04/26/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

           SB 228-EXTEND BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPISTS                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:21:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
SENATE BILL  NO. 228, "An  Act extending the termination  date of                                                               
the Board of  Massage Therapists; and providing  for an effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:21:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on SB 228.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:22:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JILL MOTZ,  representing self,  testified in  support of  SB 228.                                                               
She  said she  believes  the Board  of  Massage Therapists  ("the                                                               
board")  serves three  main  purposes:  providing public  safety;                                                               
helping  to combat  human trafficking;  and monitoring  trends in                                                               
massage therapy ethics.  She said  the board should be allowed to                                                               
continue  growing and  asked  members  to move  the  bill out  of                                                               
committee today.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:24:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER   questioned  the  expense   incurred  on                                                               
regulatory investigations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOTZ said she did not  have the numbers; however, the cost is                                                               
substantial and can vary widely from year to year.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER asked  whether there  are enough  massage                                                               
therapists licensed in Alaska to fill demand.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MOTZ shared  her belief  that  there are  plenty of  massage                                                               
therapists in Alaska.  She pointed  out that two new schools were                                                               
created in the last few years  in Fairbanks and the Mat-Su valley                                                               
as communities have realized the need for local training.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:26:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VOLKER HRUBY, representing self, testified  in support of SB 228.                                                               
He  said continuing  the board  would give  massage therapists  a                                                               
voice and input  in the profession.  He  explained that extending                                                               
the board  would help keep  costs down, increase  efficiency, and                                                               
protect the profession  from illegal entities.   He urged members                                                               
to pass SB 228.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:28:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX  asked whether  the board gives  applicants a                                                               
certificate  that  can  be  displayed   on  a  wall  or  used  in                                                               
advertising.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HRUBY  answered  yes, certificates  can  be  downloaded  and                                                               
printed.    He  added  that   displaying  the  certificate  is  a                                                               
requirement.   In addition,  the board is  working on  making the                                                               
inclusion of license numbers a requirement for advertising.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:29:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER closed public testimony on SB 228.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:30:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report  SB 228 out of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER objected.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:30:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A  roll call  vote  was taken.    Representatives Carrick,  Prax,                                                               
Saddler, and  Ruffridge voted in  favor of  moving SB 228  out of                                                               
committee.   Representative Sumner voted against  it.  Therefore,                                                               
SB 228 was reported out of  the House Labor and Commerce Standing                                                               
Committee by a vote of 4-1.