Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
02/29/2024 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB249 | |
| HB312 | |
| HB228 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 312 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 249 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 228 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 228-MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCHEDELIC MED. TASK FORCE
1:20:53 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." [Before the committee, adopted on 2/13/24, was
the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 228, Version 33-
LS0976\Y, Bergerud, 2/9/24 ("Version Y").]
1:21:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GROH moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 228,
Version Y, labeled 33-LS0976\Y.1, Bergerud, 2/14/24, which read
as follows:
Page 2, following line 24:
Insert a new paragraph to read:
"(9) one member representing psychiatric nurse
practitioners, selected by the board of directors of
the Alaska Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Alliance;"
Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE GROH explained that Amendment 1 would provide for
a change in the membership.
1:22:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked how many advance practice nurses
there are.
REPRESENTATIVE GROH deferred the question to Representative
Armstrong.
1:22:49 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:22 p.m. to 1:23 p.m.
1:23:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JENNY ARMSTRONG, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor of HB 228, told Representative Saddler that she
does not know the number of such nurses in the state but can
follow up. She noted that nurse practitioners support the
proposed bill.
1:24:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked whether all psychiatric nurse
practitioners are covered under or are members of the Alaska
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Alliance.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG responded that she does not know the
answer; the alliance is the primary membership organization that
oversees such nurses, and its goal is to represent all nurse
practitioners, regardless of whether the nurse is a member. In
response to a follow-up question, she stated that HB 228
proposes 12 people on the task force, with three more selected
by the task force after it is assembled.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER referred to language in [subsection
(b), paragraph (5)], on page 2, line 16 of HB 228, Version Y,
and noted the total number was 16.
1:27:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER offered that many of the state's boards
and commissions have membership requirements. He said that it
appears that much of the membership would be selected by trade
organizations, the university, and the Alaska Native Health
Board. He asked what the reason was to have membership selected
by these groups rather than having the governor select them.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG answered that Amendment 2 would cover
that since, if it is the will of the committee, the task force
would not be an executive task force but rather a legislative
one. She said the boards mentioned were chosen because she
wanted to defer to their expertise, as they would be best
positioned to choose members of the task force.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER advised that there are many boards that
establish requirements and allow just the executive branch to
make selections.
1:29:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER removed his objection. There being no
further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
1:29:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GROH moved to adopt Amendment 2 to HB 228,
Version Y, labeled 33-LS0976\Y.2, Bergerud, 2/15/24, which read
as follows:
Page 1, line 8:
Delete "Department of Commerce, Community, and
Economic Development"
Insert "legislature"
CHAIR WRIGHT objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE GROH explained that with the bill proposing to
have the task force under the legislature rather than the
executive branch, the amendment would remove the fiscal note and
fix the separation of powers issue.
1:29:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG relayed that she found that the
separation of powers issue could be solved by making the task
force a legislative one instead of executive.
1:30:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER inquired whether, if the task force
were under the legislature and the bill had no fiscal note,
there would be no per diem or travel costs associated.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG answered that travel was removed from
the bill, and that the ability to accept grants was added if the
board wanted to meet in person; otherwise, it would meet
virtually.
1:31:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked whether there is an overriding
fiscal note.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG stated that there is a fiscal note from
the Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs for $60,000, but
there were issues with the fiscal note. One was a drafting
error that said the task force would exist for a few years, when
actually it would exist for less than a year. Further, since
the task force was situated under the department, staffing funds
were needed.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER requested the committee hear from the
department.
1:32:22 PM
MICAELA FOWLER, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development,
explained that the costs within the first fiscal note were the
result of the legislation putting the task force within the
department's structure. With the amendments moving the task
force to the legislature, she said, the department would change
the fiscal note to a zero fiscal note.
1:33:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER sought confirmation about the fiscal note
from the commissioner's office totaling $325,000.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG confirmed there is just the one fiscal
note and that Representative Saddler may have referenced the
annual cost.
1:33:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked whether the members of the board are
already selected.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG answered no, there is just a passionate
community in the state that would be willing to support the task
force.
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY inquired as to how many medical doctors
(MDs) are proposed to be on board.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG cited line 16 "with two members
representing the healthcare needs of Alaska Native communities"
and said it would be to the discretion of the Alaska Native
Health Board as to whether it wants the members to be MDs. She
further cited line 6, "member representing the health care needs
of survivors of domestic violence". She stated that there could
be several different appointments to the task force that could
be MDs, but the aim is to leave the appointments to the groups
that would best represent that population.
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked whether it is possible for the task
force to have zero MDs.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG responded that it is possible.
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY relayed that he met with physician groups,
and their concern was that there would be no MD required to be
on the task force and they believe there should be one.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG answered that because it would not be a
public health task force and focuses on licenses and regulation,
and because MDs are less likely to facilitate psychedelic-
assisted therapy sessions, she just wanted to keep the task
force open. She said she is amendable to adding language
requiring an MD.
1:36:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked whether, if Amendment 2 were
passed and the task force were put under the legislature, there
would be a conflict with the commissioners of the Department of
Health, the Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs, and the
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development being
on the board. He sought clarification as to whether the bill
directs the commissioners to be members of a legislative board.
MS. FOWLER answered that there are other task forces within the
legislature on which commissioners, or their designees, serve.
1:37:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER noted that if this is going to be a
legislative task force, it would be more appropriate that the
legislators be co-chairs.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG said she would support a conceptual
amendment.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to
Amendment 2, to delete language on page 3, line 2, and insert
"the co-chairs of the task force shall be the members
representing the House of Representatives and the Senate".
1:38:31 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:38 p.m. to 1:39 p.m.
1:40:08 PM
CHAIR WRIGHT announced that, there being no objection,
Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 2 was adopted.
1:40:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER removed his objection to Amendment 2,
[as amended]. There being no further objection, Amendment 2, as
amended, was adopted.
1:40:39 PM
CHAIR WRIGHT announced that HB 228, Version Y, as amended was
held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 to HB228 Y.1.pdf |
HMLV 2/29/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| Amendment 2 to HB228 Y.2.pdf |
HMLV 2/29/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| HB249 Letter of Support - Department of Defense.pdf |
HMLV 2/29/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 249 |
| HB249 Letter of Support - Alaska Behavorial Health.pdf |
HMLV 2/29/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 249 |
| HB249 Letter of Support - Alaska Warrior Partnership.pdf |
HMLV 2/29/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 249 |