Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/24/2020 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB47 | |
| Confirmation of Governor's Appointees: | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 47 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE BILL NO. 47
"An Act relating to the State Physical Therapy and
Occupational Therapy Board; relating to the practice
of physical therapy; and relating to the practice of
occupational therapy."
9:04:41 AM
JANE CONWAY, STAFF, SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, introduced
herself.
9:05:36 AM
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, SPONSOR, introduced the legislation.
She shared some background of the legislation.
9:11:46 AM
ALEC KAY, ALASKA AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION,
JUNEAU, introduced himself.
SCOTTY ORR, ALASKA OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION,
JUNEAU, introduced himself.
9:12:28 AM
Mr. Kay stated that was in support of the legislation. He
stated that his association represented approximately 500
out of approximately 1200 licensed physical therapists and
physical therapist assistants in Alaska. He noted that the
education was currently a three-year graduate degree that
resulted in a clinical doctor of physical therapy degree.
9:15:47 AM
Senator Olson wondered whether physical therapists could
order lab tests.
Mr. Kay responded that they did not order lab test, but
they referred to other providers.
Senator Olson wondered whether there was opposition to the
desire of the chiropractors to be grandfathered in if their
scope of practice included some of the parameters.
Mr. Kay replied that he was not opposed to that idea.
Senator Olson stressed that it was a misdemeanor to
misrepresent yourself, so there were some red flags about
the language of the bill.
Mr. Orr testified in support of the legislation. He echoed
the comments from Mr. Kay.
9:20:02 AM
SARA CHAMBERS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS
AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, introduced herself.
Senator Wielechowski queried the number of foreign-educated
applicants.
Ms. Chambers agreed to provide that information.
Co-Chair Stedman queried any issues with the bill.
Ms. Chambers responded that the department had no issue
with the bill.
Senator Olson wondered whether the Board could take
disciplinary action against a licensee, and queried the
exact number in the last five years.
Ms. Chambers replied that there were very few
investigations of physical or occupational therapists.
Senator Olson wondered whether it was less than five
investigations.
Ms. Chambers stated that it was more than five, but agreed
to provide further information.
9:22:16 AM
DR. DANIEL HOLT, CHIROPRACTOR, JUNEAU, testified in support
of the legislation.
9:26:13 AM
LEEANNE CARROTHERS, ALASKA PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the
legislation.
9:28:34 AM
KEITH POORBAUGH, BOARD OF PHYSICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY, WASILLA (via teleconference), testified in support
of the bill.
Senator Olson queried the position on the removal of
penalty.
Mr. Poorbaugh replied that he did not see a problem with
the removal of the penalty.
9:32:46 AM
SHERI RYAN, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, ALASKA CHIROPRACTIC
SOCIETY, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), expressed slight
concern about the language in the bill.
Senator Wielechowski wondered how many chiropractors hold
themselves to be physiotherapists.
Ms. Ryan replied that it was not the title, it was where it
would lead to the term usage.
9:35:56 AM
BRIAN LARSON, CHAIR, BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS,
SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), expressed concern about the
bill's language. He echoed the comments of Ms. Ryan.
9:40:53 AM
Senator Olson wondered what other states were doing related
to the language.
Dr. Larson felt that the term was often "left alone", and
there was a "terf war."
Co-Chair Stedman CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Stedman queried any closing comments.
Senator Giessel remarked that there was a potential
amendment that could be made to address the concern about
the word, "physiotherapy."
9:45:15 AM
Senator Olson wondered whether the chiropractors would be
able to continue the work in their scope of practice.
Senator Giessel replied in the affirmative.
SB 47 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
9:46:03 AM
AT EASE
9:47:01 AM
RECONVENED
^CONFIRMATION OF GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES:
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA BOARD OF REGENTS: CACHET GARRETT
ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY (AMHTA) BOARD OF
REGENTS: ANITA HALTERMAN
ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY (AMHTA) BOARD OF
REGENTS: RHONDA BOYLES
9:47:40 AM
CACHET GARRETT, APPOINTEE, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA BOARD OF
REGENTS, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), stated that she
was the student representative of the Board of Regents. She
wondered whether she could do a land acknowledgement.
Co-Chair Stedman stated that he could not hear her request.
Ms. Garrett stated that she would like to offer her opening
statement, which began with a land acknowledgement.
Senator Wilson stated that she wanted to acknowledge the
ancestral lands from which she is giving her testimony.
Co-Chair Stedman asked her to continue.
Ms. Garrett acknowledged the ancestral land that she was
calling from in Fairbanks. She expressed gratitude for
working for the students.
Co-Chair Stedman stressed that he wanted to know why the
committee should support the reappointment to the Board of
Regents.
Ms. Garrett explained that she attended college outside of
Alaska, but then determined that she wanted to go to the
University of Alaska Southeast where she acquired her four-
year degree in 2008 having studied Human Communication. She
then decided to become a massage therapist. She further
stated that she then decided to pursue her graduate degree
at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She was in her
fourth semester and determined that she would attend the
school for four years total. She remarked that she was
self-funding her education and had multiple areas of study.
She stated that her work history was always in the area of
wellness and health promotion.
9:55:32 AM
Co-Chair Stedman wondered why Ms. Cachet wanted to serve on
the Board of Regents. He queried her perspective on the
direction of the University and how it should face the
budgetary constraints.
Ms. Garrett replied that she was a highly qualified
candidate for the position. She represented three
communities in Alaska and understood the state. She
remarked that serving on the Board had been a highlight as
a student leader in the state. She felt that it was
training her for state leadership, which she felt was her
calling. She assured the committee that the direction of
the university was going forward. She understood that it
was a challenging time for the university, and felt that it
was critical that there was a focus on the needs of the
university. She used a caterpillar analogy. She felt that
the university was going through a metamorphosis.
Senator Wilson wondered whether the position was a student
Board position.
Ms. Garrett replied in the affirmative. She stated that she
was currently serving the two-year term.
Senator Wilson asked when Ms. Garrett planned to complete
her degree.
Ms. Garrett replied that she intended to graduate in
December 2021. She explained that she was one-year into her
two-year degree when she was nominated to the Board. She
"restarted" her graduate degree at that time because the
commitment for the Board was two years. She remarked that
other student members of the Board would graduate and move
on, but her intention was to serve to the highest level for
the two years. She stated that intended to have a full
summer and full semester to devote to her thesis.
Senator Wilson wondered how Ms. Garrett's ambition to
pursue state office might interfere with her duties on the
Board of Regents.
Ms. Garrett replied that it would not interfere with her
duties on the Board of Regents. She stressed that it was a
separate issue. She felt that it was a future aspiration
for her life.
10:00:56 AM
Senator Wielechowski requested a Board biography of Ms.
Garrett. He wondered whether Ms. Garrett met the statutory
requirement to take nine credits, be enrolled full-time,
and have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5.
Ms. Garrett replied in the affirmative.
Senator Wielechowski noted that her biography on the Board
of Regents website said that she was studying Professional
Communication. He also remarked that she conducted an
interview where she said that she was working toward a
master's degree in Arctic and Northern Studies. He asked
for clarification.
Ms. Garrett explained that she came to UAF to be a teaching
assistant in the Professional Communications program, but
felt that she had already been communicating professionally
in her advocacy and career. She figured out that the
program was not for her. She remarked that communication
was a priority in her life, so she would always be a
scholar of communication. She noted that she was one year
into that degree. She stated that she intended to compete
that degree as well. She explained that the Arctic and
Northern Studies degree emerged in her first year at UAF,
which she felt was more appropriate for her life.
Senator Wielechowski wondered whether Ms. Garrett had ever
been disciplined or asked to leave the Communications
program.
Ms. Garrett responded that she was not asked to leave the
Communications program. She stressed that she had not
formally left the Communications program. She considered
herself an interdisciplinary student.
Senator Wielechowski wondered whether Ms. Garrett had ever
been disciplined at UAF.
