Legislature(2015 - 2016)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/02/2015 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB44 | |
| SB69 | |
| SB18 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| * | SB 69 | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 44 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 69-BD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS; PRACTICE
1:35:57 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SB 69. "An Act relating to the Board of
Chiropractic Examiners and the practice of chiropractic." She
noted that this was the first hearing.
1:36:25 PM
SENATOR BILL STOLTZE, sponsor of SB 69, introduced SB 69
speaking to the following sponsor statement:
Healthcare and wellness have developed and progressed
over the years, and patient preferences have changed
along with them. In some cases, state laws have not
kept up with this progress. Senate Bill 69 endeavors
to update and clarify the statutes guiding
chiropractic care in Alaska.
SB 69 addresses training and utilization of
chiropractic clinical assistants and interns;
strengthens current law allowing chiropractors to
perform school physicals; revises penalties for
fraudulent practices; and updates definitions and
modernizes terminology.
SB 69 makes timely changes to our statutes guiding
chiropractic care, resulting in chiropractic
physicians being able to treat patients more
efficiently and affordably.
1:41:57 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL pointed out that in addition to physicians,
nurse practitioners and physician assistants are qualified to
perform pre-participation sports physicals. She questioned
whether the education statutes needed to be updated to include
chiropractors for performing those physicals.
SENATOR STOLTZE admitted he didn't know.
1:43:36 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO asked for a sectional analysis.
1:43:48 PM
BRANDON BREFCZYNSKI, Staff, Senator Bill Stoltze, provided the
following sectional analysis for SB 69:
Section 1: Amends AS 08.20.055 by adding new language
allowing the board to adopt regulations for
chiropractic interns and preceptors, chiropractic
clinical assistants, and performance of patient
examinations.
Section 2: Amends AS 08.20.100(b) clarifying how
chiropractors can accept referrals, allowing
chiropractors to perform school physicals, and
allowing the employment of certified chiropractic
clinical assistants, interns, and preceptors.
Section 3: Adds new subsection to AS 08.20.100
exempting from this section chiropractic interns under
certain conditions.
Section 4: Amends AS 08.20.160 regarding the
requirements for temporary permits.
Section 5: Adds new section to AS 08.20 regarding
chiropractic clinical assistants.
Section 6: Amends 08.20.185 to modernize terminology.
Section 7: Amends AS 08.20.200 by updating penalties
for unlicensed practice.
1:46:31 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL noted that her question was answered; AS
14.30.070 and 14.30.120 identify chiropractors as being able to
perform physical examinations for students and education
programs.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked what chiropractors are not qualified to
diagnose.
SENATOR STOLTZE deferred the question.
SENATOR COSTELLO asked if the bill provides further
clarification that chiropractors are able to perform pre-
participation physicals because that's not universally
understood.
SENATOR STOLTZE replied that's one reason, and he hopes to hear
from one of the organizations.
CHAIR COSTELLO requested a general statewide overview of which
schools districts do and do not accept physicals from
chiropractors.
SENATOR STOLTZE agreed to provide the information.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Mr. Parady to review the fiscal note.
1:50:09 PM
FRED PARADY, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development (DCCED), said SB 69 adds new
licensure requirements for chiropractic assistants and will
require additional administrative procedures to authorize
chiropractic interns and preceptors. The fiscal note requests
one part time licensing examiner for up to 14 hours per week to
manage the estimated additional 200 plus chiropractic assistants
and new intern preceptor approval processes.
Professional licensing programs within the Division of
Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing are entirely
receipt supported so the fiscal note includes no undesignated
general funds. He noted that the estimated cost of $750 per
license likely will be lower based on FY2014 data that shows the
314 licensees paid $450 per license.
Responding to an earlier question, he relayed that when he
worked for the North Slope Borough School District,
chiropractors performed pre-performance sports physicals.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if public health nurses are able to do
sports physicals.
SENATOR GIESSEL answered no.
1:53:10 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened public testimony.
1:53:40 PM
SHARI RYAN, Executive Administrator, Alaska Chiropractic
Society, introduced herself.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked about the difference in training for a
medical doctor and a chiropractic doctor.
MS. RYAN replied the educational requirements are comparable and
she would follow up with specifics.
SENATOR STEVENS asked about chiropractic clinical assistants and
interns.
MS. RYAN explained that a chiropractic clinical assistant does
therapy and assists the chiropractor. Their training ranges from
a two year program at the Palmer College of Chiropractic to
online programs. A chiropractic intern has completed the
required training and education and wants on-the-job training
supervised by a preceptor.
1:56:08 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO asked how many chiropractors are performing
school physicals across the state.
MS. RYAN offered to follow up with the information.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked what a physical costs.
MS. RYAN offered to follow up with the information.
SENATOR MEYER asked if other states allow chiropractors to
perform pre-participation sports physicals.
MS. RYAN replied 35 states allow that.
1:57:47 PM
PATRICIA CONNERS ALLEN, D.C., Chair, Board of Trustees,
University of Western States, said she has practiced
chiropractic medicine in Juneau since 1984 and previously served
on the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. She explained that the
bill allows the Board of Examiners to establish a process so
that chiropractic interns can come to Alaska and be supervised
by a preceptor doctor.
1:59:23 PM
EDWARD J. BARRINGTON, D.C., representing himself, reported that
he serves on the Board of Chiropractic Examiners and is chair of
two committees in the Alaska Chiropractic Society. He explained
that chiropractors practice in primary care and their training
and diagnostic capabilities exceeds their practice statute. SB
69 will update the statutes to bring the law closer to the
current training and education of chiropractic physicians. It
also clarifies that chiropractic physicians are able to perform
pre-participation sports physicals. The Alaska School Athletic
Association (ASAA) has requested that the statute specifically
include the pre-participation language. Chiropractors are
currently authorized to perform physicals on children before
they enter school and to keep them out of sports activities. It
makes sense that they should also be authorized to perform pre-
participation sports physicals.
SB 69 will also help regulate the training and certification of
chiropractic clinical assistants. Medical assistants are trained
and often work in chiropractic offices but they are not under
the auspices of the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The bill
also provides a name change for the peer review committee.
2:05:39 PM
JAMES F. HESTON, member, Board of Chiropractic Examiners,
described SB 69 as basic housekeeping that has been discussed
for years. However, the $700 licensing fee described in the
fiscal note misrepresents the intention, which was simply to get
statutory authority to adopt regulations to regulate
chiropractic assistants. The board would like to use a national
certification program provided through an organization such as
the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards for training,
testing, and two-year certification. He noted that the board had
yet to vote to support this in a resolution but it was likely.
CHAIR COSTELLO said she didn't intend to move the bill today so
there was time for the resolution to pass before the committee
took any action.
2:07:37 PM
TODD CURZIE D.C., President, Alaska Chiropractic Society (ACS),
stated that ACS coordinates continuing education and training
for its members, many of whom are also active in other national
organizations. ACS supports SB 69 as a responsible way to
modernize chiropractic practices and protect the public.
2:09:06 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO announced that she would keep public testimony
open and hold SB 69 for further consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 69 - Version A.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 69 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 69 - Fiscal Note.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 69 - Hearing Request.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 69 - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 69 - Support Letter Dr. Campbell.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 69 - Support Letter Logan University.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 69 - Support Letter Palmer College.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 69 - Support Letter Univ. Western States.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 18 - Version H.PDF |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 18 |
| SB 18 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 18 |
| SB 18 - Fiscal Note.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 18 |
| SB 18 - HCSM Summary.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 18 |
| SB 18 - Catholic Anchor Article.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 18 |
| SB 18 - ACA Exemption.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 18 |
| AG Opinion - Occupational Licensing 1991.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| ASBCE Newsletter Excerpt - 2003.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| 2015.04.08 Alaska State Medical Association Letter.pdf |
SL&C 4/2/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |