Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120

02/13/2024 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS

Note: the audio and video recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.

Download Mp3. <- Right click and save file as

* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ HB 228 MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCHEDELIC MED. TASK FORCE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+= HB 158 MILITARY; UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
        HB 228-MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCHEDELIC MED. TASK FORCE                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:12:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WRIGHT announced that the  final order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO. 228,  "An  Act  establishing the  Alaska  mental                                                               
health and psychedelic medicine task  force; and providing for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:12:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JENNIE ARMSTRONG, Alaska State Legislature, as                                                                   
prime sponsor, read the sponsor statement [included in committee                                                                
packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     HB  228  seeks  to  create a  task  force  to  consider                                                                    
     barriers to the implementation  of and equitable access                                                                    
     to certain psychedelic medicines  ahead of the expected                                                                    
     FDA  authorization1 of  prescription  drugs that  would                                                                    
     fall under this category.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     The  task  force  will report  to  the  Legislature  by                                                                    
     December  31, 2024  what regulations  or other  changes                                                                    
     are  necessary  in the  state  for  Alaskans to  safely                                                                    
     benefit  from these  new treatments  for mental  health                                                                    
     issues  such as  treatment-resistant depression,  post-                                                                    
     traumatic stress  disorder, substance use  disorder and                                                                    
     other mental health issues common in Alaska.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Alaska has  the highest  share of veterans  per capita2                                                                    
     and one  of the highest  suicide rates in  the nation.3                                                                    
     Coupled with  also being a  state where 43.3%  of women                                                                    
     and  30.2%   of  men  in  Alaska   experience  domestic                                                                    
     violence  and related  crimes  in  their lifetimes  and                                                                    
     where  84%  of   American  Indian/Alaska  Native  women                                                                    
     experience violence,4  there is  a potential  for these                                                                    
     medicines to  have a profoundly positive  impact on the                                                                    
     mental health crises we see  statewide. This task force                                                                    
     is an  opportunity to  ensure we  are prepared  for the                                                                    
     potential federal  medicalization of  these life-saving                                                                    
     and life-changing medicines.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:13:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 1:13 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:15:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER moved to adopt the proposed committee                                                                   
substitute (CS) for HB 228, Version 33-LS0976\Y, Bergerud,                                                                      
2/9/24, as the working document.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:16:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALVIN  ZUELOW, Staff,  Representative  Jennie Armstrong,  Alaska                                                               
State Legislature,  on behalf of Representative  Armstrong, prime                                                               
sponsor, read the  summary changes from version R  to Y [included                                                               
in   committee  packet],   which   read   as  follows   [original                                                               
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     1. In  section 1  (a), after "The  purpose of  the task                                                                    
     force  is  to,"  new  language   is  added  that  reads                                                                    
     "prepare   for   the    potential   medicalization   of                                                                    
     psychedelic  medicines by  the United  States Food  and                                                                    
     Drug Administration; to  make policy recommendations to                                                                    
     the Alaska  State Legislature concerning  insurance and                                                                    
     licensure,   given    the   unique   nature    of   the                                                                    
     administration of psychedelic  medicines; and to ensure                                                                    
     the state  is prepared if psychedelic  medicines become                                                                    
     available for prescription."  This change clarifies the                                                                    
     purpose of the  task force is only to  ensure the state                                                                    
     is  prepared  if   the  federal  government  authorizes                                                                    
     prescriptions  of  psychedelic  medicines, and  not  to                                                                    
     advocate   for  or   against   the  medicalization   of                                                                    
     psychedelics.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     2. In  section 1 (a)  (4), the existing  language which                                                                    
     reads "consider  legal and  regulatory pathways  to the                                                                    
     legalization  of psychedelic  medicines  in the  state,                                                                    
     and the  potential effects of  the medicines  on public                                                                    
     health" is replaced with  language that reads "consider                                                                    
     legal and  regulatory changes  that could  be necessary                                                                    
     in  the   state  after  federal  medical   approval  of                                                                    
     psychedelic  medicines." This  change is  also made  to                                                                    
     clarify the purpose and work of the task force.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     3.  In section  1 (b)  (5), the  language "one  of whom                                                                    
     must be a recognized  ethnoherbalist," is deleted. This                                                                    
     change is made  to give the Alaska  Native Health Board                                                                    
     more latitude  to choose  their representatives  to the                                                                    
     task force.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     4.  A  new  subsection  is  added as  1  (b)  (8),  and                                                                    
     following   subsections   are   renumbered.   The   new                                                                    
     subsection 1  (b) (8)  reads: "One  member representing                                                                    
     licensed  therapists or  counselors,  appointed by  the                                                                    
     board   of   directors    of   the   Alaska   Addiction                                                                    
     Professionals  Association."   This  change  recognizes                                                                    
     that therapists or counselors would  be involved in the                                                                    
     administration  of  psychedelic  medicines and  adds  a                                                                    
     representative from the field to the task force.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     5. In section 1 (e),  the language "but are entitled to                                                                    
     per diem and travel  expenses authorized for boards and                                                                    
     commissions  under  AS   39.20.180"  is  deleted.  This                                                                    
     change removes state funding for board travel.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     6. Section 1 (f) (2)  which instructs the task force to                                                                    
     "ensure   members   are   available   for   legislative                                                                    
     hearings" is deleted, as the  task force will terminate                                                                    
     before the next legislative session.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     7.   Section  1   (g)  is   reworded  to   clarify  the                                                                    
     termination date of the task  force is when the Thirty-                                                                    
     Fourth  Alaska Legislature  convenes  in January  2025,                                                                    
     not when  the Thirty-Fifth Alaska  Legislature convenes                                                                    
     in January  2027. This change aligns  with the existing                                                                    
     task force report due date of December 31, 2024.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:19:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER removed his objection.  There being no                                                                 
further objection, Version Y was before the committee.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:19:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG began the  PowerPoint presentation on HB
228 [hardcopy  included in  committee packet]  on slide  2, which                                                               
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     This task  force will not  consider or take  a position                                                                    
     on    the    medicalization,    decriminalization    or                                                                    
     legalization of psychedelic medicines.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTONG moved  to slide 3, which  read as follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The purpose of the task force                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     This   task  force   will  craft   a   set  of   policy                                                                    
     recommendations  for the  34th legislature  to consider                                                                    
     in advance  of the potential medicalization  of certain                                                                    
     psychedelic  medicines by  the FDA  so that  we can  be                                                                    
     prepared if and when that happens.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Assess  the potential  use of  psychedelic medicine  in                                                                    
     addressing the state's ongoing mental health crisis                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Consider  barriers  to   implementation  and  equitable                                                                    
     access                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Consider   and   recommend  licensing   and   insurance                                                                    
     requirements for practitioners in the state                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Consider  legal and  regulatory changes  that could  be                                                                    
     necessary  in   the  state  7  after   federal  medical                                                                    
     approval of psychedelic medicines.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTONG  added that  several states  have already                                                               
established  such task  forces,  and some  have already  released                                                               
reports,    including   Utah,    Hawaii,   Washington,    Oregon,                                                               
Connecticut, and Nevada.   In 2021, Texas became  the first state                                                               
to  enact  a  psychedelic  research bill;  the  state  itself  is                                                               
funding  a trial  that would  administer  psilocybin to  veterans                                                               
with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:24:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG  transitioned to slide 4,  which read as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Why is this important?                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     The FDA  approves about 43  novel drugs each  year, but                                                                    
     not all  of them have the  potential to make as  big of                                                                    
     an impact as psychedelic medicines.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     "Popular   media  is   inundated  with   overwhelmingly                                                                    
     positive references  to these drugs... The  high degree                                                                    
     of  enthusiasm  and  anticipation  is  beyond  anything                                                                    
     we've ever seen with any unapproved psychiatric drug."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Dr.  Javier  Muniz, a  senior  official  at the  F.D.A.                                                                    
     division that evaluates new drugs                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:24:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG switched to slide 5, which read as                                                                     
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Alaska  is suffering  from an  acute mental  health and                                                                    
     addiction crisis                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     MENTAL HEALTH                                                                                                              
   • 3rd highest suicide rate in the country                                                                                    
     ADDICTION                                                                                                                  
   • 35.6 drug overdose deaths per 100,000                                                                                      
     VIOLENCE                                                                                                                   
   • Highest rate of women killed by men for the 7th year                                                                       
     in a row                                                                                                                   
   • 58 out of every 100 women have experienced intimate                                                                        
     partner violence, sexual violence or both                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG switched to slide 6, which read as                                                                     
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     "If  I hadn't  gone through  it,  my son  would have  a                                                                    
     folded flag, and  instead, he has a father.  I think we                                                                    
     need more mothers and fathers and less folded flags."                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     -Jonathan   Lubecky,   Army   Veteran   who   underwent                                                                    
     psychedelic treatment                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
   • Alaska has the largest share of Veterans per capita in                                                                     
     the U.S.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
   • Veterans   have  a   57%  higher   suicide  rate   than                                                                    
     nonveterans                                                                                                                
   • ~2 of 10 Veterans with  PTSD also have substrance (sic)                                                                    
     use disorder                                                                                                               
   • In  the wars  in Iraq  and Afghanistan,  about 1  in 10                                                                    
     returning Veterans seen  by the VA have  a problem with                                                                    
     alcohol or other drugs.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
   • In  November 2023,  the  VA said  it  was committed  to                                                                    
     studying psychedelics for PTSD treatment                                                                                   
   o "There   are   several   studies   at   VA   facilities                                                                    
     researching  psychedelic-assisted  therapy  for  mental                                                                    
     health,  and  the   department  is  closely  monitoring                                                                    
     outside research."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:26:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG moved to slide 7, which read as follows                                                                
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     We can make sure Alaska is ready                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     By bringing together a diverse  group of folks who will                                                                    
     offer  policy recommendations  to  the Legislature,  we                                                                    
     can make  sure that Alaska  is able to  safely maximize                                                                    
     the  benefits these  new medicines  can provide  to our                                                                    
     state.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     CLINICAL TRIALS MAP:                                                                                                       
     https://psychedelics.berkeley.edu/                                                                                         
     clinical-trials-map/                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     KEY DATES                                                                                                                  
   • 2017: FDA  designated MDMA-assisted therapy for  PTSD a                                                                    
     Breakthrough Therapy.                                                                                                      
   • 2021: MAPS  PBC conducted  two Phase 3  clinical trials                                                                    
     for its MDMA therapy                                                                                                       
   o Both showed  that patients had  "clinically significant                                                                    
     improvements"  in  PTSD  symptoms after  receiving  the                                                                    
     treatment.                                                                                                                 
   o The results of  the second Phase 3  trial, published in                                                                    
     2023  in   Nature  Medicine,   showed  that   71.2%  of                                                                  
     participant receiving  the MDMA  therapy no  longer met                                                                    
     diagnostic criteria for PTSD at the end of the study.                                                                      
   • December 13,  2023: MAPS PBC  formally submitted  a New                                                                    
     Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA                                                                                          
   o If approved, would be the first new FDA-approved PTSD                                                                      
     treatment in more than 20 years.                                                                                           
   • February 9, 2024: FDA accepted the application and                                                                         
     granted it Priority Review                                                                                                 
   • August   2024:    FDA   expected   to    announce   its                                                                    
     determination                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:30:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RAUSCHER  asked  about   the  71.2  percent  that                                                               
received the  trial MDMA  therapy and  what the  total population                                                               
was.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG offered her  understanding that MAPS has                                                               
had about  1,700 people undergo  trials, but said she  can follow                                                               
up with the exact figure.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:30:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY  asked why  a task force  is needed  for this                                                               
psychiatric medication but not others.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG  explained that MDMA therapy  is done in                                                               
a prescribed setting; the person  takes the MDMA three times over                                                               
three different eight-hour therapy  sessions with a therapist, as                                                               
well as 12 drug-free therapy sessions.   She said a task force is                                                               
needed  because licensing  this  medication, and  ensuring it  is                                                               
affordable through insurance, is important.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRAY offered  that  there  are other  treatments,                                                               
like  electro-convulsive  therapy  for  depression,  that  didn't                                                               
require a  task force.  He  questioned the choice of  assigning a                                                               
task  force  instead  of  the   medical  facility  itself  making                                                               
decisions around the drug.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ARMSTRONG  pointed  out that  medical  facilities                                                               
cannot  make  licensing determinations.    She  said that  a  new                                                               
licensing structure  needs to be  created in Alaska  to determine                                                               
who can be licensed and what qualifies them.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY commented that  veterans get care through the                                                               
Department of  Veterans Affairs and hospitals,  which are federal                                                               
institutions  that follow  federal  guidelines.   He  said he  is                                                               
unsure that  a state task force  would have any authority  over a                                                               
federal facility and what it does with its patients.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   ARMSTRONG  answered   that  there   are  several                                                               
insurance  groups  in  the  state,  including  Veterans  Affairs,                                                               
Medicaid, and  Medicare.  She  said the task force  would examine                                                               
the groups and determine what they are allowed to do.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:35:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said  he is not sure if  the House Special                                                               
Committee on  Military and Veterans'  Affairs is the  right place                                                               
to argue the  benefits of this medication.  He  stressed that the                                                               
bill  is   totally  contingent   on  the   U.S.  Food   and  Drug                                                               
Administration (FDA)  approving psychedelic drugs  for treatment.                                                               
He  suggested that  the state  wait  until the  FDA approves  the                                                               
drug, before making the preparations.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG  responded that the FDA  has given every                                                               
indication that  it would approve the  drug in August.   She said                                                               
if  the state  were  to  wait until  after  FDA  approval, it  is                                                               
unknown when the drug would  go into production and distribution;                                                               
if the drug were made  immediately available and people in Alaska                                                               
wanted it,  they could  not get  it because no  one in  the state                                                               
would be  licensed to  access it  yet.  She  said the  task force                                                               
would  meet   this  year  and   provide  a  report   with  policy                                                               
recommendations at the end of the year.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  asked whether psychedelic drugs  would be                                                               
beneficial.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG  answered that she cannot  speak to that                                                               
but pointed to  clinical trials with positive results.   She said                                                               
the  state could  benefit from  this  treatment due  to its  high                                                               
rates of mental health issues.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER reiterated  that it  would be  prudent to                                                               
wait for the FDA to approve the drug.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:39:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WRIGHT asked why there is not  a seat on the task force for                                                               
pharmacy.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG  acknowledged that a pharmacist  was not                                                               
added to  the task force; however,  she noted that when  the drug                                                               
is  scheduled, the  prior pharmaceutical  process would  transfer                                                               
over.  She said she is open to changes.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:40:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked what agency reviews new drugs.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:41:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICAELA FOWLER, Deputy Commissioner,  Office of the Commissioner,                                                               
Department  of  Commerce,  Community, and  Economic  Development,                                                               
answered that  the Board of  Pharmacy reviews new drugs  but does                                                               
