HB 91-NATUROPATHS: LICENSING; PRACTICE  3:19:30 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the first order of business would be CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 91(L&C), "An Act relating to the practice of naturopathy; establishing the Naturopathy Advisory Board; relating to the licensure of naturopaths; relating to disciplinary sanctions for naturopaths; relating to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development; and providing for an effective date." 3:19:40 PM ERIN SHINE, Staff, Representative Jennifer Johnston, provided an overview of HB 91, on behalf of Representative Johnston, prime sponsor. She stated that the bill is a modernization of scope of practice for naturopathic doctors (NDs) in Alaska. She added that the current CS, Version K, also modernizes the statutes for the powers and duties of the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED). 3:20:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY questioned whether other states that expanded the scope of practice for NDs found any evidence that its a risk to public safety. MS. SHINE said in her conversations with the regulatory bodies for the states of Oregon and Washington, she found that their rates of investigation were minimal. REPRESENTATIVE STORY suggested that to mean there werent any spikes in malpractice noticed in [Oregon and Washington]. MS. SHINE confirmed that. She further noted that both Oregon and Washington have limited prescriptive authority of controlled substances, which HB 91 does not allow. REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed her interest in ensuring that NDs clarify that they are naturopathic doctors not medical doctors in their title. She stated that according to Legislative Legal, Alaska statutes already require that. CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ pointed out that there is no such thing as a "regular doctor. She explained that a regular doctor is often called an allopathic doctor or a medical doctor; however, many types of doctors exist. 3:23:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN opined that although there is valid concern that citizens are not put at risk when medical services in Alaska are addressed, the current committee substitute (CS) for HB 91 has enough protections and provisions to help serve Alaskans and the diversity of medical approaches and needs that they want in their communities. She said she will be supporting the bill in its current form. 3:25:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE STUTES moved to report CSHB 91, Version LS0608\K, Fisher, 2/8/20, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. Without objection, CSHB 91(L&C) was moved from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.