05/09/2024 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 126                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the Board of Professional                                                                              
     Counselors; and relating to licensing of associate                                                                         
     counselors."                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:12:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for                                                                      
HB 126, Work Draft 33-LS0405\H (Gunther, 5/6/24).                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for DISCUSSION.                                                                                         
9:12:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY  OLSON, explained the CS. He                                                                    
stated that  there was a  technical error in Section  14 and                                                                    
stated  that the  language about  the  location where  tele-                                                                    
health providers  could serve had  been corrected.  He noted                                                                    
that there  was a  title change  resolution attached  to the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson  WITHDREW  the  OBJECTION.  There  being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:14:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   STANLEY   WRIGHT,  SPONSOR,   thanked   the                                                                    
committee. He explained  that he agreed with  the changes in                                                                    
the legislation.  He provided a personal  anecdote about his                                                                    
sons  therapeutic journey and the  burden of the wait to get                                                                    
him services. He  hoped the bill would  save other Alaskans                                                                     
time and stress.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:15:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RACHAEL GUNN, STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE STANLEY WRIGHT, thanked                                                                    
the committee.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson  MOVED  to  REPORT   SCS  HB  126(FIN)  from                                                                    
committee  with  individual   recommendations  and  attached                                                                    
fiscal note.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
There being NO  OBJECTION, SCS HB 126(FIN)  was REPORTED out                                                                    
of  committee with  four "do  pass" recommendations  and two                                                                    
"no recommendation" recommendations  and with one previously                                                                    
published  fiscal   impact  note:   FN7  (CED);   and  three                                                                    
previously  published  zero  fiscal notes:  FN4  (DOH),  FN5                                                                    
(DOH), and FN6 (DOH).