not approve drugs for distribution.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER inquired whether  board review is normal                                                               
following FDA action.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS.  FOWLER  responded  that  she  anticipates,  should  the  FDA                                                               
approve the drugs, there would be communications to many boards.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:42:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GROH asked  the  sponsor to  elaborate about  the                                                               
benefits of the medication for veterans.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG  answered that  the benefit is  that the                                                               
veteran  goes  into  PTSD  remission,  thereby  surviving.    She                                                               
reiterated the MDMA therapy process.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:45:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY  asked for  assurance that  there would  be a                                                               
special  license required  for this  medication that  wouldn't be                                                               
required for others.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ARMSTRONG responded  that this  medicine requires                                                               
specialized care and training [for  those administering it].  She                                                               
stressed that  there must be a  task force so that  the treatment                                                               
process can be fine-tuned.  She  said there would be greater harm                                                               
in  allowing insurance  companies to  charge what  they want,  as                                                               
well as allowing anyone to practice using this treatment.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRAY asked  if the  task force  would serve  as a                                                               
barrier from the drugs being rolled out immediately.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG  answered that  the purpose of  the task                                                               
force is to answer questions such  as whether the drug is easy to                                                               
get or who should qualify.  She  said the task force would not be                                                               
a barrier; it would speed the process up.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRAY   said  that  if  special   licenses  aren't                                                               
required and it  does become a new  prescription medication, then                                                               
any  one with  a  medical license  who  can prescribe  medication                                                               
would prescribe it.   He asked about the finding  that not having                                                               
a task  force would slow down  access when there are  other drugs                                                               
that are just approved.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ARMSTRONG explained  that  there  are many  anti-                                                               
depressants  that   are  not   blanket  prescribed   and  require                                                               
referrals.   She said the  qualifying process for  patients needs                                                               
to be thoroughly vetted.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:49:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER  asked if  the appropriate  boards could                                                               
come together and jointly meet.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. FOWLER answered  yes, the boards could come  together to have                                                               
cross-professional discussions.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER  inquired as  to whether, if  the intent                                                               
is to apply subject matter experts  to manage this drug, the task                                                               
force requires FDA guidelines.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:51:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG answered that the FDA has provided non-                                                                
binding  guidelines,  as  well  as 20  years  of  clinical  data.                                                               
Regarding whether  the boards can  meet jointly to  discuss this,                                                               
she   said   that   the    task   force's   membership   includes                                                               
representatives  from  the  Alaska  Native  Health  Board  and  a                                                               
licensed therapist;  there are different stakeholder  groups that                                                               
need to be represented.   She noted that culturally informed care                                                               
is an important aspect of care  that the task force would need to                                                               
discuss.   She added that  the fiscal  note is from  the original                                                               
version of the bill, and that  there will be an updated note once                                                               
the department has reviewed the committee substitute.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER questioned  if  there  has been  anyone                                                               
that  has  shown interest  in  starting  a business  around  this                                                               
medicine.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ARMSTRONG responded  that some  of the  companies                                                               
are looking at the creation of  new medicine.  She said there are                                                               
municipalities  that  have  de-criminalized the  medicine.    She                                                               
pointed  to  Oregon  as  the   only  state  that  legalized  such                                                               
medicines.      She   shared  that   she   is   already   getting                                                               
advertisements  for Ketamine  therapy  in Anchorage,  so as  time                                                               
goes on, there may be more places offering the treatment.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:55:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BETH LAW shared that she is  a retired colonel living in Wasilla,                                                               
who spent  34 years in military  service, 14 of which  were spent                                                               
as active duty  in Alaska, and she was  deployed during Operation                                                               
Iraqi Freedom.   She further  shared that she  survived alcoholic                                                               
parents, sexual assaults,  and rape.  She said that  in 2009, she                                                               
was diagnosed  with stage IV lung  cancer and given two  years to                                                               
