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

         HB 240-EXTEND BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:17:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  announced the  consideration of  HB 240.  "An Act                                                               
extending  the  termination date  of  the  Board of  Chiropractic                                                               
Examiners; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:17:38 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE LORA  REINBOLD, Alaska State  Legislature, Juneau,                                                               
Alaska, sponsor of  HB 240, explained that this  bill extends the                                                               
termination  date of  the Board  of Chiropractic  Examiners until                                                               
June 30, 2020. She deferred further explanation to Ms. Curtis.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:18:08 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                                                               
Chiropractic  Examiners.  The  main objective  was  to  determine                                                               
whether the  board is serving  the public's interest  and whether                                                               
its  termination date  should be  extended.  The audit  concluded                                                               
that the  board is serving  the public's interest  by effectively                                                               
licensing and regulating chiropractors.  The recommendation is to                                                               
extend the termination  date the maximum eight  years provided in                                                               
statute. The audit makes two  recommendations for improving board                                                               
operations. The first is to the  Office of the Governor to ensure                                                               
the  statutory  requirements for  board  members  are met  before                                                               
appointment.  The audit  found  that the  public  member of  this                                                               
board  is a  licensed  pharmacist, yet  statute prohibits  public                                                               
board  members from  having a  direct financial  interest in  the                                                               
health  care  industry.  The   second  recommendation,  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 commented on the  appointment of a pharmacist as a                                                               
public member to the board.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS CURTIS  said she believes  that the prohibition from  having a                                                               
direct  interest in  the  health  care industry  is  so that  the                                                               
member will represent the consumer  perspective as opposed to the                                                               
business perspective.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony and solicited a motion.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:19:58 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MICCICHE moved  to  report HB  240  from committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY announced  that  without objection  HB 240  moved                                                               
from the Senate Labor & Commerce Standing Committee.