04/04/2017 09:00 AM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

          SB  51-EXTEND BOARD OF VETERINARY EXAMINERS                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:14:10 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of the  second hearing of SB 51.  She closed public                                                               
testimony  and   noted  that  there   is  a   proposed  committee                                                               
substitute (CS).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:14:59 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGHES moved  to  adopt the  work draft  CS  for SB  51,                                                               
labeled 30-LS0465\O, as the working document.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO objected for an explanation of the changes.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:15:19 AM                                                                                                                    
WESTON  EILER,  Staff,  Senate   Labor  and  Commerce  Committee,                                                               
explained  that  the CS  for  SB  51  reflects the  comments  the                                                               
committee heard during public  testimony regarding the challenges                                                               
facing Alaska's  veterinarian community  and the  availability of                                                               
services.  The CS  adds new  sections 2-4.  Section 2  designates                                                               
that one member  of the board shall reside in  a community with a                                                               
population  of less  than 7,500  people. Section  3 requires  the                                                               
Board of Veterinary  Examiners to submit an  electronic report to                                                               
the legislature  on the standards and  availability of veterinary                                                               
services in  the state, including rural  areas, before 1/31/2020.                                                               
The language is  taken from the board's  authorizing statute that                                                               
requires the  board to make such  a report at the  request of the                                                               
department. Section 4  transitions the new seat to  the next time                                                               
a seat comes up for appointment.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:18:32 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS reviewed  the list of licenses in  the packet and                                                               
noted there is a weak  relationship between number of licenses in                                                               
a community and its population.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. EILER agreed.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARDNER commented  that she  is interested  to see  JBER                                                               
listed as  a community.  She asked  if there  is reason  to think                                                               
that one  of the limited  number of veterinarians who  are living                                                               
in a community of  7,500 or less will be willing  to serve on the                                                               
board, and what happens if one can't be found.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR.  EILER said  the sponsor  and chair  of the  committee gained                                                               
confidence as they heard the  overwhelming public testimony about                                                               
veterinary issues, especially in rural areas.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:20:42 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GARDNER  said there ought to  be a plan B  if a qualified                                                               
applicant can't be found.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO said if that  becomes the reality, we could always                                                               
return to the current composition  of the board. However, judging                                                               
from  the  public  testimony  she imagines  that  there  will  be                                                               
qualified candidates  willing to  serve and fill  that designated                                                               
seat.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:21:54 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MEYER joined the committee.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGHES  commented that  she is sure  the board  heard the                                                               
message  in public  testimony loud  and clear  and will  be doing                                                               
what it  can to address that.  "Having someone from one  of these                                                               
smaller communities  will be important  to help them  realize the                                                               
need."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO said  that during  a previous  administration she                                                               
served as the  deputy director of Boards and  Commissions and the                                                               
requirements for  this board  tend to  be less  prescriptive than                                                               
for others.  She said, "I  don't share the concern  about finding                                                               
somebody, but  if that does  happen we'll cross that  bridge when                                                               
we come to it."                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:23:55 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO removed  her objection and version  O was adopted.                                                               
She listed the individuals available to answer questions.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:24:21 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGHES  moved to  report the  CS for  SB 51,  labeled 30-                                                               
LS0465\O,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO announced  that without  objection, CSSB  51(L&C)                                                               
moved from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.