live.  She  was her sister's caregiver, who passed  away in 2012;                                                               
she was her father's  until he passed in 2014; in  2015 she was a                                                               
caregiver for  a close  friend, who  also passed.   She  said she                                                               
experienced  years   of  being   on  anti-depressants   and  mood                                                               
stabilizers for her combat experience  as well as for her anxiety                                                               
and depression.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. LAW stated  that she has first-hand  experience in psilocybin                                                               
treatment through  a retreat in Jamaica  called Myco Meditations.                                                               
There  is an  initial  session with  group  therapy, followed  by                                                               
three different  doses; the set  and setting are important.   She                                                               
explained that the facility does  not admit bi-polar individuals,                                                               
nor  narcissists,  as the  treatment  has  much  to do  with  the                                                               
person's subconscious and  conscious mind.  She  said that during                                                               
her  one-week  treatment,  she   did  three  different  doses  of                                                               
psilocybin  mushrooms, and  a therapist  was always  present with                                                               
her; each  dosing lasts  about six hours.   Following  each dose,                                                               
she underwent an integration period  which had her relay what she                                                               
had experienced  and make  sense of  it.   She stressed  that the                                                               
treatment is not a vacation, it  is structured with a doctor that                                                               
administers  the medicine.   She  shared that  her fear  of dying                                                               
went away  after her treatment  in Jamaica, and though  she knows                                                               
she has cancer, it is  not something she constantly thinks about.                                                               
She said  she cannot say  enough good things about  the treatment                                                               
and how much it helped her.   She added that she knows people who                                                               
had  experience with  MDMA, Ketamine,  and  psilocybin, and  said                                                               
that  MDMA  and Ketamine  far  outweigh  psilocybin in  terms  of                                                               
therapeutic purposes.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:02:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL  DEMOLINA,  PhD,  LPCS,   CDCS,  MAC,  President,  Wisdom                                                               
Traditions  Counseling, shared  that he  went to  Fort Richardson                                                               
from  1988 to  1992,  and  at the  fort,  he treated  active-duty                                                               
Vietnam soldiers  as part of  the drug  and alcohol program.   He                                                               
commented that  he is and has  been the president and  founder of                                                               
an out-patient clinic in Anchorage for  35 years.  He shared that                                                               
he is a  national trainer in trauma informed  care using movement                                                               
desensitization, brain spotting,  and emotional freedom technique                                                               
(EFT) tapping;  the success rate  in treating  veterans increased                                                               
from 42 percent to  72 percent.  He said he  is open to questions                                                               
as he has been taking notes.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:05:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked what the medication does.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR.   DEMOLINA   answered   that   the   American   Psychiatrical                                                               
Association provides  a trauma informed care  rubric for exposure                                                               
therapy,  which  rewires  the  brain.     He  explained  that  in                                                               
comparison to the  normal treatment process, psychedelic-assisted                                                               
therapy shortens treatment times from  two years to three months,                                                               
as  well  as has  a  10  percent higher  level  of  success.   He                                                               
explained  the  part  of  the  brain  called  the  "default  mode                                                               
network," which  is the narrative  part of the brain;  the dosage                                                               
session neutralizes  the network  temporarily enough so  that the                                                               
person can come  back to their own embodied  experience of trauma                                                               
and tell a different story.   He said that much of the discussion                                                               
thus  far  has  highlighted  the importance  of  the  therapeutic                                                               
aspect of the  treatment, and that education will  need to happen                                                               
across the  nation about  the treatment.   He explained  that, in                                                               
psychedelic-assisted therapy,  the therapist must be  involved in                                                               
a preparation session  with the patient to let them  know what to                                                               
expect, followed  by an integration  session.  The last  20 years                                                               
of research has  been about determining what the  right amount of                                                               
dosage is  and what  the right  pattern of therapy  is.   He said                                                               
that  the  conditions  that are  excluded  from  this  treatment,                                                               
narcissism  and   bi-polar  disorder,   are  the  reason   he  is                                                               
advocating for  the bill;  this is a  different kind  of medicine                                                               
that needs medical clearance and has therapy sessions.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:09:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WRIGHT opened public testimony on HB 228.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:09:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SARA   KOZUP-EVON,   RN,   President-Elect,   Advanced   Practice                                                               
