Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519

05/08/2024 01:30 PM House FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Delayed to 4:00 PM --
+= SB 74 PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= SB 75 AUD. & SPEECH-LANG INTERSTATE COMPACT TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+ HB 275 SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION KITS/TRACKING TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 91 TELEHEALTH: MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE TEAM TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 91(FIN) Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 95 LIC. PLATES: SPECIALTY ORGS/PEACE OFFICER TELECONFERENCED
Moved HCS CSSB 95(STA) Out of Committee
+= SB 99 FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 228 EXTEND BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPISTS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
                  HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                        May 8, 2024                                                                                             
                         4:04 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:04:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  called the House Finance  Committee meeting                                                                    
to order at 4:04 p.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Julie Coulombe                                                                                                   
Representative Mike Cronk                                                                                                       
Representative Alyse Galvin                                                                                                     
Representative Sara Hannan                                                                                                      
Representative Andy Josephson                                                                                                   
Representative Dan Ortiz                                                                                                        
Representative Will Stapp                                                                                                       
Representative Frank Tomaszewski                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Co-Chair                                                                                           
Representative DeLena Johnson, Co-Chair                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Matt   Claman,   Sponsor;  Emily   Nenon,   Alaska                                                                    
Government Relations  Director, American Cancer  Society and                                                                    
Cancer Action  Network; Sylvan  Robb, Director,  Division of                                                                    
Corporations,   Business,    and   Professional   Licensing,                                                                    
Department of Commerce,  Community and Economic Development;                                                                    
Senator  Kelly  Merrick,   Sponsor;  Kerry  Crocker,  Staff,                                                                    
Senator  Kelly Merrick;  Hunter  Lottsfeldt, Staff,  Senator                                                                    
Bill Wielechowski.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Gail   Braten,   Self,   Anchorage;  Tim   Jennings,   Self,                                                                    
Anchorage; Beverly Wooley, Self,  Big Lake; Brooke Lavender,                                                                    
ALS  Care  Services   Manager,  ALS  Association,  Girdwood;                                                                    
Jeffrey  Schmitz, Director,  Department  of Motor  Vehicles,                                                                    
Department   of   Administration;   Doug   Fifer,   Retired,                                                                    
Anchorage  Police   Department,  Norfolk,   Virginia;  Kelly                                                                    
Manning, Deputy Director, Division of Innovation and                                                                            
Education Excellence, Department of Education and Early                                                                         
Development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HB 275    SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION KITS/TRACKING                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
          HB 275 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 74(FIN)                                                                                                                    
          PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
         CSSB 74(FIN) was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 75(FIN)                                                                                                                    
          AUD. & SPEECH-LANG INTERSTATE COMPACT                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
         CSSB 75(FIN) was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 91(FIN)                                                                                                                    
          TELEHEALTH: MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE TEAM                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 91(FIN)  was REPORTED  out of  committee with                                                                    
          seven  "do  pass"   recommendations  and  one  "no                                                                    
          recommendation"  recommendation and  with one  new                                                                    
          fiscal   impact  note   from  the   Department  of                                                                    
          Commerce, Community and Economic Development.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 95(STA)am                                                                                                                  
         LIC. PLATES: SPECIALTY ORGS/PEACE OFFICER                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
          HCS  CSSB 95(STA)  was REPORTED  out of  committee                                                                    
          with eight  "do pass" recommendations and  one "no                                                                    
          recommendation"  recommendation and  with one  new                                                                    
          fiscal   impact  note   from  the   Department  of                                                                    
          Administration.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 99(EDC)                                                                                                                    
          FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 99(EDC)  was HEARD and HELD  in committee for                                                                    
          further consideration.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB 228    EXTEND BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPISTS                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
          SB 228 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                   
Co-Chair Foster reviewed the meeting agenda. He noted that                                                                      
the committee would meet for roughly one hour before                                                                            
returning to the House floor.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 91(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An   Act   relating   to   telehealth;   relating   to                                                                    
     multidisciplinary  care  teams;  and  relating  to  the                                                                    
     practice of medicine."                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:06:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, SPONSOR, read from prepared remarks:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Good  afternoon, Co-Chairs  and  members  of the  House                                                                    
     Finance  Committee.  For  the   record,  this  is  Matt                                                                    
     Claman, Senator for District H in West Anchorage.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Our office began  work on Senate Bill 91  in the summer                                                                    
     of 2022  after we were  contacted by a  constituent who                                                                    
     had   recently  been   diagnosed  with   ALS,  a   rare                                                                    
     degenerative disease that leads  to paralysis and death                                                                    
     within 2 to 5 years. There is no cure for ALS.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Upon receiving  her diagnosis,  Sheila Swanson  flew to                                                                    
     Seattle  to  receive  specialty  treatment  at  an  ALS                                                                    
     multidisciplinary care clinic,  where multiple types of                                                                    
     healthcare  professionals work  together  to treat  her                                                                    
     complex illness. The  multidisciplinary care team model                                                                    
