03/30/2012 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 119                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the licensing and regulation of                                                                        
     athletic trainers."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:10:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTINE MARASIGAN,  STAFF, SENATOR KEVIN  MEYER, explained                                                                    
that  SB  119  would  amend current  statutes  to  establish                                                                    
licensing and  regulation of athletic trainers  in the State                                                                    
of  Alaska. Athletic  Trainers  are  certified, health  care                                                                    
professionals who practice in  the field of sports medicine.                                                                    
This profession plays a significant  role in the management,                                                                    
prevention,  recognition   and  rehabilitation   of  injured                                                                    
athletes under  the supervision of a  licensed physician. As                                                                    
people  become increasingly  more active,  athletic trainers                                                                    
are a  vital resource  in administering  immediate emergency                                                                    
care as  well as  injury prevention and  treatment programs.                                                                    
The  National Athletic  Trainer's Association  (NATA), which                                                                    
was  founded   in  1950,  is  the   professional  membership                                                                    
association  for certified  athletic trainers.  According to                                                                    
NATA, Alaska is one of the  few states that do not currently                                                                    
license  athletic trainers.  Should  SB  119 pass,  athletic                                                                    
trainers would be required to  have a license to practice in                                                                    
the State of Alaska.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman pointed  out one zero fiscal  note from the                                                                    
Department  of Administration  (DOA);  and  one fiscal  note                                                                    
from  the Department  of  Commerce,  Community and  Economic                                                                    
Development (DCCED)  for $26.5 million in  receipt supported                                                                    
services in FY 13, and $1.8 million in the out-years.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  MOVED to report CS  SB 119 (L &  C) out of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ORDERED.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SB  119 was  REPORTED  out  of committee  with  a "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation and with accompanying  new fiscal impact note                                                                    
from  the Department  of  Commerce,  Community and  Economic                                                                    
Development; and  new zero fiscal  note from  the Department                                                                    
of Administration.