03/11/2020 09:00 AM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 127                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the practice of dental hygiene;                                                                        
     establishing an advanced practice permit; prohibiting                                                                      
     unfair  discrimination  under  group  health  insurance                                                                    
     against  a  dental  hygienist  who  holds  an  advanced                                                                    
     practice  permit; relating  to  medical assistance  for                                                                    
     dental   hygiene  services;   and   providing  for   an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:04:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Foster   MOVED   to  ADOPT   proposed   committee                                                                    
substitute  for  HB  127,  Work  Draft  31-LS0836\S  (Fisher                                                                    
3/10/20).                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnston OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
ERIN   SHINE,  STAFF,   REPRESENTATIVE  JENNIFER   JOHNSTON,                                                                    
reported that  the proposed CS,  version S, made  one change                                                                    
on  page 6,  line  23.  The effective  date  was changed  to                                                                    
January 1, 2021. In conversations  with the sponsor and with                                                                    
the Division of Business  and Professional Licensing the new                                                                    
effective  date  would  provide enough  time  to  promulgate                                                                    
regulations.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnston WITHDREW her OBJECTION.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:05:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE IVY  SPOHNHOLZ, SPONSOR, explained  that bill                                                                    
created an  advanced practice  permit for  dental hygienists                                                                    
which would allow experienced  licensed dental hygienists to                                                                    
apply for  a license  to provide  preventative oral  care to                                                                    
underserved  populations.  Underserved populations  included                                                                    
people at  senior centers, healthcare  facilities, daycares,                                                                    
schools,  and for  Alaskans eligible  for Public  Assistance                                                                    
who  were   homebound  or  who   lived  in   an  underserved                                                                    
community.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster  MOVED  to  report  CSHB  127(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 127(FIN) was  REPORTED OUT of Committee  with seven "do                                                                    
pass"   recommendations   and   four   "no   recommendation"                                                                    
recommendations and  with one  new zero  fiscal note  by the                                                                    
Department of Commerce,  Community and Economic Development,                                                                    
one new  zero fiscal  note by the  Department of  Health and                                                                    
Social  Services, and  one  new fiscal  impact  note by  the                                                                    
Department of Health and Social Services.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:06:30 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:06:43 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED