04/11/2013 08:00 AM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB50 | |
| HB125 | |
| HB147 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 50 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 125 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 147 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
April 11, 2013
8:07 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Chair
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice Chair
Senator Donald Olson
Senator Bert Stedman
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 50(FIN)
"An Act authorizing the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to
allow certain commercial uses in a multi-unit residential
housing development owned or financed by the corporation and
limiting the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board's issuance of
certain licenses to premises in the residential housing
development."
- MOVED CSHB 50(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 125(L&C) AM
"An Act prohibiting a health care insurer from denying coverage
for an additional limited quantity of prescription topical eye
medication under certain circumstances."
- MOVED CSHB 125(L&C) AM OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 147
"An Act extending the reporting date for and the termination
date of the Comprehensive Autism Early Diagnosis and Treatment
Task Force; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 147 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 50
SHORT TITLE: MULTI-UNIT HOUSING: COMMERCIAL USE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) COSTELLO
01/16/13 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/11/13
01/16/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/13 (H) L&C, FIN
02/18/13 (H) BILL REPRINTED 2/18/13
02/27/13 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/27/13 (H) Moved Out of Committee
02/27/13 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/01/13 (H) L&C RPT 3DP 1AM
03/01/13 (H) DP: HERRON, JOSEPHSON, REINBOLD
03/01/13 (H) AM: SADDLER
03/14/13 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/14/13 (H) Moved CSHB 50(FIN) Out of Committee
03/14/13 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
03/15/13 (H) FIN RPT CS(FIN) 9DP 1NR 1AM
03/15/13 (H) DP: MUNOZ, EDGMON, GARA, HOLMES,
THOMPSON, NEUMAN, COSTELLO, STOLTZE,
03/15/13 (H) AUSTERMAN
03/15/13 (H) NR: T.WILSON
03/15/13 (H) AM: KAWASAKI
03/20/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/20/13 (H) VERSION: CSHB 50(FIN)
03/21/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/21/13 (S) L&C, FIN
03/28/13 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/28/13 (S) -- Meeting Postponed until 4/1/13 4:30
p.m. --
04/01/13 (S) L&C AT 4:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/01/13 (S) -- Rescheduled from 3/28/13 --
04/02/13 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/02/13 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/03/13 (S) L&C AT 5:00 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/03/13 (S) Scheduled But Not Heard
04/09/13 (S) L&C AT 5:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/09/13 (S) Heard & Held
04/09/13 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
04/10/13 (S) L&C AT 4:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/10/13 (S) -- Meeting Postponed to 4/11/13 8:00
a.m.--
04/11/13 (S) L&C AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 125
SHORT TITLE: TOPICAL EYE MEDS PRESCRIPTION REFILLS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HOLMES
02/18/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/18/13 (H) L&C
03/27/13 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/27/13 (H) Heard & Held
03/27/13 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/01/13 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/01/13 (H) Moved CSHB 125(L&C) Out of Committee
04/01/13 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/02/13 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 3DP 1NR
04/02/13 (H) DP: HERRON, SADDLER, OLSON
04/02/13 (H) NR: REINBOLD
04/05/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/05/13 (H) VERSION: CSHB 125(L&C) AM
04/06/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/06/13 (S) L&C
04/09/13 (S) L&C AT 5:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/09/13 (S) Heard & Held
04/09/13 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
04/10/13 (S) L&C AT 4:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/10/13 (S) -- Meeting Postponed to 4/11/13 8:00
a.m.--
04/11/13 (S) L&C AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 147
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND AUTISM EARLY DIAGNOSIS TASK FORCE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SADDLER
03/01/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/01/13 (H) HSS
04/06/13 (H) HSS RPT 6DP 1NR
04/06/13 (H) DP: SEATON, PRUITT, KELLER, NAGEAK,
TARR, HIGGINS
04/06/13 (H) NR: REINBOLD
04/06/13 (H) HSS AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/06/13 (H) Moved Out of Committee
04/06/13 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
04/08/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/08/13 (H) VERSION: HB 147
04/09/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/09/13 (S) L&C
04/10/13 (S) L&C AT 4:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/10/13 (S) -- Meeting Postponed to 4/11/13 8:00
a.m.--
04/11/13 (S) L&C AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
JOSHUA WALTON, Staff
Representative Mia Costello
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to HB 50 on
behalf of the sponsor.