Registered  Nurses  Alliance  (APRN),  said that  APRN  works  on                                                               
policy   and   regulation   matters  around   advanced   practice                                                               
registered  nurses, and  works with  the Board  of Nursing.   She                                                               
explained that she is a  psychiatric nurse practitioner and owner                                                               
of a  small group  practice in Anchorage,  where she  has treated                                                               
patients  with  tri-care  and Veterans'  Affairs  insurance,  but                                                               
mainly works  with adults that  have mood and  anxiety disorders.                                                               
She shared  that she  completed a  year-long psychedelic-assisted                                                               
therapy training program.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. KOZUP-EVON  said that she is  calling for passage of  HB 228,                                                               
as  current mental  health  tools she  has  are inadequate,  like                                                               
individual therapy  and Prozac; however, bringing  in psychedelic                                                               
framework  has  been  a  game  changer for  her  patients.    She                                                               
explained  that  she  works  with Ketamine,  which  is  the  only                                                               
federally    legal   psychedelic-adjacent    medicine   currently                                                               
available in  clinical practice, which  she uses as  an off-label                                                               
treatment for PTSD and treatment-resistant  depression.  She said                                                               
that veterans in Alaska have  many unmet mental health needs, and                                                               
the ongoing  research on psychedelic  medicines shows  promise in                                                               
meeting  the  need.    The   medicines  make  the  patients  very                                                               
vulnerable,  which is  why thought  must be  put towards  who can                                                               
prescribe  the medicines,  as  well as  "holding  space" for  the                                                               
patient.  She  explained that advanced practice  nurses will play                                                               
a  role in  both prescribing  and administering  the therapy  for                                                               
this  medicine,  and  that collaboration  among  the  task  force                                                               
members  is  the  best  chance for  creating  an  accessible  and                                                               
ethical system of care for psychedelics.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:13:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY  asked if a  year-long drug course  should be                                                               
required in order to be licensed to use this medication.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR. KOZUP-EVON  answered that  the training can  be done  in less                                                               
than a  year.  She added  that additional training is  needed, as                                                               
the  psychedelic   framework  is  so  specific   to  address  the                                                               
increased vulnerability of patients.   The medicine also requires                                                               
ongoing ethical consultations in the community.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:14:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BAILEY STUART, Owner,  Stuart Consulting, said she  is in support                                                               
of HB 228, and  said it is in the best interest  of the state and                                                               
veterans that conversations are  about what takes place following                                                               
FDA approval of  psychedelics as medicine.  She  relayed that, in                                                               
January,  the Federal  Department of  Veterans' Affairs  issued a                                                               
request for  proposals to  study the  use of  certain psychedelic                                                               
compounds in  treating PTSD  and depression.   She  stressed that                                                               
there  should  be a  regulatory  framework  in place  before  FDA                                                               
approval.   She said  that the  future of  medicine, particularly                                                               
for  mental  health,  is  going in  the  direction  of  assisted-                                                               
psychedelic therapy.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:17:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATHLEEN  WEDEMEYER,  Deputy  Director,  Citizens  Commission  on                                                               
Human Rights,  said that  while version Y  of the  bill clarifies                                                               
that the state shall not  make legal or deliver psychedelic drugs                                                               
without  full  FDA approval,  the  Citizens  Commission on  Human                                                               
Rights' position  is "other."   She cautioned members  on setting                                                               
up  a system  of mental  health treatment  that trades  one brain                                                               
resetting drug  for another.   She read the following  quote from                                                               
former United Nations Special Rapporteur  on the Right to Health,                                                               
Dainius Puras:                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     "There is  now unequivocal evidence of  the failures of                                                                    
     a  system that  relies  too heavily  on the  biomedical                                                                    
     model of  mental health services, including  the front-                                                                    
     line and  excessive use of psychotropic  medicines, and                                                                    
     yet these models persist."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  WEDEMEYER said  psychedelics  are  unpredictable by  nature,                                                               
behave  differently  for each  person,  and  can have  long-term,                                                               
harmful  side   effects.    She   read  a  quote   from  forensic                                                               
psychiatrist Brian Holoyda:                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     "There  remains  insufficient  evidence  regarding  the                                                                    
