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.