04/10/2014 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

         HB 239-EXTEND BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:14:47 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of HB  239. "An Act extending  the termination date                                                               
of  the Board  of Examiners  in Optometry;  and providing  for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:14:51 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE  REINBOLD,   Alaska  State   Legislature,  Juneau,                                                               
Alaska, sponsor of  HB 239, explained that this  bill extends the                                                               
Board  of  Examiners  in  Optometry  until  June  30,  2020.  She                                                               
deferred further explanation to Ms. Curtis.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:15:55 PM                                                                                                                    
KRIS  CURTIS, Legislative  Auditor,  Legislative Audit  Division,                                                               
Legislative  Agencies and  Offices, Juneau,  Alaska, stated  that                                                               
the  audit division  conducted a  sunset review  of the  Board of                                                               
Examiners in  Optometry. The primary  objective was  to determine                                                               
whether  it  is serving  the  public's  interest and  whether  it                                                               
should be extended. The overall  conclusion was that the board is                                                               
serving  the  public's  interest  by  effectively  licensing  and                                                               
regulating  optometrists. The  recommendation  is  to extend  the                                                               
termination date the maximum eight  years. One recommendation for                                                               
improvement, which  is directed to  the Director of  the Division                                                               
of  Corporations,  Business  and Professional  Licensing,  is  to                                                               
continue  efforts to  improve the  investigative case  management                                                               
system integrity and confidentiality.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY opened  and closed  public testimony.  Finding no                                                               
further questions or comments, he solicited a motion.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:17:06 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MICCICHE moved  to  report HB  239  from committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY  announced  that  without objection  HB  239  was                                                               
reported from the Senate Labor & Commerce Standing Committee.