     safety of  psilocybin, however.  In  addition, clinical                                                                    
     trials  have been  extremely exclusionary  in selecting                                                                    
     participants, so  there is little  data on  the effects                                                                    
     of  psilocybin in  real-world  populations of  patients                                                                    
     with psychiatric disorders."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. WEDEMEYER urged  members to examine other  avenues, like ones                                                               
detailed  in   the  World   Health  Organization's   guidance  on                                                               
community health services.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:19:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER stated  that  there is  a problem  with                                                               
prescription drug  abuse in the  country, and that drugs  used in                                                               
psychedelic  treatment are  significantly  different  drugs.   He                                                               
asked whether there  is evidence that show whether  the drugs are                                                               
not addictive, and how to prevent the drugs from being abused.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG  said she could  follow up with  a chart                                                               
to show the addictiveness level  of various drugs.  She explained                                                               
that in the  psychedelic medicine trials, there  has been nothing                                                               
to show that the drugs are  addictive.  She explained that people                                                               
would not be prescribed the medicine  and then be able to take it                                                               
home; the medicine is ingested  on-site with someone supervising.                                                               
She said that psychedelic-assisted therapy  is not something that                                                               
people would  want to do  repeatedly and suggested that  the task                                                               
force investigate and prevent "doctor shopping."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:22:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. WEDEMEYER added  that in the diagnostic manual,  there is now                                                               
a  hallucinogen  persisting  perception   disorder  listed  as  a                                                               
condition that occurs as a result of using hallucinogenic drugs.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER said  that, since  the legalization  of                                                               
marijuana, there are  numerous ways in which to  ingest the drug.                                                               
He  offered his  concern about  that the  drug, which  can put  a                                                               
person  in physical  care for  8 hours,  could be  abused by  the                                                               
public.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:24:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ARMSTRONG  responded  that  this  is  why  it  is                                                               
important to have a task force  on this matter as it could answer                                                               
questions around  the use  of the  drug.   She said  that medical                                                               
professionals in  the state are  preparing for  authorization and                                                               
legalization of these prescription drugs.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:25:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  DEMOLINA commented  that he  underwent  mental and  physical                                                               
(MAP)  training  for about  a  year  and  had done  the  training                                                               
because of  the inevitability of  "whatever our attitudes  are to                                                               
it."  He shared that he  already gets calls about people that are                                                               
flying  outside of  the country  to receive  psychedelic-assisted                                                               
therapy; clinics  are having to  respond to people who  have gone                                                               
but the  practice did not  have "wrap-around" service  or quality                                                               
control.  He offered his full  support in having standards on how                                                               
the therapy is rolled out.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:26:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRAY  asked  Ms.  Wedemeyer  about  the  Citizens                                                               
Commission  on  Human  Rights'  connection  with  the  Church  of                                                               
Scientology.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. WEDEMEYER answered  that they are sponsored by  the Church of                                                               
Scientology; in  1969, the  church and  Dr. Thomas  Szasz founded                                                               
the commission.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY  inquired as to what  the commission's stance                                                               
is   on  other   traditional  anti-depressants,   like  selective                                                               
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. WEDEMEYER  responded that  they are  not fans  of the  use of                                                               
chemical drugs.  She said that  if people are prescribed an anti-                                                               
depressant, they should  also be given a  physical examination to                                                               
rule out physical causes of their depression.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:28:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WRIGHT, after  ascertaining  that no  one  else wished  to                                                               
testify, closed public testimony on HB 228.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:29:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WRIGHT announced that HB 228, Version Y, was held over.                                                                   

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB228 Sponsor Statement 02012024.pdf HMLV 2/13/2024 1:00:00 PM
HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM
HB 228
HB228 Sectional Analysis 02012024.pdf HMLV 2/13/2024 1:00:00 PM
HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM
HB 228
HB228 Version R 02022024.pdf HMLV 2/13/2024 1:00:00 PM
HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM
HB 228
HB228 Version Y 02022024.pdf HMLV 2/13/2024 1:00:00 PM
HB 228
HB228 Explanation of Changes Version R to Y 02092024.pdf HMLV 2/13/2024 1:00:00 PM
HB 228
HB228 Fiscal Note DCCED-COMM-02-09-24.pdf HMLV 2/13/2024 1:00:00 PM
HB 228
HB228 Presentation in HMLV 2.13.24.pdf HMLV 2/13/2024 1:00:00 PM
HB 228