Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/08/2001 01:30 PM Senate L&C
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE LABOR & COMMERCE COMMITTEE
February 8, 2001
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Randy Phillips, Chair
Senator Alan Austerman
Senator Loren Leman
Senator John Torgerson
Senator Bettye Davis
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 52
"An Act extending the termination date of the State Physical
Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board."
MOVED SB 52 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 53
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Barbers and
Hairdressers."
MOVED SB 53 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 52 - No previous action to record.
SB 53 - No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
Ms. Heather Brakes, Aide
Senator Gene Therriault
State Capitol Bldg.
Juneau AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 52 and SB 53 for sponsor.
Ms. Karen Grafton, President
Alaska Physical Therapy Association
12821 Troy St.
Anchorage AK 99515
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 52.
Ms. Catherine Reardon, Director
Division of Occupational Licensing
Department of Community and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau AK 99811
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 52 and SB 53.
Ms. Mary Veale
American Physical Therapy Association, Alaska Chapter
8940 N. Douglas Hwy.
Juneau AK 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 52.
Mr. Jim Griffin, Audit Manager
Division of Legislative Audit
P.O. Box 113300
Juneau AK 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 52.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-4, SIDE A
Number 001
SB 52-TERMINATION OF STATE PHYS THERAPY BOARD
CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS called the Senate Labor & Commerce
Committee meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. and announced SB 52 to be
up for consideration.
MS. HEATHER BRAKES, Aide to Senator Therriault, said SB 52 is an
act that extends the termination date of the State Board of
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. It amends Title 8,
Chapter 3, Section 10 to extend this Board an additional six years
from June 30, 2001 to June 30, 2007. There was a $0 fiscal note.
The auditors found that, "The Board is operating in an efficient
and effective manner. It should be continued to regulate physical
and occupational therapists. The Board is safeguarding the public
interest by promoting their competence and integrity of those who
hold themselves out to the public as qualified physical therapists,
occupational therapists, physical therapy assistants, and
occupational therapy assistants. The Board serves the public
purpose and has demonstrated an ability to conduct its business in
a satisfactory manner." She noted that the audit recommended the
Board be extended for six years instead of the usual four.
MS. KAREN GRAFTON, President, Alaska Physical Therapy Association,
said they supported SB 52.
MS. CATHERINE REARDON, Executive Director, Division of Occupational
Licensing, supported SB 52.
MS. MARY VEALE, American Physical Therapy Association, Alaska
Chapter, supported SB 52.
MR. JIM GRIFFIN, Audit Manager, Legislative Audit, said that one
sort-of unique thing about the Physical and Occupational Therapy
Board is that it's recommended to go beyond the four year standard
extension suggested in the statutes. He explained that three years
ago the Board extended the number of Boards and caused them to have
a good supply of sunsets due in 2005. This year they have six
Occupational Licensing Board sunset members. If they would have
gone with the standard four years, that would put them at 2005,
giving his division nine sunsets. This is mainly to smooth out the
audit work load that is required under AS 44.66. They chose
Physical and Occupational Therapists because they felt that Board
"was a clean audit." They had the least amount of issues coming up
on the horizon. All the other boards and commissions in the class
have some issues coming up.
SENATOR TORGERSON moved to pass SB 52 from committee with
individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so
ordered.
SB 53-EXTENDING THE BD. OF BARBERS/HAIRDRESSERS
MS. BRAKES testified that SB 53 amends Title 8, Chapter 3, Section
10 to extend the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers an additional
four years from June 30, 2001 to June 30, 2005. She said there was
a $0 fiscal note and a letter of support from Cheryl Sutton, Chair
of the Board.
She said the auditors found, "The Board benefits the public by
establishing minimum education and experience requirements that
provide reasonable assurance that persons licensed are qualified."
MS. REARDON said she also supported SB 53.
SENATOR AUSTERMAN asked her to explain the fiscal note.
MS. REARDON explained that the second page of the fiscal note
provides information about expenditures for FY 99/00. They license
for two-year periods and need to look at two years of revenue to
see if a program is paying for itself. She did not see an over-
collection in the cycle. Deficits and surpluses are rolled forward
from prior years. She also explained that all licenses renew in the
same fiscal year and that's why there is a high revenue year and a
low revenue year. In FY 99, they collected $65,000 from new
entrants into the profession. The high year was 2000. They would
all be renewing this August 31 which would show up on 2002
revenues. She added that they adjusted fees about six months ago to
implement a law making licenses the same price.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to pass CS 53 from committee with individual
recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS adjourned the meeting at 1:43 p.m.
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