05/05/2023 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

            HB 137-PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT                                                                       
          HB 138-AUD. & SPEECH-LANG INTERSTATE COMPACT                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:25:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  RUFFRIDGE announced that  the next order  of business                                                               
would be  HOUSE BILL NO. 137,  "An Act relating to  an interstate                                                               
physical therapy licensure compact;  relating to the licensure of                                                               
physical therapists, physical  therapist assistants, occupational                                                               
therapists,  and occupational  therapy assistants;  and providing                                                               
for an effective date." and "An  Act relating to an audiology and                                                               
speech-language interstate  compact; relating to the  practice of                                                               
audiology  and the  practice  of  speech-language pathology;  and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:26:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RACHAEL GUNN, Staff, Representative  Stanley Wright, Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of Representative Wright,  prime sponsor,                                                               
stated that HB  137 would bring Alaska in  the Physical Therapist                                                               
Licensure Compact.  She addressed  HB 138 [which was heard during                                                               
the  meeting at  3:35  p.m.],  on behalf  of  the prime  sponsor,                                                               
Representative Wright.   She stated  that HB 138 would  bring the                                                               
state  into   the  Audiologist  and  Speech   Language  Therapist                                                               
Compact.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:26:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  RUFFRIDGE opened public  testimony on HB 137  [and HB
].                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:26:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ERICK  CORDERO  GIORGANA,   Vice  President,  Operations,  Alaska                                                               
Policy Forum (APF),  stated that APF supports both HB  137 and HB
   because   these   proposed   bills   would   increase   the                                                               
opportunities for  professionals in  these fields.   He explained                                                               
that   licensure  compacts   reduce   barriers   caused  by   the                                                               
differences in requirements from state  to state.  He argued that                                                               
these  compacts would  ultimately attract  more professionals  to                                                               
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:29:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  expressed concern about APF's  support for                                                               
the  proposed  legislation;  however,  he stated  that  he  would                                                               
continue his support.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:29:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  asked whether APF has  a blanket position                                                               
on licensure compacting.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GIORGANA  answered  that   it  supports  licensure  compacts                                                               
regardless of the [medical profession] addressed in a bill.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:30:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALEC  KAY, President,  Alaska Chapter  of  the American  Physical                                                               
Therapy Association,  stated that  the American  Physical Therapy                                                               
Association  supports  HB 137,  as  it  will improve  safety  and                                                               
access to  care.   He said  that Alaska  faces delays  in gaining                                                               
licensure, leading  professionals to  choose other  states, which                                                               
has a negative economic and healthcare impact on the state.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:33:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARGE STONEKING,  Lobbyist, AARP Alaska, stated  that AARP Alaska                                                               
supports HB 137 and HB 138,  as these bills would increase access                                                               
to  care  for  Alaska's  aging population.    She  expressed  the                                                               
opinion  that  the  compacts  would   reduce  the  barriers  when                                                               
recruiting professionals from other states.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:35:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  RUFFRIDGE after  ascertaining that  there was  no one                                                               
else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 137.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that HB 137 was held over.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
          HB 138-AUD. & SPEECH-LANG INTERSTATE COMPACT                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:35:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  announced that  the next order  of business  would be                                                               
[the continuation of] HOUSE BILL NO.  138, "An Act relating to an                                                               
audiology  and speech-language  interstate  compact; relating  to                                                               
the  practice of  audiology and  the practice  of speech-language                                                               
pathology; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:35:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE [continued] public testimony on HB 138.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:36:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID  JAMISON, representing  self, stated  that he  is a  speech                                                               
therapist and offered support for HB  138.  He said that there is                                                               
a severe  shortage of speech  therapists in Alaska  and expressed                                                               
the opinion  that joining  the compact  would reduce  barriers in                                                               
recruitment.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:37:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER questioned  the  current  length of  time                                                               
before licensure would be granted.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR.  JAMISON answered  that, before  licensure is  granted, there                                                               
are  other required  certifications.   He  said  that the  entire                                                               
process can  take up to six  months.  In response  to a follow-up                                                               
question, he  said that the bill  would reduce the time  frame by                                                               
at least  six weeks.   He answered  that the proposed  bill would                                                               
not reduce the amount of  time required to gain certification for                                                               
the various insurance companies.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:42:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANDREA  TOTH, President,  Alaska Speech  and Hearing  Association                                                               
(ASHA), shared  that she has  worked as a speech  therapist since                                                               
1993 and expressed  support for HB 138.  She  argued that joining                                                               
the compact  would improve care  for military families  and allow                                                               
military spouses to  begin work more quickly  in their associated                                                               
medical fields.   She  stated that ASHA  supports the  bill, and,                                                               
because Alaska  does not  have an  audiology and  speech language                                                               
therapist board, ASHA could provide oversight.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:44:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER  questioned the  licensure  certification                                                               
process for audiologists and speech language therapists.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS.  TOTH answered  that national  certification  is required  to                                                               
receive  a license  in Alaska  and offered  that ASHA  is already                                                               
involved in this process.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:45:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  RUFFRIDGE, after ascertaining  that there was  no one                                                               
else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 138.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that HB 138 was held over.