Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/14/2002 10:33 AM Senate RLS
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
February 14, 2002
10:33 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Randy Phillips, Chair
Senator Gene Therriault
Senator Johnny Ellis
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator John Cowdery, Vice Chair
Senator Rick Halford
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 244
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Examiners
in Optometry; and relating to optometrists."
ADOPTED CSSB 244(RLS) AND APPROVED FOR CALENDARING
SENATE BILL NO. 257
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of
Professional Counselors."
APPROVED FOR CALENDARING
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 12
Relating to the preservation of employment opportunities for
United States longshoremen with respect to unloading and loading
of foreign vessels.
APPROVED FOR CALENDARING
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 244 - See Labor and Commerce minutes dated 1/31/02.
SB 257 - See Labor and Commerce minutes dated 2/7/02 and Finance
minutes dated 2/12/02.
HCR 12 - See Labor and Commerce minutes dated 2/7/02.
WITNESS REGISTER
Ms. Pat Davidson
Division of Legislative Budget & Audit
Legislative Affairs Agency
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained an amendment to SB 244
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 02-01, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS called the Senate Rules Committee meeting
to order at 10:33 a.m. Senators Therriault, Ellis and Phillips
were present.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS informed committee members that SB 244-
OPTOMETRISTS: SUNSET AND MISCELLANEOUS would be the first order
of business and that an amendment to SB 244 would be offered.
SENATOR THERRIAULT explained that when SB 244 was heard in the
Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, Senator Davis worked out
compromise language for an amendment based on a recent
legislative audit recommendation. That amendment was removed by
the Senate Finance Committee with minimal discussion. He noted
that Senator Stevens was perplexed because when the bill moved
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, it received five
"do pass" recommendations. The adoption of the amendment by the
Senate Rules Committee will restore the bill to the Senate Labor
and Commerce Committee version.
SENATOR THERRIAULT moved to adopt Amendment 1, which reads:
AS 08.72.150 is amended to read:
Sec.08.72.150. Application for examination and issuance
of license. An applicant shall apply for the
examination by filing an application with the
department together with the examination fee by the
deadline established by the department in regulations.
The department may require the applicant to submit a
photograph of the applicant for its files, however the
photograph may not be forwarded with the application to
the board for review. Upon successful completion of the
examination by the applicant and payment of the license
fee, the board shall issue a license to the successful
applicant. The applicant may practice optometry in the
state upon receipt of the license.
MS. PAT DAVIDSON, Division of Legislative Audit, told committee
members that the division recently audited the Board of Examiners
of Optometry and recommended that the Board remove its
requirement that a photograph accompany applications. That
requirement is in regulation. The basis for that recommendation
is that the photograph provides an opportunity to introduce
prejudice into an evaluation function. The division can keep
photographs on file for identification purposes, but photographs
are unnecessary when the board is contemplating an application.
The recommendation is to remove that requirement from regulation.
SENATOR THERRIAULT said the compromise language allows the
division to require a photograph to be submitted but it cannot
forward the photograph with the application when it is reviewed.
He said one question that has been asked is why this change is
only being made on this license application.
MS. DAVIDSON said the photograph issue has been a recurring theme
in the division's audit recommendations on boards under sunset
review. However, adoption of that recommendation has been
inconsistent. She stated that more emphasis is placed on getting
identification when someone sits for an examination.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS said with no further discussion and a 3 to 0
vote, Amendment 1 was adopted.
SENATOR THERRIAULT moved CSSB 244(RLS) and its attached fiscal
note from committee for the purpose of calendaring.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that with no objection, the motion
carried.
SENATOR THERRIAULT moved to calendar SB 257-EXTEND BOARD OF
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS with its attached fiscal note.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS noted with no testimony and no objections to
the motion, SB 257 would be calendared on Wednesday.
SENATOR THERRIAULT moved to calendar HCR 12-FOREIGN SHIPS AND
U.S. LONGSHOREMEN and its attached zero fiscal note.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that with no objection, HCR 12 would
be placed on Wednesday's calendar.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS adjourned the meeting at 10:45 a.m.
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