     of  healthcare  has become  the  standard  of care  for                                                                    
     people  with ALS  because it's  proven to  extend their                                                                    
     quality of life.  When Sheila was ready  to return home                                                                    
     after treatment,  she was told that  she could continue                                                                    
     to receive telehealth care from  her physician, but she                                                                    
     would need to fly to  Seattle to receive in-person care                                                                    
     from the  other seven members of  her multidisciplinary                                                                    
     care  team, including  a respiratory  therapist, speech                                                                    
     language pathologist,  a physical therapist,  and other                                                                    
     health care providers.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Sheila travels  each quarter to  receive care  from her                                                                    
     multidisciplinary care team, but  there will come a day                                                                    
     that  she   is  unable  to  do   so.  Sheila's  written                                                                    
     testimony  is  included  in your  bill  packet,  and  I                                                                    
     encourage you  to read  her letter  to learn  about her                                                                    
     experience.                                                                                                                
     Receiving  the  kind  of  care   Sheila  needs  is  not                                                                    
     possible in  Alaska. There are  about 30  Alaskans with                                                                    
     ALS diagnoses  and no clinics  that specialize  in this                                                                    
     area of care. I would  prefer for this healthcare to be                                                                    
     available  in  Alaska,  but   as  a  practical  matter,                                                                    
     specialized  care for  rare  diseases  is available  in                                                                    
     large cities  with major medical  centers and  a higher                                                                    
     volume of patients.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     In 2022,  the legislature passed House  Bill 265, which                                                                    
     created  a framework  in statute  for various  in-state                                                                    
     healthcare  professions  to   practice  telehealth  and                                                                    
     ensured Alaskans'  access to  critical health  care. SB
     91  only   amends  House  Bill  265   for  out-of-state                                                                    
     providers   by    adding   members    of   out-of-state                                                                    
     "multidisciplinary  care   teams"  as  an   option  for                                                                    
     telehealth when  an Alaskan is  suffering from  a life-                                                                    
     threatening  condition and  the multidisciplinary  care                                                                    
     is not reasonably available in-state.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     To address  patient protection, SB 91  ensures that all                                                                    
     out-of-state  members of  multidisciplinary care  teams                                                                    
     are  subject to  Alaska's regulatory  authority. SB  91                                                                    
     also  aligns  multidisciplinary  care  teams  with  the                                                                    
     current registration process  for Alaska's telemedicine                                                                    
     business registry.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Senate Bill  91 will expand telehealth  options so that                                                                    
     Alaskans  with life-threatening  health conditions  can                                                                    
     receive the specialized care  they need while remaining                                                                    
     at  home and  in their  local support  network whenever                                                                    
     possible.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Thank you  for hearing  this legislation today.  If the                                                                    
     Committee  would like,  my  staff,  Claire Lubke,  will                                                                    
     take  you through  a sectional  analysis  of the  bill.                                                                    
    I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:10:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster moved to invited testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
GAIL BRATEN,  SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),  and TIM                                                                    
JENNINGS,  SELF, ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  testified                                                                    
at the  same time.  Mr. And Ms.  Braten were  both long-time                                                                    
residents  of   Alaska.  Mr.  Braten  shared   that  he  has                                                                    
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).  Ms. Braten stated that                                                                    
healthcare for  ALS was  a challenge and  SB 91  would allow                                                                    
the Braten's to  remain in Alaska for part  of the treatment                                                                    
via telehealth. The disease  was tremendously difficult, and                                                                    
the  disease  progresses rapidly  with  the  loss of  bodily                                                                    
functions. She  stressed that there  was no known  cure, but                                                                    
research was advancing at a  fast pace. She shared that they                                                                    
were   informed  that   a  multidisciplinary   collaborative                                                                    
approach  among  a   multiple  disciplined  healthcare  team                                                                    
provided   that  best   care.  Alaska   lacked  specialized,                                                                    
multidisciplinary care  teams for ALS and  other rare, life-                                                                    
threatening diseases. She delineated  that they travelled to                                                                    
the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,  Minnesota in February 2024 to                                                                    
attend  an ALS  Multidisciplinary  Clinic. They  met with  a                                                                    
neurologist,  physical   rehabilitation  specialist,  speech                                                                    
pathologist,  registered dietician,  occupational therapist,                                                                    
respiratory  therapist,  research coordinator  for  clinical                                                                    
trials,  and a  social worker.  It was  recommended that  we                                                                    
attend  the   clinic  every  3   months.  Travel   was  time                                                                    
consuming, expensive,  and eventually, it would  become more                                                                    
and  more difficult  to travel.  However,  Mr. Braten  would                                                                    
still need  the expertise and developing  therapies found at                                                                    
the Mayo Clinic. Telemedicine with  the healthcare team will                                                                    
be key  to managing  his disease, but  unless SB  91 passes,                                                                    
that will  not be  an option. She  emphasized that  time was                                                                    
critical for  Mr. Braten  to continue  his multidisciplinary                                                                    
care. She urged the committee  to adopt the legislation. Ms.                                                                    
Braten thanked the committee.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:15:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
EMILY NENON, ALASKA  GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR, AMERICAN                                                                    
