Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
04/12/2021 09:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB99 | |
| HB117 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 99 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 117 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 109 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 99
"An Act relating to the State Physical Therapy and
Occupational Therapy Board; relating to the practice
of physical therapy; and relating to the practice of
occupational therapy."
9:03:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MATT CLAMAN, SPONSOR, introduced himself and
shared that he was carrying the bill at the request of the
Alaska physical and occupational therapy associations. He
read from prepared remarks:
House Bill 99 amends the governing statutes for
physical therapists, physical therapy assistants,
occupational therapists, and occupational therapy
assistants practicing in Alaska. The changes it makes
are designed to bring Alaska statutes in line with
national standards and terminology and overall make
the administrative experience of these professionals
more efficient and up to date. This bill is supported
by the state Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
Board, which believes House Bill 99 will help the
board in its work to protect the public. A letter
stating their support is in your packet.
Currently, physical therapists, physical therapy
assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational
therapy assistants are represented by the state
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board. This
board is made up of one physician, three physical
therapists, two occupational therapists, and one
member of the public. The first change made by this
bill is to remove the physician from this board and
replace them with another occupational therapist.
Thereby balancing the representation of the
professionals on the board. There's good reason for
this. When the statute was originally written, the
work of physical and occupational therapists required
referral by a physician. This has not been the case in
Alaska for more than 30 years.
House Bill 99 also enables the board to discipline a
therapist who commits infractions under AS 08.84.120,
such as conviction of a felony, gross negligence, or
abuse of alcohol. Currently, the board has the ability
to revoke or deny a license based on infractions but
has no ability to discipline. This bill also clarifies
the language and the requirements for those therapists
who receive their training outside of the United
States, ensuring that their training is equivalent to
a U.S. professional physical therapy training program
and also exempting therapists trained in an English
language program for having to take an English
proficiency test.
Furthermore, this bill updates language in Alaska
statutes that references an accrediting entity that no
longer exists and makes the language more general,
allowing the state board to designate the appropriate
accrediting entity as needed.
9:06:20 AM
Representative Claman continued reading from a prepared
statement:
Several other updates to terminology are made to
update the language. House Bill 99 does not constitute
a restructuring of the relevant statute, but it
contains a number of long awaited changes. This is a
way to make it easier for professionals to do business
in Alaska.
JOEY BOSWORTH, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE MATT CLAMAN, stated
his understanding that the committee did not need a review
of the sectional analysis.
Co-Chair Merrick concurred. She OPENED public testimony.
ALEC KAY, PRESIDENT, ALASKA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN
PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION (via teleconference),
testified in support of the legislation. He discussed that
the bill was primarily language modernization and
improvement for the practice. Additionally, the bill would
provide more clarity for the public. He pointed out that
the bill was supported by several licensees who had written
letters, the state licensing board, and the member
association of chiropractors in Alaska. He hoped the bill
would move forward to improve the practice and protections
of the public. He thanked the committee.
Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony.
9:08:44 AM
AT EASE
9:09:35 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Merrick asked the Legislative Finance Division
(LFD) to speak to the fiscal note.
SABRINA JAVIER, FISCAL ANALYST, LEGISLATIVE FINANCE
DIVISION (via teleconference), reported that LFD had no
technical issues with the fiscal note. She was available
for questions.
Co-Chair Merrick shared that the committee had been told
the board had sufficient funds to cover the $2,300 fiscal
note. She asked if LFD believed the committee could zero-
out the note.
Ms. Javier answered that based on the FY 20 annual
professional licensing report, the board had a surplus of
over $280,000; therefore, LFD believed the department could
potentially absorb the one-time cost of $2,300.
Representative Josephson agreed the board could afford it,
but he had never seen a fee borne by the Division of
Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (CBPL)
absorbed by the board itself.
Ms. Javier answered that it was merely a suggestion to
committee members to take into consideration. She deferred
to the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development (DCCED) about absorbing costs in prior fiscal
notes.
9:12:06 AM
SHARON WALSH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS,
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING (CBPL) (via
teleconference), believed Representative Josephson was
asking whether costs associated with the program could be
absorbed and whether the fee was for regulation or legal
costs.
Representative Josephson clarified his support for the
bill. He had no problem with the fiscal note. However, he
remarked that he had never seen a board charged with the
cost of a fiscal note.
Ms. Walsh answered that the practice was pretty standard
based on her understanding of fiscal notes.
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to REPORT HB 99 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HB 99 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with one previously published fiscal
impact note: FN1 (CED).
9:13:47 AM
AT EASE
9:18:37 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Merrick noted that Representative Johnson had
joined the meeting.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HFIN HB117 Follow-Up Information from CBPL (4.12.21).pdf |
HFIN 4/12/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 117 |
| HB 117 Follow-up Midwoves Assoc 041021.pdf |
HFIN 4/12/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 117 |