04/20/2006 01:30 PM House FINANCE

   SENATE BILL NO. 254                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
        An Act extending the termination date for the State                                                                     
        Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board; and                                                                    
        providing for an effective date.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
   TOM MAHER, STAFF, SENATOR GENE THERRIAULT, explained that  SB
 stems from recommendations  contained in the Legislative                                                                 
   Audit Sunset Report  dated September 17,  2005.  Legislative                                                                 
   Audit  concluded  that   the  State   Physical  Therapy  and                                                                 
   Occupational Therapy Board is operating in the public's best                                                                 
   interest  and  should  continue  to  regulate  physical  and                                                                 
   occupational therapists.   The  Board safeguards  the public                                                                 
   interest by promoting the  competence and integrity of those                                                                 
   who practice  in  the  field and  continues  to  improve the                                                                 
   effectiveness  and ensure  therapists  are  licensed  in  the                                                                
   State  of   Alaska.     Accordingly,  given   the  Auditor's                                                                 
   recommendation, SB 254 extends  the sunset date of the Board                                                                 
   to June 30, 2014, for an eight-year extension.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
   There is a fiscal note  associated with extending the Board;                                                                 
   it will not incur additional  costs over the amounts already                                                                 
   contained in the  FY07 Governor's  operating budget request.                                                                 
   The Board is self-supporting.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:26:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SUNDI  HONDEL,  (TESTIFIED  VIA  TELECONFERENCE),  PRESIDENT,                                                                   
ALASKA PHYSICAL THERAPY BOARD,  ANCHORAGE, voiced support for                                                                   
the  legislation  and  offered  to answer  questions  of  the                                                                   
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:27:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Foster   MOVED  to  REPORT  SB   254  out  of                                                                   
Committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  with  the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal notes.  There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                   
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SB  254   was  reported   out  of   Committee  with   a  "no"                                                                   
recommendation and  with fiscal note #1 by  the Department of                                                                   
Commerce, Community & Economic Development.