CANCER  SOCIETY  AND  CANCER  ACTION  NETWORK,  favored  the                                                                    
legislation.  She   voiced  that  telehealth   created  more                                                                    
options in healthcare.  She reported that 85  percent of all                                                                    
cancer  care was  available locally.  However,  for a  small                                                                    
number of patients outside access  to care was critical. She                                                                    
exemplified  a  follow  up appointment  after  treatment  or                                                                    
surgery   as  a   reason   for   telehealth.  A   telehealth                                                                    
appointment  would  allow  the   patient  to  continue  care                                                                    
relieving the burden of travel.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hannan  recounted  that the  bill  had  been                                                                    
described to be related to  terminal diagnoses. She asked if                                                                    
all individuals  with a  cancer diagnosis  would be  able to                                                                    
receive  services via  telehealth. Ms.  Nenon answered  that                                                                    
when   the  original   telehealth  bill   was  adopted   the                                                                    
definition of  life threatening  was included  and currently                                                                    
in statute. She delineated that  the definition was based on                                                                    
federal  law  that applied  to  any  condition that  without                                                                    
intervention a person's life  would be shortened. Therefore,                                                                    
without intervention  the condition  would progress,  and it                                                                    
applied  to  stage  1  cancer   and  other  conditions.  She                                                                    
concluded that it applied to timely intervention.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:19:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin  asked   about  deep  depression  and                                                                    
anything  along  the  lines  of  mental  health.  She  asked                                                                    
whether telehealth applied if one  could not get the care in                                                                    
Alaska.  Ms. Nenon  replied that  she was  not a  healthcare                                                                    
provider.  She thought  that there  were many  mental health                                                                    
conditions  that could  be life  threatening without  proper                                                                    
intervention.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:20:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BEVERLY WOOLEY,  SELF, BIG LAKE (via  teleconference), spoke                                                                    
in support  of the legislation.  She elaborated that  HB 265                                                                    
(Health  Care Services  by Telehealth,  Chapter  38 SLA  22,                                                                    
07/13/2022)  created a  statutory  framework for  telehealth                                                                    
provided by out-of-state  physicians offering greater access                                                                    
to care.  The bill  went further  allowing multidisciplinary                                                                    
care  teams to  also participate  in telehealth.  She shared                                                                    
that she was  a 20 year cancer survivor and  often needed to                                                                    
travel out-of-state  for care related to  earlier treatment.                                                                    
She delineated  that treating cancer  was complex  and often                                                                    
required a multi-disciplinary team;  the standard of care at                                                                    
cancer  center throughout  the world.  Currently, telehealth                                                                    
with out-of-state  providers were  only allowed  between the                                                                    
patient and  the physician.  However, much  of her  care and                                                                    
the  care of  other cancer  patients was  provided by  other                                                                    
members of  the physician's  team like  a nurse  or physical                                                                    
therapist,  etc. She  emphasized that  it would  be a  great                                                                    
benefit  to  her and  other  Alaskans  to receive  care  via                                                                    
telehealth without  having to fly  out of state for  a brief                                                                    
or follow up  appointment. The bill would  alleviate much of                                                                    
the issues  regarding travelling for follow  up appointments                                                                    
with members  of a physician's multidisciplinary  care team.                                                                    
She urged the committee to pass the bill.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:24:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BROOKE   LAVENDER,   ALS    CARE   SERVICES   MANAGER,   ALS                                                                    
ASSOCIATION,   GIRDWOOD  (via   teleconference),  spoke   in                                                                    
support  of  SB  91.  She  shared  that  the  organization's                                                                    
mission was  to serve individuals  with ALS and  ensure they                                                                    
have  support and  access to  care.  Alaska was  one of  two                                                                    
states  that  did not  have  an  ALS multidisciplinary  care                                                                    
team.  She   elucidated  that  traveling  for   care  was  a                                                                    
financial burden and added a  physical and emotional toll on                                                                    
patients and  families. She had  awarded several  quality of                                                                    
life grants  in the  current year  so patients  could travel                                                                    
out-of-state to  see their multidisciplinary care  team. The                                                                    
bill would reduce  the current burden. The goal  was to make                                                                    
multidisciplinary care  more available to  community members                                                                    
and improve  quality of  life. Alaska  had an  above average                                                                    
prevalence of ALS  and the fewest resources.  The bill would                                                                    
offer the access to care. She thanked the committee.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED Public Testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster CLOSED  Public Testimony  for SB  34, which                                                                    
was left open during the morning meeting.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SYLVAN ROBB,  DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF  CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS,                                                                    
AND   PROFESSIONAL   LICENSING,  DEPARTMENT   OF   COMMERCE,                                                                    
COMMUNITY  AND   ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,  reviewed   the  new                                                                    
Department of  Commerce, Community and  Economic Development                                                                    
(DCCED) fiscal impact note dated  May 5, 2024. She indicated                                                                    
that  the fiscal  note showed  a first  year cost  of $159.3                                                                    
thousand  that   would  continue  into  the   out  years  in                                                                    
Designated  General  Funds (DGF)  and  the  fund source  was                                                                    
Receipt  Services  where the  costs  were  paid for  by  the                                                                    
licensees' fees. The additional  cost reflected the need for                                                                    
