski wondered whether there should be a
separate classification for telehealth nurses to pay for
the increased cost.
Mr. LeFleur stated that if the cost went to the nurse's
employer there would be another board required.
Senator Wielechowski felt that incurring costs because of
extra work, then the board could charge a fee for a
possible new classification.
Mr. LeFleur replied in the negative, because there was not
jurisdiction.
Co-Chair von Imhof wondered how many of the 19,000 nurses
were Alaskan residents and living outside, but licensed in
Alaska.
9:50:43 AM
Senator Wielechowski queried the reason for the high
turnover on the Board of Nursing, and its impact.
Mr. LeFleur stated that he was brought to the Board in
2017, and there was a major turnover of six people, so he
was the only one left of seven. He remarked that the Board
was experiencing growing pains.
Co-Chair von Imhof queried closing comments.
Mr. LeFleur explained the Board's purpose.
Senator Wielechowski remarked that the Board response to
the audit recommendations stated that the November 2018
meeting would not adjourn until telehealth regulations were
developed and read into the Board minutes. He queried the
status of those regulations.
Mr. LeFleur the regulations were developed, and due to a
snafu, the Board took public testimony. The Department of
Law would vote on the issue.
Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED public testimony.
9:54:12 AM
BETH FARNSTROM, PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES DIRECTOR ALASKA
NURSES ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the bill.
Co-Chair von Imhof CLOSED public testimony.
9:55:47 AM
SARA CHAMBERS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS
AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, addressed some of
Senator Wielechowski's questions.
Senator Wielechowski wondered how the Board would meet when
six of the seven positions were vacant.
Ms. Chambers replied that six new members were appointed by
the administration, but the Board had not met since the
appointments.
Senator Micciche wondered whether the Boards were examined
in between the renewal times. He queried the plan for the
legislature to be comfortable by the department to
encourage improvements in a relatively short timeline.
Ms. Chambers replied that the findings were already
resolved from the audit. The audit was almost a year old.
Senator Micciche wondered how the lost documentation would
be remedied.
Ms. Chambers assured the committee that it would not happen
again.
Co-Chair von Imhof requested fiscal note information.
Ms. Chambers explained the fiscal note.
Co-Chair von Imhof announced that amendments were due by
5pm on Monday, March 4.
SB 36 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 25
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of
Dental Examiners; and providing for an effective
date."
10:08:16 AM
SENATOR DAVID WILSON, SPONSOR, introduced the bill.
10:10:24 AM
KRIS CURTIS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, ALASKA DIVISION OF
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, explained the audit.
10:12:27 AM
DAVID NEILSON, MEMBER, ALASKA BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS
(via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill.
10:14:23 AM
DAVE LOGAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA DENTAL SOCIETY,
testified in support of the bill.
Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED and CLOSED public testimony.
10:15:36 AM
SARA CHAMBERS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS
AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, explained the fiscal
note.
Co-Chair von Imhof requested information about the budget
swings each year from a surplus to a deficit.
Ms. Chambers replied that every board was on a biennial
license cycle, so the bulk of revenue was from renewals of
existing licenses.
Senator Shower wondered why the state would cover any of
the travel within the fiscal note.
Ms. Chambers replied that they were self-funded, but ran
through the state accounting system.
Senator Micciche queried the source of the funding for the
1156.
Ms. Chambers replied that the expenditures and revenues
were all tied into professional licensing, and were all
supported by receipts.
Co-Chair von Imhof announced that amendments were due by
5pm on Monday, March 4.
SB 25 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair von Imhof discussed the schedule for the following
week.
ADJOURNMENT
10:21:21 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 10:21 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 25 Board of Dental Examiners Sunset Review.pdf |
SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 25 |
| SB25 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM SL&C 2/7/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 25 |
| SB 25 Letters of Support.pdf |
SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 25 |
| SB29 Supporting Document Division of Legislative Audit Board of Marine Pilots Sunset Review.pdf |
SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM SL&C 2/7/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 29 |
| SB29 Sponsor Statement Version A.pdf |
SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM SL&C 2/7/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 29 |
| SB36 Sponsor Statement 1-28-19.pdf |
HL&C 4/24/2019 3:15:00 PM SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM SL&C 2/7/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 36 |
| SB36 Supporting Document Division of Legislative Audit Sunset Review Summary 08-20113-18.pdf |
SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM SL&C 2/7/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 36 |
| SB36 Supporting Document Division of Legislative Audit Sunset Review April 2017.pdf |
HL&C 4/24/2019 3:15:00 PM SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM SL&C 2/7/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 36 |
| SB36 Letter of Support BON 2-14-19.pdf |
HL&C 4/24/2019 3:15:00 PM SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 36 |
| SB36 Letter of Support BON 2-14-19.pdf |
SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 36 |
| SB36 Letter of Support Farnstrom 2-26-19.pdf |
HL&C 4/24/2019 3:15:00 PM SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 36 |
| SB36 Letter of Support AK Nurses Assn 2-27-19.pdf |
HL&C 4/24/2019 3:15:00 PM SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 36 |
| SB 36 senate finance questions.pdf |
HL&C 4/24/2019 3:15:00 PM SFIN 3/1/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 36 |