STACY SHUBERT, Director of Government Relations
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC)
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered to answer questions related to HB
50.
CHRISSY MCNALLY, Staff
Representative Lindsey Holmes
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to HB 125 on
behalf of the sponsor.
MICHAEL LEVITT
American Academy of Ophthalmology
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supporting information related to
HB 125.
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 147.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:07:27 AM
CHAIR MIKE DUNLEAVY called the Senate Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:07 a.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Stedman, Micciche, Olson, and Chair
Dunleavy.
HB 50-MULTI-UNIT HOUSING: COMMERCIAL USE
8:09:00 AM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of HB 50."An Act
authorizing the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to allow
certain commercial uses in a multi-unit residential housing
development owned or financed by the corporation and limiting
the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board's issuance of certain
licenses to premises in the residential housing development." He
noted this was the second hearing. [CSHB 50(FIN) was before the
committee.]
8:09:12 AM
JOSHUA WALTON, Staff, Representative Mia Costello, sponsor of HB
50, summarized the intent of the bill. He explained that it
gives the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) flexibility
to authorize certain commercial uses in multi-unit residential
housing properties owned or leased by AHFC. The bill
specifically excludes particular businesses that are not deemed
family friendly. He offered to answer questions.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted the individuals who were available to
answer questions.
8:10:48 AM
STACY SHUBERT, Director of Government Relations, Alaska Housing
Finance Corporation (AHFC), introduced herself and offered to
answer questions.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY found no public testimony and closed it.
8:11:33 AM
SENATOR MICCICHE said he was comfortable with the bill and
thought it would help make AHFC properties more marketable and
productive.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY found no further questions or comments and
solicited a motion.
8:11:47 AM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report CSHB 50, 28-LS0155\O, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s).
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that without objection CSHB 50(FIN)
moved from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
8:12:05 AM
At ease
HB 125-TOPICAL EYE MEDS PRESCRIPTION REFILLS
8:13:18 AM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HB 125. "An Act prohibiting a health care
insurer from denying coverage for an additional limited quantity
of prescription topical eye medication under certain
circumstances." He noted this was the second hearing. [CSHB
125(L&C) AM was before the committee.]
8:13:46 AM
CHRISSY MCNALLY, Staff, Representative Lindsey Holmes, sponsor
of HB 125, summarized the bill. She said it will allow
individuals who require prescription eye medications for chronic
diseases to receive refills before the prescribed renewal date.
She explained that prescription eye drops are currently measured
the same as prescription pills; one drop equals one dose.
Because drops are sometimes dispensed unevenly, an individual
may run out of their prescription earlier than their insurance
provider will pay for a refill. The bill alleviates that problem
by requiring health insurance providers to allow refills of eye
drop prescriptions prior to the last day of the dosage period,
as long as the refill is approved by the doctor.
Ophthalmologists, optometrists support the bill and insurance
providers have no objection to it.
8:14:45 AM
SENATOR OLSON asked if she was familiar with scheduled drugs.
MS. MCNALLY said no.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY suggested that Mr. Levitt could address the
question.
8:15:10 AM
MICHAEL LEVITT, American Academy of Ophthalmology, introduced
himself.
SENATOR OLSON asked if he was an ophthalmologist and familiar
with the schedule of drugs.
MS. LEVITT said he was not an ophthalmologist, but he was
familiar with the schedule of drugs.
SENATOR OLSON asked where prescription eye drops fell on the
schedule of controlled substances.
