Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/03/2023 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB55 | |
| SB12 | |
| HB62 | |
| SB58 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 55 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 62 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 58 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 3, 2023
9:05 a.m.
9:05:36 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Olson called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:05 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Kelly Merrick
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Ken Alper, Staff, Senator Donny Olson; Kris Curtis,
Legislative Auditor, Alaska Division of Legislative Audit;
Kali Spencer, Staff, Senator Wielechowski; Ella Adkison,
Staff, Senator Jesse Kiehl; Laib Allensworth, Staff,
Senator Wielechowski; Heather Carpenter, Health Care Policy
Advisor, Department of Health;
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
SUMMARY
SB 12 ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM
CSSB 12(JUD) was REPORTED out of committee with
three "do pass" recommendations and with 3 "no
recommendations and with one "amend"
recommendation, and one previously published
fiscal impact note: FN 1(ADM).
SB 55 EXTEND STATE MEDICAL BOARD
CSSB 55(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with
three "do pass" recommendations and four "no
recommendation" recommendations and with a
forthcoming fiscal impact note from the
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development.
SB 58 MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY: POSTPARTUM MOTHERS
SB 58 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 62 RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUND
HB 62 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Olson discussed housekeeping.
SENATE BILL NO. 55
"An Act extending the termination date of the State
Medical Board; and providing for an effective date."
9:06:46 AM
Co-Chair Olson relayed that the committee had heard SB 55
th
on March 7. Public testimony had been taken.
Co-Chair Stedman MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee
substitute for SB 55, Work Draft 33-LS0347\B (Bergerud,
3/25/33).
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.
9:07:22 AM
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, discussed the
proposed changes to the bill. He highlighted that the
original bill had proposed an 8-year extension of the State
Medical Board, and the current bill version added a 4-year
extension for the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives.
9:08:22 AM
KRIS CURTIS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, ALASKA DIVISION OF
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, referenced the sunset review of the
Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives (board) within the
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
(copy on file):
Report Conclusions
Overall, the audit concludes that the board operated
in the publics interest by conducting its meetings in
an effective manner, by supporting statutory changes
when deemed necessary, and by actively amending
regulations. The audit also concludes that the board
and Division of Corporations, Business and
Professional Licensing (DCBPL) staff did not
consistently certify midwives in accordance with
statutes and regulations. Further, an investigation
that concerned a threat to public safety was not
addressed by DCBPL investigators in an efficient
manner.
We recommend the legislature extend the boards
termination date four years, to June 30,2027, which is
half of the eight-year maximum allowed in statute. The
reduced extension reflects the need for more timely
oversight in recognition of the audit findings and in
recognition that the boards draft regulations may
significantly change its licensing function.
Ms. Curtis addressed licensing statistics shown on page 5
of the audit. She relayed that as of June 2022, the board
had 47 certified midwives. She referenced page 7 and noted
the schedule of revenues and expenditures. She listed four
recommendations beginning on page 9:
Recommendation 1:
DCCEDs commissioner should work with policymakers to
improve the recruitment and retention of
investigators.
Recommendation 2:
DCCEDs commissioner should work with policymakers to
improve the recruitment and retention of licensing
staff, and board members should adequately review
applications prior to approval.
Recommendation 3:
DCBPLs director should work with the board to ensure
the online licensing application is sufficient to
monitor compliance with continuing education hours and
that accurate regulatory references are included in
the application.
Recommendation 4:
The Office of the Governor, Boards and Commissions
director should work with the board to identify
potential applicants to fill board vacancies in a
timely manner.
9:12:00 AM
Co-Chair Olson asked how Ms. Curtis resolved the
recommendation for a 4-year extension over an 8-year
extension.
Ms. Curtis reiterated that the audit recommendation was in
light of the findings recorded in the audit. It was her
opinion that the board needed more routine oversight. She
explained that the audit was the legislative oversight
mechanism for boards and commissions.
Co-Chair Olson agreed with the audits recommendations. He
asked whether there was an explanation as to why there was
difficulty filling the board seats.
Ms. Curtis replied that, due to high turnover in the
governor's office, she had not received any communication
regarding filling the board positions.
Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his objection.
9:13:42 AM
AT EASE
9:14:56 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Olson noted that the CS would be before the
committee as a working document.
9:15:28 AM
KALI SPENCER, STAFF, SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI, testified that
that sponsor agreed with the changes in the CS. She agreed
to answer any questions from the committee.