an additional investigator.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:29:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster   noted  the   committee  could   hear  the                                                                    
sectional analysis if desired.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan  was a strong  supporter of  the bill.                                                                    
She looked  at lines 11-12 on  page 1 of the  bill and read:                                                                    
"service, as  provided by  the multidisciplinary  care team,                                                                    
that  is  not  reasonably   available  in  the  state."  She                                                                    
wondered if the  language was in the original  bill. She was                                                                    
concerned by  the language "not reasonably  available in the                                                                    
state."  She offered  that  there were  areas  of the  state                                                                    
lacking certain  specialists but  existed in other  parts of                                                                    
the state.  She wondered  if it  precluded someone  if their                                                                    
preferred  medical  team  was out-of-state.  Senator  Claman                                                                    
responded  that the  language was  modified during  the bill                                                                    
moving  through  the  committee  process.  The  section  was                                                                    
specific to a multidisciplinary  care team. Therefore if one                                                                    
type of  specialist was available  in the state but  was not                                                                    
part  of the  multidisciplinary care  team the  language did                                                                    
not  place any  limitations on  a person  seeking telehealth                                                                    
for a  specialist on their multidisciplinary  care team out-                                                                    
of- state.  He emphasized  that the  phrase only  applied to                                                                    
multidisciplinary care  teams. Representative  Hannan wanted                                                                    
to  know if  the phrase  could be  eliminated, and  the same                                                                    
goal  could   be  achieved.  She  was   concerned  over  how                                                                    
insurance  companies   would  interpret  the   language  and                                                                    
restrict  coverage.   She  wondered  if  the   language  was                                                                    
critical, or whether the language  was the only way to reach                                                                    
a compromise for the bill.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:32:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Claman  answered that the  language had  been worked                                                                    
out with  a number  of interested  parties and  the language                                                                    
 not reasonably  available" was familiar  to the  courts and                                                                    
there was  flexibility in the  standard. He  reiterated that                                                                    
it was  not a strict  standard. He stated that  the language                                                                    
was  worked on  in a  number of  iterations. Currently,  the                                                                    
state  lacked any  multidisciplinary healthcare  anywhere in                                                                    
Alaska that treat the conditions discussed in the bill.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Coulombe understood  that the  service could                                                                    
not currently  be provided  in Alaska  because the  team was                                                                    
not registered  in Alaska  and would  need to  register with                                                                    
the  state  in order  to  provide  telehealth. She  wondered                                                                    
where the medical  board fit in the  process. Senator Claman                                                                    
answered that HB 265 required  a business registry and not a                                                                    
registry for  the individual physician. He  exemplified that                                                                    
the University  of Washington Medical Centers  registered in                                                                    
the  state and  all of  the physicians  licensed there  were                                                                    
able  to  provide  telehealth  to  Alaskans.  He  referenced                                                                    
Sheila Swanson  who had been  going to Seattle for  ALS care                                                                    
and was able  to receive services via  telehealth in Alaska.                                                                    
A  multidisciplinary   care  team  could  have   members  in                                                                    
different  medical   businesses.  In  that  case,   all  the                                                                    
businesses were required  to register in the  state to allow                                                                    
the team members to participate  in telehealth in Alaska. In                                                                    
addition,  once   registered,  the  business   would  become                                                                    
subject to investigations regarding the care provided.                                                                          
4:35:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Coulombe  surmised  that the  state  medical                                                                    
board still had  some disciplinary power over  the team. She                                                                    
wondered how  the board intersected in  the process. Senator                                                                    
Claman  responded  affirmatively  and  affirmed  the  boards                                                                    
oversight jurisdiction due to the registration.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator Claman appreciated the bill hearing.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster asked  for members  to inform  him if  they                                                                    
did not anticipate submitting amendments  and wanted to move                                                                    
bills faster.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson supported moving the bill.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:37:07 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:40:48 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  noted they had to  be back on the  floor at                                                                    
5:00 p.m.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp MOVED  to REPORT  CSSB 91(FIN)  out of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 91(FIN)  was REPORTED out  of committee with  seven "do                                                                    
pass"   recommendations   and    one   "no   recommendation"                                                                    
recommendation and with one new  fiscal impact note from the                                                                    
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster thanked Senator Claman.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 95(STA) am                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An   Act  relating   to   special  request   specialty                                                                    
     organization registration  plates; relating  to special                                                                    
     registration   plates   commemorating  peace   officers                                                                    
     killed  in  the line  of  duty;  and providing  for  an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:41:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KELLY  MERRICK, SPONSOR, she reviewed  the bill with                                                                    
prepared  remarks.  She  explained  that SB  95  tasked  the                                                                    
Division  of Motor  Vehicles  (DMV)  with issuing  specialty                                                                    
plates  and removed  the  requirement  for legislation.  The                                                                    
bill  saved money  by  passing the  cost  of developing  and                                                                    
issuing  the plate  onto the  organization  rather than  the                                                                    
state. She  stated that  it was  originally a  license plate                                                                    
