04/26/2023 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

        SB 55-EXTND BDS: MEDICAL, DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIVES                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:16:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
CS  FOR   SENATE  BILL  NO.   55(FIN),  "An  Act   extending  the                                                               
termination  date   of  the   Board  of   Certified  Direct-Entry                                                               
Midwives;  extending the  termination date  of the  State Medical                                                               
Board; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:16:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BILL WIELECHOWSKI,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor  of  CSSB 55(FIN),  explained  that  a legislative  audit                                                               
showed  that   the  State  Medical  Board   effectively  licensed                                                               
osteopaths and  podiatrists, but emergency courtesy  licenses for                                                               
physician's  assistants  were   handled  incorrectly  during  the                                                               
COVID-19 pandemic, which was remedied  in November 2021.  In July                                                               
2022,  the  audit  suggested  that the  State  Medical  Board  be                                                               
extended  until June  30, 2031,  the maximum  allowable extension                                                               
under current  statute.  He  said that  the most recent  audit of                                                               
the  Board of  Certified Direct-Entry  Midwives showed  it to  be                                                               
effective in supporting public healthcare.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:19:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX  asked  whether  there  are  two  levels  of                                                               
midwives licensed by the state.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:19:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MERCEDES COLBERT, Staff, Senator  Bill Wielechowski, Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on behalf of Senator  Wielechowski, prime sponsor of                                                               
CSSB 55(FIN), deferred the question to Kris Curtis.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:20:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KRIS CURTIS, Legislative Auditor,  Division of Legislative Audit,                                                               
Alaska State  Legislature, answered  that there is  an apprentice                                                               
license and a direct entry license.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:20:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX  asked  whether  there is  a  difference  in                                                               
licensure  between   midwives  birthing  in  homes   or  birthing                                                               
centers.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CURTIS  answered  that  there are  nurse  midwives  who  are                                                               
licensed by the Alaska Board of Nursing.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:21:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK questioned  the challenges for recruitment                                                               
and retention of licensing staff.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CURTIS answered  that it  is an  ongoing issue  across state                                                               
government,  causing  issues  in   the  licensure  process.    In                                                               
response to  a follow-up  question, she said  that she  is unsure                                                               
whether  salary plays  a role  in  the issue  of recruitment  and                                                               
retention.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:23:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced that CSSB 55(FIN) was held over.