03/13/2009 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION

            SB  18-POSTSECONDARY MEDICAL EDUC. PROG.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:05:12 AM                                                                                                                    
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of  SB 18 and said it is                                                               
her desire to pass it out of committee this morning.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  said he does  not have  much to add  to his                                                               
                                 th                                                                                             
previous testimony of February 27.   The Anchorage Daily News did                                                               
run a  positive editorial on  this bill and Senator  Olson's bill                                                               
SB 102.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:06:15 AM                                                                                                                    
ROD  BETIT, Alaska  State Hospital  and Nursing  Home Association                                                               
(ASHNHA), Juneau, AK, spoke in support  of SB 18. He thinks it is                                                               
prudent to make periodic increases  in the number of students the                                                               
state supports  at the University  of Washington  Medical School.                                                               
There is complementary  legislation on the table  this session as                                                               
well, that  ASHNHA thinks  is equally  important, but  this would                                                               
enhance  their ability  to ensure  that students  continue to  be                                                               
educated with the  intent to return to work in  Alaska. He served                                                               
on the Alaska  Physician Supply Task Force,  which determined two                                                               
years ago that Alaska was 300  physicians short of the need. This                                                               
is a  key step  to further  improve on  the number  of physicians                                                               
available to give care in this state.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:07:08 AM                                                                                                                    
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS closed  public testimony on SB 18  and asked the                                                               
will of the committee.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  OLSON  moved  to  report CSSB  18  from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
VICE-CHAIR  DAVIS  delayed taking  action  on  SB 18  awaiting  a                                                               
quorum.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
            SB  18-POSTSECONDARY MEDICAL EDUC. PROG.                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
8:14:40 AM                                                                                                                    
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS returned attention to SB 18.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  OLSON moved  to  report CS  for SB  18,  referred to  as                                                               
Version  S, from  committee with  individual recommendations  and                                                               
accompanying  fiscal notes.  Hearing no  objection, CSSB  18(EDC)                                                               
moved from the Senate Education Standing Committee.