Ms. Garrett replied that she had not been disciplined. She
explained that he had been let go of her position as a
teaching assistant. She felt that the action caused her to
join student government. She felt that her natural
leadership capability caused people to not understand her
diligence in advocacy for what she "believes is right." She
shared that some people found her to have a strong
personality, and she made not apologies for herself.
Senator Wielechowski wondered whether Ms. Garrett was asked
to leave the Communications program.
Ms. Garrett stated that she was a student enrolled in the
Communications department. She explained that she was let
go from her teaching assistant position. She preferred not
to have the specific conversation on the record. She
stressed that she was the "best teaching assistant that
ever walked into that Communications department." She felt
that it was a disservice to the students to not continue to
be in that position. She stressed that she positively
impacted the lives of her students, and those students
loved what she had taught them. She remarked that she had
taught them skills beyond what they would have learned
otherwise. She stressed that it was not a negative that she
was let go, because she had been given such positive
experiences.
Senator Wielechowski wondered who had asked Ms. Garrett to
leave the teaching assistant position.
Ms. Garrett replied that the Chair of the department asked
for her to leave the position. She felt that the
communication was never invited to reach a place of
resolution. She stressed the importance of communication.
10:07:54 AM
ANITA HALTERMAN, APPOINTEE, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH BOARD OF
TRUSTEES, EAGLE RIVER (via teleconference), introduced
herself. She stated that she took a role on the Board in
August of 2019 and had recently assumed the role on the
Audit and Risk Committee. She was anxiously awaiting
confirmation. She felt that the role afforded her many
opportunities to contribute to society. She gave a brief
history of her resume. She noted that she had served on the
Legislature in the past. She explained her personal history
more extensively.
Co-Chair Stedman asked when she began serving on the Board.
Ms. Halterman replied that she started on the Board in
August 2019.
Co-Chair Stedman wondered she was familiar with the audit
concerning some portfolio holdings of the Mental Health
Trust.
Ms. Halterman replied in the affirmative, and she was
currently reviewing and having discussions about the audit.
Co-Chair Stedman queried a position on the audit.
Ms. Halterman replied that in her observation the real
estate investments were successful, and the Trust had made
a Permanent Fund whole with regard to the financial
investment that should have been made in compliance with
state law. She firmly believed that work needed to be done
to continue to follow the law.
Co-Chair Stedman surmised that she felt that there should
not be any acceleration of moving the real estate assets.
Ms. Halterman stated that it was her understanding that the
real estate assets were gaining better return than other
investments. She felt that, for now, as long as the
financial holdings maintain their value, she did not have a
problem with maintaining those assets.
10:14:52 AM
RHONDA BOYLES, APPOINTEE, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST
AUTHORITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), stated that she did not want to highlight
the specifics of her resume. She gave a personal history
that led her to her position on the Mental Health Trust
Authority.
10:19:48 AM
Co-Chair Stedman asked about the audit on the Mental Health
Trust.
Ms. Boyles replied that she knew about it. She shared that
she had been given much information from meetings with the
legislature. She agreed with most of the Board, that there
could be investments continually. She noted that matching
up private and public sector may not result in the initial
intentions.
Senator Bishop commented that her letter included the value
of land and people, and they must be protected. He hoped
that it continued to be a guiding principle.
Co-Chair Stedman noted significant concerns about the
management of the investment portfolio. He noted that the
audit revealed significant concerns.
Co-Chair Stedman stressed that the upcoming motion did not
reflect an intent by any member of the Senate Finance
Committee to vote for or against the confirmation of the
individuals during any further sessions.
10:26:55 AM
Senator Bishop FORWARDED the appointments of Cachet
Garrett, Anita Halterman, and Rhonda Boyles for
consideration in accordance with Alaska Statute. He relayed
that this did not reflect an intent by any member of the
Senate Finance Committee to vote for or against the
confirmation of the individuals during any further
sessions.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Co-Chair Stedman stated that there would be no meeting the
following day. He stated that there would be a Senate
Finance Committee meeting on the upcoming Wednesday and
outlined the agenda for that meeting.