04/14/2014 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 242                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act extending the termination date of the State                                                                        
     Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board; and                                                                       
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:41:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Reinbold  explained that HB 242  would extend                                                                    
the   termination  date   of   the   Physical  Therapy   and                                                                    
Occupational  Therapy Board  to  June 30,  2022. She  stated                                                                    
that  the   Division  of  Legislative  Audit   reviewed  the                                                                    
activities  of  the  board  and  found  that  it  should  be                                                                    
extended for  the full 8 years.  She said that if  the board                                                                    
was  not extended  the licensing  would  continue under  the                                                                    
direction of the division, rather  than the board. The board                                                                    
consisted of 1 physician,  3 physical therapists or physical                                                                    
therapy assistants, 2  occupational therapists or occupation                                                                    
therapy  assistants and  1 public  member. The  work of  the                                                                    
board was to adopt regulations  and carry out laws governing                                                                    
physical and occupational therapy  in Alaska. The board made                                                                    
final  licensing  decisions  and  took  disciplinary  action                                                                    
against people  who violated licensing  laws. In  FY13 there                                                                    
were 913  licensees. In FY13  the biennium data  showed that                                                                    
the   board's   revenues    were   $250,000;   the   board's                                                                    
expenditures  were  $325,365.  The board  had  a  cumulative                                                                    
deficit  of   $55,238.  The   proposed  fee   adjustment  in                                                                    
regulations that were publicly  noticed March 17, 2014 would                                                                    
raise  the licensing  fees from  $180 to  $240, which  would                                                                    
address  the  deficit.  She testified  that  the  board  was                                                                    
operating the in best interest  of the public to protect and                                                                    
promote the public health, welfare and safety of Alaskans.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:44:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Kris Kris  Curtis, Legislative  Auditor, Alaska  Division of                                                                    
Legislative Audit testified that  the division had conducted                                                                    
an audit  of the board  to determine whether it  was serving                                                                    
the public interest  and whether it should  be extended. The                                                                    
audit  concluded  that  the board  was  serving  the  public                                                                    
interest  by effectively  licensing and  regulating physical                                                                    
therapists,   physical   therapy  assistants,   occupational                                                                    
therapists   and   occupational  therapy   assistants.   The                                                                    
division  recommended  the  maximum 8  year  extension.  She                                                                    
stated  that  the  audit  was fairly  clean  with  only  one                                                                    
recommendation  addressing the  case management  systems and                                                                    
confidentiality.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:45:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer OPENED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
LEANNE CARROTHERS,  ALASKA PHYSICAL THERAPY,  ANCHORAGE (via                                                                    
teleconference),   stated  that   she   was  available   for                                                                    
questions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
HB  242  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:46:07 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:49:57 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED