HB 81 - EXTENDING BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Number 0040                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MURKOWSKI announced the first bill to be heard would be                                                                   
HOUSE BILL NO. 81, "An Act extending the termination date of the                                                                
Board of Dental Examiners."                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HUGH FATE, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of                                                                  
HB 81, introduced the bill and had the following testimony:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Under Alaska  Statute 08.03.101 (c)  (7), the  Board of                                                                    
     Dental Examiners  will terminate on  June 30, 2001.   A                                                                    
     report  released by  the legislative  budget and  audit                                                                    
     committee recommended  that the legislature  extend the                                                                    
     board's  date to  June 30,  2005.   This is  what House                                                                    
     Bill 81 accomplishes.  The  regulation and licensing of                                                                    
     qualified   dentists   and  hygienists   benefits   the                                                                    
     public's safety and welfare.   The board contributes to                                                                    
     the safeguarding [of] the  public interests by ensuring                                                                    
     competences  and  integrity   of  dentists  and  dental                                                                    
     hygienists.  As a retired  dentist, I believe the board                                                                    
     provides an  invaluable service and should  continue to                                                                    
     do so.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FATE  said the Board  of Dental Examiners  and the                                                               
Dental  Society would  like  to  make some  amendments  to HB  81                                                               
regarding  the Dental  Practice Act  itself.   He asked  that the                                                               
bill be  held until  the amendments are  available, and  he would                                                               
then introduce them to the committee.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  MURKOWSKI stated  the  committee received  a  copy of  the                                                               
audit on  Friday.   She understood  that Representative  Fate had                                                               
not  had an  opportunity to  see  the letter  or understand  that                                                               
there were  some potential  amendments until  this morning.   She                                                               
said  that  the  committee  would  like  to  give  the  board  an                                                               
opportunity to consider the suggestions and proposals.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MURKOWSKI said  that since the bill had  been introduced to                                                               
the committee, when the amendments to  HB 81 are ready, it can be                                                               
rescheduled and would fall under  bills previously heard.  [HB 56                                                               
was held over.]