Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/23/2021 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB71 | |
| SB84 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| SB77 | |
| SB47 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 84 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | SB 77 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 47 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 47-VEHICLE REGISTRATION/PERSONS W/DISABILITY
4:31:13 PM
CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 47
"An Act relating to special registration plates for vehicles
owned by persons with disabilities."
He listed the individuals available to answer questions.
4:31:54 PM
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of SB 47, read the following sponsor statement
into the record:
SB47 amends AS 28.10.181(d) to allow speech-language
pathologists, physical therapists, and occupational
therapists to provide proof of disability to their
clients. Currently, only chiropractors, physicians,
physicians' assistants, or advanced practice
registered nurses can provide proof of disability to
their clients.
By expanding the ability for medical professionals in
different fields to provide proof of disability to
individuals, the opportunity to obtain special
registration plates for vehicles is expanded for
people with different kinds of disabilities.
Oftentimes, Individuals with disabilities are in more
constant contact with their physical or occupational
therapists than with physicians because their issues
require more specialized care. It can be cumbersome
for these people, who are already sufferings with
disabilities, to make an additional visit to the
physician purely for the purpose of acquiring their
plaques. To provide ease and accessibility for these
disabled people, it would be more efficient and
effective to allow these additional types of
professionals to provide proof of disability.
4:33:31 PM
KEITH FOGERS, Staff, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Alaska State
Legislature, delivered the following sectional analysis for SB
47:
Section 1: Amends AS 28.10.181(d) to include a person
licensed as a speech-language pathologist, or as a
physical therapist or occupational therapist under
AS.08.84.
4:35:13 PM
CHAIR SHOWER found no initial questions and opened public
testimony on SB 47.
4:35:30 PM
PATRICIA MACADOO, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, stated
that she is a physical therapist who has done itinerant work in
the Bush since retiring from the US Public Health Service. She
said the providers listed in the existing statute are not always
available to people who live in the Bush. Handicap placards are
not needed in the Bush, but one is needed when a village
resident who has a mobility impairment visits a larger community
such as Anchorage or Fairbanks. It is a problem if they cannot
get a placard until they see a doctor and get the paperwork
processed. She said it would be helpful if itinerant providers
such as herself could provide the handicap placards. The
criteria are set out in legislation so no one could set up their
own criteria. She serves the southern and eastern villages of
Norton Sound and frequently needs to beseech a physician in Nome
to audit the record and issue a placard for someone they have
never seen just to get a placard. This bill is long overdue, she
said.
4:37:54 PM
LEEANNE CARROTHERS, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, stated
that she is the Government Affairs Liaison for the American
Physical Therapy Association, Alaska Chapter, but was speaking
for herself as a licensed physical therapist. The association
had not met and taken a stand on the legislation, but she
anticipated it would do so very soon. Speaking with 35 years as
a clinician and educator of physical therapy, she contended that
physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech and
language pathologists have the knowledge and skills to assess
whether or not somebody meets the disability requirements to
receive a disability parking permit or license plate. She said
she is able to see patients without a referral and she believes
that statutorily authorizing physical therapists to sign these
forms will save time and money by eliminating the need to visit
an additional provider. Passing the bill will allow
rehabilitation therapists to practice at the level appropriate
to their knowledge, skills, and experience, she concluded.
4:40:21 PM
ANNETTE ALFONSI, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, stated
that she was representing herself and the Unmasking Brain Injury
Project. She related her personal experience of being in a
serious car accident and receiving a traumatic brain injury. She
said she has planned and implemented annual brain injury
education with continuing education credit for chiropractors,
physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other health
care professionals. She has worked in medical and dental offices
and has received treatment from all the fields listed in the
bill.
MS. ALFONSI said the disability parking placard form asks about
walking distance and walking with assistance and she has found
that physical therapists generally assess this aspect of walking
more extensively than physicians do. She pointed out that it is
within the scope of practice for an occupational therapist (OT)
to do a driving test and workers' compensation accepts the
results but OTs do not have the ability to provide the
disability parking placard. She said she also worked with a
speech therapist on cognitive retraining, but none of these
therapists can issue the parking placard. She had to make
another appointment to get the parking placard. She said this
bill will save time and money and increase independence,
healing, and economic viability. She urged passage of SB 47.
4:43:21 PM
CHAIR SHOWER thanked her for talking about how the bill will
help people.
SENATOR REINBOLD described Ms. Alfonsi's testimony as impressive
and valuable.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked what the scope of practice is for speech
pathologists.
MS. ALFONSI answered that speech therapists are able to provide
cognitive assessments and cognitive retraining to address
cognitive fatigue and neurological overload that may result from
a brain injury. She described losing one's car in a parking lot
due to cognitive fatigue brought on by stress and too much
walking.
SENATOR KAWASAKI thanked her for the explanation.
SENATOR HOLLAND said he understands the importance of the bill
based on Ms. Alfonsi's testimony.
CHAIR SHOWER related that he has a sister-in-law in this field,
and it is amazing what these therapists can do to help people
with traumatic brain injuries become productive members of
society once again.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked the testifiers for calling and the
committee for hearing the bill.
4:48:56 PM
CHAIR SHOWER closed public testimony on SB 47 and held the bill
in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 77 Fiscal Note 2476.pdf |
SSTA 3/23/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 77 |
| SB 77 Sponsor Statement 3.17.21.pdf |
SSTA 3/23/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 77 |
| SB 77 Sectional Analysis 3.17.21.pdf |
SSTA 3/23/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 77 |
| SB 47 Fiscal Note 2348.pdf |
SSTA 3/23/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 47 |
| SB 47 v.A.PDF |
SSTA 3/23/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 47 |
| SB 47 Written Testimony (Additional).pdf |
SSTA 3/23/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 47 |
| SB47 Supporting Documents-DTD 2-2-2021.pdf |
SSTA 3/23/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 47 |
| SB47 Written Testimony (6).pdf |
SSTA 3/23/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 47 |