MR. LEVITT acknowledged that some prescription eye drops fall in
the controlled substance category, but that isn't the typical
practice. When that category is prescribed, it's postoperatively
for a limited period of time. He said the bill is intended for
things like glaucoma and other chronic diseases. The regular
practice in ophthalmology does not require the chronic use of
pain killers.
8:16:48 AM
SENATOR OLSON asked if the bill would apply to a prescription
for a corneal anesthetic.
MR. LEVITT said yes, but a person typically would not be on that
sort of medication for more than 30 days.
SENATOR OLSON asked what kind of controls or safeguards there
would be for somebody who has glaucoma.
MR. LEVITT explained the treatment for glaucoma. Drops are
prescribed to regulate the pressure in the eye and the patient
is asked to come back for routine checkups to see if the drug is
working. If the drops don't work, there are more invasive
interventions with lasers or scalpels.
SENATOR OLSON said his question is how a person can continue to
get refills if the pressure isn't under good control.
MR. LEVITT said there are hundreds of different types of
glaucoma, and the patient normally wouldn't go blind for years.
If the pressure rises gradually, the ophthalmologist will adjust
the medications.
SENATOR OLSON asked about narrow angle glaucoma.
MR. LEVITT said there would be immediate intervention for that
serious and acute glaucoma.
SENATOR OLSON asked how many other states have this.
MS. MCNALLY said four other states have a similar law:
Connecticut, Maryland, New Mexico, and New York.
8:21:57 AM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY found no public testimony and closed it. He
solicited a motion.
8:22:04 AM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report CSHB 125, 28-LS0431\O.A, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s).
8:22:22 AM
SENATOR STEDMAN objected to question the version before the
committee.
8:22:48 AM
At ease
8:23:15 AM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY reconvened the meeting.
SENATOR STEDMAN withdrew his objection.
SENATOR OLSON commented that having practiced medicine in Bush
Alaska he fully appreciates how serious it can be to run out of
medication. He said he stands in full support of the bill.
8:23:56 AM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that without objection, CSHB 125(L&C)
AM moved from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
8:24:10 AM
At ease
HB 147-EXTEND AUTISM EARLY DIAGNOSIS TASK FORCE
8:25:49 AM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of HB 147. "An Act
extending the reporting date for and the termination date of the
Comprehensive Autism Early Diagnosis and Treatment Task Force;
and providing for an effective date." He noted that this was the
first hearing.
8:26:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, sponsor of HB 147, said the purpose
of the bill is to extend the reporting date of the Comprehensive
Autism Early Diagnosis and Treatment Task Force to January 15,
2015. He explained that autism is a neural behavioral disorder
characterized by diminished communication and social skills,
which often manifest early in life. Although it is incurable, it
is treatable. Studies show that early treatment can improve the
life prospects of those with autism, save the state money, and
keep families together.
He explained that the nine-member task force was established to
make recommendations to the legislature for the development of a
statewide plan to support early diagnosis and treatment of
autism. They were charged with making recommendations for draft
legislation to provide coverage to the greatest number of
Alaskans, for evaluating the fiscal effects of the proposals,
and for analyzing how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act will affect the recommendations.
8:27:48 AM
SENATOR OLSON asked what the task force accomplished in the last
year.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER explained that the task force hasn't
accomplished anything other than initial organizational work
because the members weren't approved by both bodies until
November 2012.
SENATOR MICCICHE remarked that this is a group of very active
individuals who have been working to help families struggling
with autism long before the task force was formed. He said it's
safe to say that they've already accomplished quite a lot good.
SENATOR STEDMAN noted that the expiration had passed.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER agreed and noted the retroactivity
clause.
8:29:48 AM
SENATOR STEDMAN encouraged the sponsor to engage the leadership
team to ensure that the bill doesn't get held up the last day of
the session.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER acknowledged the suggestion.
8:30:20 AM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY found no public testimony and asked for a motion.
8:30:28 AM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report HB 147, 28-LS0438\A, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s).
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that without objection, HB 147 moved
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
8:30:47 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dunleavy adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting at 8:30 a.m.
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