Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/19/2025 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 | |
| HB70 | |
| SB89 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 70 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 89-PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCOPE OF PRACTICE
1:59:06 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 89 "An Act relating to
physician assistants; relating to collaborative agreements
between physicians and physician assistants; relating to the
practice of medicine; relating to health care providers; and
relating to provisions regarding physician assistants in
contracts between certain health care providers and health care
insurers."
1:59:58 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
2:00:04 PM
SENATOR MERRICK moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 89, work order 34-LS0063\T, as the working document.
2:00:15 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
2:00:21 PM
MACKENZIE POPE, Staff, Senator Loki Tobin, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the summary of changes
from version N to version T for SB 89.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Explanation of Changes - Version N to T
Section 2 Amends AS 08.64.107 in the following six
subsections.
Subsection (a) adds specific language that a
physician assistant (PA) may not perform surgery
without acting as an assistant to a physician,
osteopath, or podiatrist.
Includes provisions for resolving any
inconsistencies that may arise in the documented
hours, and if a collaborating physician is
unavailable to attest.
Subsection (b) increases the hours to 6,000
postgraduate clinical hours required before a
physician assistant can exit a collaborative
agreement. Details how medical specialties will be
documented in the collaborative agreement, and how
the State Medical Board will evaluate any
additional hours that a PA may be required to
practice before exiting their collaborative
agreement in that specialty.
Subsection (c) adds an additional stipulation that
the collaborating physician will specialize in the
same specialty as the PA.
Subsection (e) outlines the process for how a PA
will notify that State Medical Board when they've
completed the requirements to exit their
collaborative agreement. Clarifies how a
collaborating physician shall attest to the PA's
clinical hours.
Subsection (f) prevents retaliation by either party
during the attestation process.
Subsection (g) outlines the process for how a PA
will notify that State Medical Board when they've
completed the requirements to exit their
collaborative agreement, and how the State Medical
Board will process the hours attestation and, if a
PA is denied exit from their collaborative
agreement, a 500-hour maximum before
reconsideration.
Section 17 Clarifies the public display of credentials
for all licensees in this chapter if they hold a
doctorate degree in a non-medical field.
2:02:43 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR stated Section 2(a), lines 6-7 on page 2 says
physician assistants can't perform surgery. He asked if this
section also applies to minor procedures like sutures.
2:03:21 PM
MS. POPE answered yes. She stated that [Section 2(a)(1)(line 6-
7)] limits surgery, but [Section 2(a)(1)(line 2-5)] requires the
board to allow PAs to perform tasks they're trained for such as
sutures and other routine procedures.
2:03:59 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR stated the statute says PAs cannot perform
surgery, but allows sutures, which are sometimes interpreted as
surgery. He clarified that trained PAs are allowed to
independently perform what they have been trained to do, per
regulation.
MS. POPE answered yes.
SENATOR DUNBAR stated that to him the language in the statute
isn't clear if PAs can perform sutures. He stated in Section
2(c) it states the collaborating physician needs to have the
same specialty as the PA. He said there are limited number of
specialist in Alaska, and asked what a PA is expected to do if
there isn't a physician in the same specialty is not available.
2:05:13 PM
SENATOR LOKI TOBIN, District I, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, as sponsor of SB 89 she answered regulations
currently require PAs to have two collaborating physicians,
often from out of state. She stated that PAs may need out-of-
state collaborators to keep providing care in Alaska.
2:05:43 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR asked is Section 2(c) just for certifying hours
and training or is it an ongoing requirement even after they
gain independent practice.
2:06:28 PM
MS. POPE answered Section 2(c) is for specialty collaborations,
which can happen alongside the main agreement. It adds up to
4,000 hours, and those can count at the same time. The
specialist would just confirm the hours in that field.
2:07:13 PM
SENATOR TOBIN stated she would be willing to continue to work
through language changes.
2:07:32 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR opined Section 2(a) would block the ability for
PAs to perform sutures. He stated he wasn't in agreement but
wouldn't keep the bill from progressing.
2:08:30 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
2:08:46 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
2:08:48 PM
At ease.
2:09:22 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting.
2:09:32 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
2:09:33 PM
SENATOR MERRICK moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 34-
LS0063\T.1.
34-LS0063\T.1
Gunther
5/19/25
A M E N D M E N T 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR BJORKMAN
TO: CSSB 89( ), Draft Version "T"
Page 2, line 29, following "section;":
Insert "and"
Page 4, line 27, following "Assistants;":
Insert "and"
2:09:36 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
2:09:53 PM
MS. POPE read Amendment 1.
2:10:47 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
2:10:55 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection and Amendment 1 was
adopted.
2:11:12 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
2:11:14 PM
SENATOR MERRICK moved to report CSSB 89, work order 34-LS0063\T,
as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s)
2:11:37 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and CSSB 89(L&C) was reported
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee and
authorized Legislative Legal Services to make technical and
conforming changes.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|