05/17/2021 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 117                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of                                                                     
     Certified Direct-Entry Midwives; and providing for an                                                                      
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:34:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop discussed housekeeping.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:34:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  considered the extension and  sunset date for                                                                    
the  Board of  Direct-Entry Midwives.  He expressed  concern                                                                    
that if there  was a critical issue the  extension should be                                                                    
for one year and not two.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:35:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KRIS  CURTIS,   LEGISLATIVE  AUDITOR,  ALASKA   DIVISION  OF                                                                    
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, stated that  logistically with a one-year                                                                    
extension, the  Division of Legislative  Audit needed  to do                                                                    
the audit  the year before  the extension date,  which would                                                                    
mean starting immediately and the  division did not have the                                                                    
resources to do the work right  now. She had been unaware of                                                                    
the  division ever  granting a  one-year  extension and  had                                                                    
reached out  to the prior legislative  auditor, who revealed                                                                    
it  had occurred  approximately twice  in the  past. It  was                                                                    
possible to  do a one-year  extension, but it  would require                                                                    
an  audit to  be done  within a  short period  of time.  She                                                                    
believed that two years would  give enough time to determine                                                                    
the issues with the board.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:36:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson understood  that  Ms.  Curtis was  suggesting                                                                    
that it was more practical to wait two years.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:37:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson MOVED to report  HB 117 out of Committee with                                                                    
individual  recommendations  and   the  accompanying  fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
HB  117 was  REPORTED  out  of committee  with  a "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation and with one new  fiscal impact note from the                                                                    
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.