bill to end  license plate bills. After  a Senate amendment,                                                                    
the bill  was the  license plate bill  to end  license plate                                                                    
bills  with the  exception of  one more  license plate.  She                                                                    
continued  that  after  a   House  State  Affairs  amendment                                                                    
several more  license plates were  added. She  believed that                                                                    
the bill created a state  efficiency and asked the committee                                                                    
for its support of the legislation.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:43:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster OPENED Public Testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED Public Testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster asked for a review of the fiscal note.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:45:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEFFREY  SCHMITZ, DIRECTOR,  DEPARTMENT  OF MOTOR  VEHICLES,                                                                    
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION  (via teleconference), reviewed                                                                    
the   new  fiscal   impact  note   for  the   Department  of                                                                    
Administration  allocated to  Motor  Vehicles  dated May  6,                                                                    
2024.  He  explained that  the  total  development cost  was                                                                    
$14,000  per different  plate, which  was  described in  the                                                                    
fiscal note analysis on page  2. The new organizations would                                                                    
pay  the development  costs. The  assumptions  used for  the                                                                    
fiscal note was based on  16 new organizations per year, the                                                                    
development costs, and the  anticipated revenues in addition                                                                    
to  any additional  fees the  plate may  generate above  the                                                                    
$100 fee established in the  legislation. The fee may be set                                                                    
higher than $100 as well.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson  relayed a personal  experience. He                                                                    
asked if the plate would  identify a specific police officer                                                                    
or whether it was for all peace officers.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
KERRY CROCKER,  STAFF, SENATOR  KELLY MERRICK,  replied that                                                                    
the bill  defined peace officers as  follows: state trooper,                                                                    
municipal  police  officer,  correctional  officer,  village                                                                    
public  safety  officer (VPSO),  an  officer  assigned to  a                                                                    
court, and  any other  public servant vested  by law  with a                                                                    
duty to maintain  public order or to make  arrests. He added                                                                    
that  if someone  wanted  to honor  a  fallen officer,  they                                                                    
could  purchase the  plate. The  plate would  not specify  a                                                                    
particular officer.                                                                                                             
Co-Chair Foster moved to invited testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
DOUG FIFER,  RETIRED, ANCHORAGE POLICE  DEPARTMENT, NORFOLK,                                                                    
VIRGINIA  (via   teleconference),  shared  that  he   was  a                                                                    
lifelong  Alaskan born  in  Homer. He  had  retired in  2021                                                                    
after 25 years  of service. The idea  of registration plates                                                                    
commemorating  peace officers  killed  in the  line of  duty                                                                    
came to him as he  traveled around the country noticing that                                                                    
most states  had plates honoring  fallen officers.  In 2017,                                                                    
he   had  contacted   state   senators  who   overwhelmingly                                                                    
supported the idea.  However, 8 years later  there was still                                                                    
no law or license plate.  He listed many other organizations                                                                    
that  had specialty  plates and  asked  that fallen  officer                                                                    
plates be  considered. The state  had 50 officers  killed in                                                                    
the  line of  duty  in  its history.  He  participated in  a                                                                    
national  memorial bicycle  ride  to  honor fallen  officers                                                                    
that culminated in  Washington D.C. as a  somber reminder of                                                                    
those  officers killed  in the  line of  duty. He  asked the                                                                    
committee for support.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:51:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster  inquired  whether  any  committee  members                                                                    
wanted to submit an amendment.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Cronk stated  it had  come to  his attention                                                                    
that the Division of Motor  Vehicles (DMV) could not issue a                                                                    
second  same  license  plate   unless  it  was  specifically                                                                    
authorized  in  statute.  He exemplified  not  allowing  the                                                                    
purchase of  a second  personalized license plate.  He asked                                                                    
if  the  sponsor  would  be willing  to  accept  a  friendly                                                                    
amendment to  allow a second plate.  Senator Merrick replied                                                                    
that a  personalized plate was  not the same as  a specialty                                                                    
plate. She relayed that a  specialty plate references a non-                                                                    
profit   organization.   She    asked   for   clarification.                                                                    
Representative Cronk answered that  they both fall under the                                                                    
same title AS 28.10.108(g). He  asked the director of DMV to                                                                    
clarify.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Schmitz  responded that there  was a  difference between                                                                    
specialized and personalized plates.  He agreed that current                                                                    
law passed two years ago  authorized that only one plate was                                                                    
necessary.  The state  previously required  that 2  licensed                                                                    
plates were displayed. Therefore,  DMV only issued one plate                                                                    
based on AS 28.10 108(g).  He reiterated that only one plate                                                                    
was issued as directed by statute.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:54:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Cronk left it up  to the senator and stressed                                                                    
that he offered the amendment as a friendly amendment.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Merrick  did not  oppose the  idea. She  thought the                                                                    
important thing was that the  license plates were assigned a                                                                    
cost of $100. She thought it  would be important to find out                                                                    
if  a second  plate  would have  the  same additional  cost.                                                                    
Representative Cronk deferred to DMV.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Schmitz answered  that the second plate  would cost $30,                                                                    
which was the same as a personalized plate.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster asked Representative  Cronk how he wanted to                                                                    
proceed. Representative  Cronk would  be willing to  offer a                                                                    
friendly amendment.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster noted  that they  did  not need  to set  an                                                                    
amendment deadline  and the committee could  come back later                                                                    
in  the evening  when  the amendment  could  be offered.  He                                                                    
suggested that Representative Cronk work with the division.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Merrick  interjected that she felt  comfortable with                                                                    
Representative Cronk offering a friendly amendment.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp suggested  recessing  and coming  back                                                                    
with the amendment after floor.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hannan  asked  about the  fiscal  note.  She                                                                    
cited   the  fiscal   note  analysis   that  estimated   the                                                                    
development of $14,000 per plate  and 19 new plate types per                                                                    
year. She thought the number  seemed high. She also recalled                                                                    
that the state changed from  two license plates from one two                                                                    
years  prior to  deliver a  cost savings.  She recalled  the                                                                    
sponsor had advocated that the  savings would make the costs                                                                    
less than $30 per plate.  She wondered if all license plates                                                                    
typically cost $30 per second plate.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Edgmon, and Co-Chair Johnson joined the meeting.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:00:03 PM                                                                                                                    
RECESSED                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
7:16:06 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster returned to hearing SB 95.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Cronk stated  that  he would  not offer  the                                                                    
amendment.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan voiced that  many people believed that                                                                    
by  requesting a  specialty plate  the revenue  went to  the                                                                    
organization.  She stated  that was  not what  happened. She                                                                    
wondered  what  happened  to the  revenue.  Senator  Merrick                                                                    
understood  that  the  only current  organization  that  did                                                                    
receive revenue  from license plates  was the  State Council                                                                    
on the Arts. She deferred to her staff for further answer.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Crocker answered that the  amount was often so minuscule                                                                    
it was not included  in the operating budget. Representative                                                                    
Hannan  inquired  whether the  bill  changed  the method  of                                                                    
accountability leaving  it up to the  division. She wondered                                                                    
whether  the legislature  would  need to  obtain the  amount                                                                    
from the  division and appropriate  it. Mr.  Crocker pointed                                                                    
to page  4, line 14  of the  bill [? organization  plate may                                                                    
charge a fee  on first issuance and renewal  of the plates?]                                                                    
and  responded that  the language  allowed organizations  to                                                                    
charge an additional  fee to recoup the  revenue. He offered                                                                    
that it would be up to  DMV and the administration to ensure                                                                    
the revenue was received  and the legislature to appropriate                                                                    
it.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
7:20:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp MOVED to  REPORT HCS CSSB 95(STA)am out                                                                    
of  committee   with  individual  recommendations   and  the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HCS CSSB 95(STA)am was REPORTED  out of committee with eight                                                                    
"do  pass"  recommendations   and  one  "no  recommendation"                                                                    
recommendation and with one new  fiscal impact note from the                                                                    
Department of Administration.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Merrick thanked the committee.                                                                                          
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 99(EDC)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing a financial literacy education                                                                        
     program for public schools; and providing for an                                                                           
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
7:21:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster discussed the agenda  items and how he would                                                                    
proceed through the remainder of session.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HUNTER   LOTTSFELDT,  STAFF,   SENATOR  BILL   WIELECHOWSKI,                                                                    
provided a description  of the bill. He  summarized that the                                                                    
legislation created a half  credit requirement for financial                                                                    
literacy for  high school students. He  explained that there                                                                    
was a  list of 14  topics found on page  2 of the  bill. The                                                                    
point of  the bill was  to teach  students how to  balance a                                                                    
check  book.   He  noted  that   22  states  had   the  same                                                                    
requirement and some school districts  in the state required                                                                    
the course.  Alaska led  the nation in  credit card  debt at                                                                    
$8,026 per  person with the  second highest state's  debt at                                                                    
$7,000.  The  average  student loan  debt  was  $34,000.  In                                                                    
addition, only  one-third of Americans  could cover  a $400.                                                                    
emergency. The American  Public Education Foundation awarded                                                                    
Alaska  a  grade  of  F  on its  national  report  card  for                                                                    
financial literacy.  He delineated that the  bill provided a                                                                    
flexible pathway to  adopt the mandate. The  program must be                                                                    
completed before  graduation and  the school  district could                                                                    
choose how they wanted design and offer the course.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
7:25:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster asked for a review of the fiscal note.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
KELLY MANNING,  DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF  INNOVATION AND                                                                    
EDUCATION  EXCELLENCE,  DEPARTMENT  OF EDUCATION  AND  EARLY                                                                    
DEVELOPMENT  (via  teleconference), reviewed  the  published                                                                    
(FN2 (EED)  fiscal impact  note dated  January 10,  2024, in                                                                    
the amount of  $71,000  in one-time funds. The appropriation                                                                    
supported the  development of a  rubric to  evaluate courses                                                                    
against the  requirements and would  bring together  a group                                                                    
of  20  educators  that  included   paying  a  stipend.  The                                                                    
appropriation also  enabled the  hiring of a  facilitator to                                                                    
develop  the  rubric  and  evaluation  process  and  lastly,                                                                    
$6,000 was for legal fees to implement regulation changes.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7:27:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Galvin  emphasized   that  she   was  fully                                                                    
supportive  of the  bill and  the concept  of learning  life                                                                    
skills and  financial literacy. She was  concerned about the                                                                    
multitude  of unfunded  mandates  and how  class sizes  were                                                                    
growing  and  growing.  She  asked  the  department  how  20                                                                    
teachers  and  stake holders  would  be  enough to  put  the                                                                    
mandate  in place  and train  hundreds if  not thousands  of                                                                    
teachers. Ms. Manning responded  that the 20 educators would                                                                    
comprise  a committee  participating in  the development  of                                                                    
the rubric and evaluation of  curriculum at the start of the                                                                    
process. She elaborated  that the group would  help create a                                                                    
process  to  ensure a  course  aligned  with the  standards.                                                                    
Moving  forward   the  department  would  ensure   that  any                                                                    
curriculum   districts submitted  for approval  would follow                                                                    
the  process.   The  districts  would  be   responsible  for                                                                    
training   educators  and   providing   resources  and   the                                                                    
department  would ensure  the  curriculum  aligned with  the                                                                    
requirements.  Representative  Galvin  understood  that  the                                                                    
department  would  hand  the curriculum  to  districts.  She                                                                    
asked  if  there  would  be any  support  for  districts  in                                                                    
training or  classroom management. Ms. Manning  replied that                                                                    
the  provisions  of  the bill  required  the  department  to                                                                    
evaluate  the  districts'  courses   and  the  districts  to                                                                    
implement the course.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Lottsfeldt  pointed to page 2,  line 4 of the  bill that                                                                    
included language  to the  maximum extent practicable," with                                                                    
the understanding that smaller districts  may not be able to                                                                    
offer the course. He delineated  that in the House Education                                                                    
Committee,  Representative Himschoot  included an  amendment                                                                    
requiring  a  list  of  open   source  free  curriculum  was                                                                    
available to the teacher.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
7:32:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin  favored the language   maximum extent                                                                    
practicable.  She referenced the  large class sizes and felt                                                                    
that the current  policy had left children  behind, and some                                                                    
districts were  cutting music programs and  closing schools.                                                                    
She would be  supportive of the bill, but  she was concerned                                                                    
that   the  underlying   problem  of   ensuring  there   was                                                                    
predictable  and  adequate  funding   for  schools  was  not                                                                    
settled.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hannan noted  that the  mandate required  an                                                                    
increase in  graduation credits.  She asked  if there  was a                                                                    
graduation requirement.  She did  not find  it in  the bill.                                                                    
She determined that SB 99  referenced a program, and she was                                                                    
trying  to determine  if it  was a  specific requirement  to                                                                    
graduate  or  if merely  an  equivalent  program had  to  be                                                                    
offered. Mr.  Lottsfeldt answered it was  an additional half                                                                    
credit  requirement for  graduation. He  pointed to  page 1,                                                                    
line  13 of  the  bill  and read:  "?A  school district  may                                                                    
provide the program  through one or more  courses offered by                                                                    
the school district?"  The sponsor wanted to leave  it up to                                                                    
the school  districts whether  to integrate  existing course                                                                    
work already  offered. He  viewed it  being taught  in other                                                                    
courses as  well and not  all in one  course. Representative                                                                    
Hannan thought that  was the reason the  bill was confusing.                                                                    
She exemplified  teaching an  economics course  and wondered                                                                    
if it  needed to  account for all  of the  requirements. She                                                                    
asked if the  requirement was for a new credit,  a change in                                                                    
curriculum, or  up to  the districts  to decide  if existing                                                                    
courses fulfilled the requirement.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
7:37:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Lottsfeldt responded that for  a school district such as                                                                    
Haines that  had a financial literacy  requirement would not                                                                    
require  the  additional  half credit.  He  understood  that                                                                    
existing programs  could count, but a  junior achievement or                                                                    
other  program would  need to  account for  the half  credit                                                                    
which   equated  to   60  to   90   hours  of   instruction.                                                                    
Representative Hannan  relayed that  she had  graduated from                                                                    
the Anchorage School District and  had been required to take                                                                    
personal finance.  She asked  if Mr.  Lottsfeldt knew  if it                                                                    
was still  a requirement. Mr. Lottsfeldt  answered that when                                                                    
he attended  West Anchorage  High School it  had not  been a                                                                    
requirement.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp thought it  was very important to teach                                                                    
personal  finance. He  relayed that  he would  cross sponsor                                                                    
the  bill. He  thought  it was  very  relevant and  strongly                                                                    
favored the concept. He would like to move the bill.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Cronk did not disagree  with the bill, but he                                                                    
reported  that "they"  spent two  years  arguing over  local                                                                    
control. However,  the bill  mandated that  school districts                                                                    
teach the course.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
7:40:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz  agreed that  financial literacy  was a                                                                    
good thing to  learn; however, he shared  the concerns about                                                                    
local control.  He referenced  the document  specifying that                                                                    
Alaska received an  F grade in financial  literacy and asked                                                                    
how it was  determined. Mr. Lottsfeldt answered  that he did                                                                    
not know how the  rating had been determined. Representative                                                                    
Ortiz  was   skeptical  that   the  requirements   could  be                                                                    
evaluated, and a curriculum could  be developed for $71,000.                                                                    
He asked how it would  work. Mr. Lottsfeldt answered that he                                                                    
did  not   know.  He  understood  that   the  Department  of                                                                    
Education  and  Early  Development (DEED)  put  forward  the                                                                    
amount  that was  necessary to  do the  work. Representative                                                                    
Ortiz  commented that  the mandates  were  all  good stuff,                                                                     
but  the reality  was it  would not  all happen  through the                                                                    
process outlined in the fiscal note.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
7:43:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Lottsfeldt   agreed    with   Representative   Ortiz's                                                                    
statements. He noted that there  was an interest in creating                                                                    
a more  real world  experience for students  upon graduation                                                                    
but there  were legitimate  questions regarding  funding. He                                                                    
understood the concerns.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Coulombe  had  similar concerns.  She  noted                                                                    
that the bill  contained "a lot of shalls."  She relayed the                                                                    
following  from the  bill [page  2, lines  2 through  3]: "A                                                                    
school  may  not  issue  a secondary  school  diploma  to  a                                                                    
student  unless  the  student   has  completed  a  financial                                                                    
literacy  program?"  She  agreed  that  students  should  be                                                                    
taught financial  literacy. However,  she was  shocked there                                                                    
was  not pushback  about the  types of  bills from  the same                                                                    
people  advocating  for  local   control.  She  asked  if  a                                                                    
district already  offered a financial curriculum  whether it                                                                    
could it  be grandfathered in. Mr.  Lottsfeldt answered that                                                                    
the intention was for districts  to use what already existed                                                                    
if it  met the rubric.  The sponsor  was trying to  make the                                                                    
mandate  as  easy  as  possible   to  adopt,  realizing  the                                                                    
constraints.  Representative  Coulombe  opined  that  school                                                                    
districts should be teaching  reading, civics, and financial                                                                    
literacy  courses  but  the state  thought  they  were  not.                                                                    
Hence, there  was a  READS Act, a  Civics bill,  a Financial                                                                    
Literacy  bill. She  was unsure  whether  she supported  the                                                                    
bill. She  supported teaching  financial literacy,  but they                                                                    
were adding more  and more layers of  bureaucracy for school                                                                    
districts. She  believed that there  was an  "obvious trend                                                                     
for the state to  keep  telling districts what to do and she                                                                    
did not support it.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Lottsfeldt thanked the committee.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster set an amendment  deadline of Friday, May 10                                                                    
at 5:00 p.m.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 99(EDC)  was HEARD  and HELD  in committee  for further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster discussed  the likely  schedule and  agenda                                                                    
for the following day.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hannan interjected  that  the committee  had                                                                    
heard  another  education  bill  earlier  in  the  day.  She                                                                    
relayed that  she taught  social studies  for 30  years. She                                                                    
announced that she would not be  voting for any of the bills                                                                    
where the legislature was  dictating curriculum to students.                                                                    
She  argued   that  school   districts  taught   courses  in                                                                    
different  ways.  She  presumed   that  if  a  rural  school                                                                    
district did  not require a  course to graduate, they  had a                                                                    
specific reason for choosing not  to require it. She did not                                                                    
support mandating  a district teach something  when they may                                                                    
need  to  focus  on  applied math  or  other  subjects.  She                                                                    
indicated that there  were three bills heading  to the floor                                                                    
where  the  legislature  was mandating  specific  curriculum                                                                    
with no extra  money. She stated that  Junior Achievement as                                                                    
a  program was  incredibly  successful  in Juneau.  However,                                                                    
when the  class that always  hosted Junior Achievement  as a                                                                    
club  was   cut  Junior  Achievement  was   eliminated.  She                                                                    
believed that  everyone supported teaching  better financial                                                                    
literacy  and   civics  engagement,  but  she   opposed  the                                                                    
legislature overreaching into areas of local control.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster noted that SB  228 would be removed from the                                                                    
schedule for the following day.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster RECESSED  the meeting  until the  following                                                                    
morning [note: the meeting never reconvened].                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
7:52:47 PM                                                                                                                    
RECESSED                                                                                                                        

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 275 DPS Follow-Up-1 NIJ Best Practices.pdf HFIN 5/8/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 275
HB 275 DPS Follow-Up-1.pdf HFIN 5/8/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 275
HB 275 DPS Follow-Up-2.pdf HFIN 5/8/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 275
HB 275 Transmittal Letter.pdf HFIN 5/8/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 275
HB275 Letters of Support and Letter of Opposition.pdf HFIN 5/8/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 275
SB 75 & SB 74 Public Testimony Rec'd by 050624 2.pdf HFIN 5/8/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 74
SB 75
HB275 Sectional Analysis Version B 3.22.24.pdf HFIN 5/8/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 275
HB275 Summary of Changes Version A to B 3.22.24.pdf HFIN 5/8/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 275