03/05/2003 09:02 AM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 74(FIN)(efd add)                                                                                     
     "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of                                                                     
     Nursing; and providing for an effective date."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the first  hearing  for this  bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Wilken explained  that this legislation  would extend  the                                                            
Board of Nursing for eight  years, as recommended by the Division of                                                            
Legislative Audit.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY DALHSTROM  affirmed that this legislation would                                                            
extend the Board of Nursing  until June 30, 2011. She mentioned that                                                            
the representation  on the Board is  defined in Alaska statutes  and                                                            
that the Governor  appoints Board  members. She explained  that such                                                            
things as  conducting investigations  regarding  complaints  against                                                            
nurses  and  the  establishment   of  minimum  education   and  work                                                            
requirements  for nurses are  duties of the  Board. She stated  that                                                            
the "impeccable"  record of the Board and the cost  of conducting an                                                            
audit warrant the length of the extension recommendation.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
KIMBERLY HANGER,  Staff to Representative Nancy Dahlstrom,  informed                                                            
the Committee  that the Division of  Legislative Audit report  dated                                                            
August 16, 2002 [copy on  file] supports the extension of the Board.                                                            
She detailed the findings of the report.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  asked whether  the field of  nurse practitioners  has                                                            
representation on the Board.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Dahlstrom responded in the negative.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bunde asked  whether the  Board has  addressed the  State's                                                            
nursing shortage situation.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Dahlstrom answered  that the  Board is working  with                                                            
other pertinent  boards and organizations to address  the situation.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  inquired as to the status of Recommendation  Number                                                            
Two as presented in the Audit Report.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Recommendation  2:  The Board  of  Nursing should  develop  and                                                            
     implement   a   self-evaluation    monitoring   checklist   for                                                            
     organizations operating  approved certified nurse aide training                                                            
     programs.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Hanger  responded that in response  to this recommendation,  the                                                            
Board is currently  holding meetings with the various  organizations                                                            
that conduct training programs.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green moved to  report HB 74 from Committee with individual                                                            
recommendations and accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being  no objection,  CS HB  74 (FIN)(efd  add) REPORTED  from                                                            
Committee with  a previous fiscal note, dated February  28, 2003, in                                                            
the amount of  $712.7 from the Department of Community  and Economic                                                            
Development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AT EASE 9:13 AM / 9:15 AM                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green chaired the remainder of the meeting.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator B. Stevens introduced  fifteen-year-old DAVID ANTHONY MURROW                                                            
as  guest page.  He  informed  the Committee  that  Master  Murrow's                                                            
interests include  travel, drama, and backpacking,  and he continued                                                            
Master Murrow  aspires to  be involved  in international  relations,                                                            
politics  and espionage.  He additionally  noted that Master  Murrow                                                            
would be journeying  to Mexico to  participate in a yearlong  Rotary                                                            
International Student Exchange Program.