04/14/2014 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 240                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of                                                                     
     Chiropractic Examiners; and providing for an effective                                                                     
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:28:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Reinbold  explained that HB 240  would extend                                                                    
the termination date of the  Board of Chiropractic Examiners                                                                    
to  June  30,  2022.   The  Division  of  Legislative  Audit                                                                    
reviewed the activities of the  board and concluded that the                                                                    
board's  termination  date should  be  extended  the full  8                                                                    
years. Without the extension  the chiropractic license would                                                                    
continue under  the direction of  the division,  rather than                                                                    
the board. The board made  final licensing decision and took                                                                    
disciplinary  actions  with  person who  violated  licensing                                                                    
laws.  The  board  consisted   of  4  licensed  chiropractic                                                                    
physicians  and 1  public  member. In  FY13  there were  514                                                                    
licensees. She pointed out to  the committee that the fiscal                                                                    
notes reflected  that in FY13  the revenue of the  board was                                                                    
$179,215,  expenditures  were  $168,800.  The  board  had  a                                                                    
current cumulative  surplus of  $80,344. Licensing  fees for                                                                    
the  board had  been  set consistent  with  statute and  the                                                                    
board was operating with the  best interest of the public to                                                                    
protect and  promote the public  health, welfare  and safety                                                                    
of Alaskans.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:30:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KRIS  CURTIS,  DIRECTOR,   DIVISION  OF  LEGISLATIVE  AUDIT,                                                                    
testified that the division conducted  an audit of the board                                                                    
to determine whether the public's  interest was being served                                                                    
and  whether  the  sunset  should  be  extended.  The  audit                                                                    
concluded that  the board was serving  the public's interest                                                                    
by effectively  licensing and regulating  chiropractors. She                                                                    
stated  that  the  division  recommended  the  full  8  year                                                                    
extension.  The division  had  2  audit recommendations  for                                                                    
improving  board operations;  first,  to the  Office of  the                                                                    
Governor,  to ensure  the statutory  requirements for  board                                                                    
members were met before appointment.  It had been found that                                                                    
the  current public  member was  a licensed  pharmacist, yet                                                                    
statute  prohibits the  public member  from having  a direct                                                                    
financial interest  in the  healthcare industry.  The second                                                                    
recommendation  was  to  the Director  of  the  Division  of                                                                    
Corporations,   Business  and   Professional  Licensing   to                                                                    
improve   the   case   management  systems   integrity   and                                                                    
confidentiality.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:31:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer noted  that the  board maintained  a surplus                                                                    
and that the  fees had gone down since FY07.  He wondered if                                                                    
the fee would lessen in the future.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SARA   CHAMBERS,   DIRECTOR,   DIVISION   OF   CORPORATIONS,                                                                    
BUSINESS,   AND   PROFESSIONAL  LICENSING,   DEPARTMENT   OF                                                                    
COMMERCE,  COMMUNITY  AND  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,  responded                                                                    
that  if  the  board   maintained  a  surplus  position  the                                                                    
department would attempt to lower the fees.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer OPENED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:34:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer spoke to the fiscal note.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HB  240  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.