Senator Olson asked whether the sponsor had seen the change
from the 8-year to the 4-year extension.
Ms. Spencer responded in the affirmative. She stated that
the sponsor had no objection to the change.
9:16:26 AM
Co-Chair Stedman MOVED to report CSSB 55(FIN) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CSSB 55(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with three "do
pass" recommendations and four "no recommendation"
recommendations and with a forthcoming fiscal impact note
from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development.
9:16:47 AM
AT EASE
9:19:21 AM
RECONVENED
SENATE BILL NO. 12
"An Act relating to confidentiality of information;
relating to the duties of the Department of
Administration; creating an address confidentiality
program; and providing for an effective date."
9:19:32 AM
Co-Chair Olson relayed that the committee heard the bill on
March 28, 2023, at which time public testimony had been
taken.
Senator Kiehl requested that his staff offer clarification
regarding the CS.
9:19:56 AM
ELLA ADKISON, STAFF, SENATOR JESSE KIEHL, corrected an
inaccuracy from the previous hearing. She offered that
rather than participants being able to renew their
enrollment in the program, after the 5 years and the
expiration of the protective order or if a person ended
their career as a Peace or Correctional Officer they would
be removed from the program.
9:20:22 AM
Senator Wilson understood that Ms. Adkinson was referring
to long-term protective orders. He wondered about short-
term, 30-day, protective orders.
Senator Kiehl explained that it was unlikely that a person
with a short-term protective order would enroll in the
program. He said that if they did, they would be eligible
to be on the program for 5 years and 30 days.
Co-Chair Olson solicited further discussion.
Co-Chair Stedman MOVED to report CSSB 12(JUD) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CSSB 12(JUD) was REPORTED out of committee with three "do
pass" recommendations and with 3 "no recommendations" and
with one "amend" recommendation, and one previously
published fiscal impact note: FN 1(ADM).
9:21:54 AM
AT EASE
9:25:50 AM
RECONVENED
HOUSE BILL NO. 62
"An Act relating to the renewable energy grant fund
and recommendation program; and providing for an
effective date."
9:25:53 AM
Co-Chair Olson relayed that HB 62 had been heard in
committee on March 28, 2023, at which time public testimony
had been taken.
9:26:25 AM
LAIB ALLENSWORTH, STAFF, SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI, shared that
he was available for committee questions.
Co-Chair Olson set the bill aside.
HB 62 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 58
"An Act relating to Medicaid eligibility; expanding
eligibility for postpartum mothers; conditioning the
expansion of eligibility on approval by the United
States Department of Health and Human Services; and
providing for an effective date."
9:27:09 AM
Co-Chair Olson shared that the bill had been heard on March
7, 2023. He announced that there was an updated fiscal
note.
9:27:43 AM
Mr. Alper explained that there was a new fiscal note from
the Department of Health. He recalled that the initial cost
of the legislation was $2.6 million, which was still the
case, but the department had acknowledged that the process
to implement the program would take one year, which would
push the expense to the FY25 budget. He said that the
program would ultimately cost $9 million of which 70
percent would be federally funded and 30 percent funded by
the general fund.
Co-Chair Olson asked when the funding for the program would
be expected.
Mr. Alper assumed July 1, 2024. He thought the actual date
for funding the program would rely on the federal timeline.
Co-Chair Olson asked for the immediate request for the FY24
budget.
Mr. Alper relayed that the department did not appear to
contemplate any additional expense in FY24.
9:29:41 AM
Senator Bishop wanted to clarify that Mr. Alper was
referencing the new fiscal note with OMB Component 3234.
Mr. Alper replied in the affirmative.
9:30:23 AM
HEATHER CARPENTER, HEALTH CARE POLICY ADVISOR, DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH, testified to the accuracy of the fiscal note.
Co-Chair Olson asked whether Ms. Carpenter had any comments
on the revised fiscal note.
Ms. Carpenter believed that the program would go live July
1, 2024.
Co-Chair Olson asked whether the governor supported the
bill.
Ms. Carpenter replied in the affirmative.
SB 58 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
9:31:57 AM
Co-Chair Olson discussed the agenda for the following day.
ADJOURNMENT
9:32:54 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 9:32 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 55 work draft version B.pdf |
SFIN 4/3/2023 9:00:00 AM |
SB 55 |
| SB 55 20133-Midwives-Final.pdf |
SFIN 4/3/2023 9:00:00 AM |
SB 55 |
| SB 58 DOH - MS - 032923.pdf |
SFIN 4/3/2023 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |