03/03/2009 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

               SB  80-EXTENDING VETERINARY BOARD                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:16:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR PASKVAN announced SB 80 to be up for consideration.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  MEYER, sponsor  of  SB  80, said  this  bill extends  the                                                              
sunset for  the Board  of Veterinary Examiners  (BVE) to  June 30,                                                              
2017.  The board  is responsible  for  controlling and  regulating                                                              
the  practice of  veterinary  medicine in  Alaska,  which is  very                                                              
important to  this state.  They make sure  that over  290 licensed                                                              
veterinarians and  over 100 veterinarian technicians  in the state                                                              
are  competent, capable  and maintain  the high  integrity of  the                                                              
profession.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The Division  of Legislative  Audit recommends  extending  the BVE                                                              
termination date to June 30, 2017.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:19:10 PM                                                                                                                    
JENNIFER  STRICKLER, Licensing  Chief,  Division of  Corporations,                                                              
Business  and  Professional  Licensing,  Department  of  Commerce,                                                              
Community  &  Economic  Development  (DCCED),  said  hers  is  the                                                              
centralized  licensing agency  responsible  for providing  support                                                              
to  the  BVE.  She concurred  with  the  Division  of  Legislative                                                              
Audit's  report.  This  board  has been  very  responsive  to  its                                                              
licensees, its applicants and to the division's concerns.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PASKVAN closed public testimony.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:20:38 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DAVIS  moved   to  report  SB  80  from   committee  with                                                              
individual recommendations.  There being no objection,  the motion                                                              
carried.