1995-03-14                     Senate Journal                      Page 0602
SB 129                                                                       
Access to public records also is addressed, by proposed                        
AS18.24.800.  Data obtained and created under AS18.24 generally                
would be subject to disclosure under the public records law                    
(AS09.25.110 - 09.25.120).   However, information  and  data  that             
identifies or is capable of identifying a recipient of health care             
services is  confidential.  Also, information  of a proprietary  nature,       
such as individual hospital costs and charges for procedures, also             
must be kept confidential.  The state, its  agents and employees,              
members of the advisory council, health care facilities and their              
employees, and others are immune for certain acts or omissions in              
the execution of authorized activities under AS 18.24, but immunity            
is expressly excluded for reckless or intentional misconduct.                  
                                                                               
Proposed AS18.24.820 provides for a civil penalty.  The failure to             
submit data can result in a civil penalty, subject to a $5,000                 
maximum per calendar year.                                                     
                                                                               
Under sec. 4 of the bill, the department is charged with conducting            
a feasibility study respecting the collection of health care data from         
physician offices, long-term care facilities, and other appropriate            
health care providers or facilities.  The report is due July1, 1997.           
                                                                               
I urge your favorable consideration of this bill.                              
	                                                                              
						Sincerely,                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
						Tony Knowles                                                             
						Governor                                                                 
                                                                               
SB 130                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 130 BY SENATOR PEARCE, entitled:                               
                                                                               
"An Act relating to marine pilots and the Board of                            
Marine Pilots; extending the termination date of the                           
Board of Marine Pilots; and providing for an                                   
effective date."                                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance              
Committees.