05/10/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

           HB 336-ATHLETIC TRAINER SCOPE OF PRACTICE                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:24:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the  final order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 336, "An  Act relating to athletic  trainers; and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:24:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE  moved to  adopt the  proposed Committee                                                               
Substitute (CS) to HB 336,  Version 33-LS1399\B, Gunther, 5/7/24,                                                               
as the working document.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER objected.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:25:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS,  as prime  sponsor, provided a  summary of                                                               
changes in  the proposed CS to  HB 336, "Version B"  [included in                                                               
the   committee  packet],   which  read   as  follows   [original                                                               
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2:  AS 08.07.030(c)  adds text to  clarify that                                                                    
     athletic trainers  may only  treat an  injury, illness,                                                                    
     or  condition  that  is  related  to  or  sustained  by                                                                    
     movement or athletic activity.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section  3:   AS  08.07.090(4)  Amends   definition  of                                                                    
     "athletic training" by adding  text to clarify that the                                                                    
     practice  must  be  related  to  movement  or  athletic                                                                    
     activity.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:25:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX recalled  that the  original version  of the                                                               
bill wasn't  restricted to sports and  included athletic activity                                                               
on a job.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  said the  bill seeks  to solve  the narrow                                                               
definition  of "athletic  activity," which  at present,  does not                                                               
include noncompetitive  school activities, such  as cross-country                                                               
skiing.   Consequently, athletic trainers may  find themselves in                                                               
an ambiguous  legal area  if they are  providing assistance  to a                                                               
non-competitive student athlete.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX  argued that the  original version of  HB 336                                                               
gave athletic trainers more flexibility.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said the concern  with the original version                                                               
of  the bill  is that  athletic  trainers could  be construed  as                                                               
physical therapists.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:28:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for the definition of "movement."                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS deferred to Ms. Young.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:28:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LYNNE  YOUNG,  Alaska  Athletic Training  Association,  said  the                                                               
intent of  the bill  is to  clarify who  trainers are  allowed to                                                               
provide services to and protect trainers against malpractice.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for  clarification on the definition                                                               
of "movement," per Version B of the bill.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS.  YOUNG clarified  that the  word  "movement" is  used in  the                                                               
context of  the words, "within  the field of  athletic training."                                                               
One of the  biggest concerns with the current  definition is that                                                               
it  is  too broad.    She  added  that  there are  safeguards  in                                                               
statute,  as  trainers  always  work  under  a  licensed  medical                                                               
professional in Alaska.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER asked  for  the  definition of  "athletic                                                               
activity," per Version B of the bill.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS deferred to Ms. Young.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. YOUNG explained that the bill  would not change or expand the                                                               
scope of practice for athletic  trainers.  Instead, the intent is                                                               
to clarify, better define, and  eliminate the confusion as to who                                                               
can  be  provided athletic  training  services.   She  said  [the                                                               
definition of movement] helps to protect athletic trainers.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:36:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked  Ms. Young whether she  knew more about                                                               
athletic training than he does.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. YOUNG answered yes.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX  asked whether  Version  B  makes Ms.  Young                                                               
happier or less happy.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. YOUNG  said, "it does,"  as it would allow  athletic trainers                                                               
to feel safeguarded and take care of the community.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:36:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SUMNER  withdrew his  objection.  There  being no  further                                                               
objection, Version B was before the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:37:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  sought further clarity on  the definition                                                               
of "movement" and "athletic activity."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS stated  that its  not necessary  to figure                                                               
out  the   difference  at   this  time;   nevertheless,  physical                                                               
therapists and  athletic trainers will  continue to come  up with                                                               
better  ways  to parse  out  the  definitions of  "movement"  and                                                               
"athletic activity."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said  he would not be able  to support the                                                               
bill without understanding the difference between the two terms.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:39:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced that Version B would be held over.