03/29/2021 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

          HB 117-EXTEND BOARD OF DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIVES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:19:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SPOHNHOLZ announced  that the  first order  of business                                                               
would be  HOUSE BILL NO.  117, "An Act extending  the termination                                                               
date  of  the  Board  of  Certified  Direct-Entry  Midwives;  and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ  invited questions from committee  members for                                                               
Legislative  Auditor   Kris  Curtis.    There   being  none,  she                                                               
announced that HB 117 would be taken up later in the meeting.                                                                   
          HB 117-EXTEND BOARD OF DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIVES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:29:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced  that the next order  of business would                                                               
be  a  return to  HOUSE  BILL  NO.  117,  "An Act  extending  the                                                               
termination  date   of  the   Board  of   Certified  Direct-Entry                                                               
Midwives; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:29:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCARTY asked  Representative Ortiz  his thoughts                                                               
on extending  the sunset date  of the Board of  Certified Direct-                                                               
Entry Midwives for only two years.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:30:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAN ORTIZ,  Alaska  State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor  of  HB  117,  responded that  Legislative  Auditor  Kris                                                               
Curtis explained why  the audit recommended an  extension of only                                                               
two years,  and he doesn't  necessarily know the details  of what                                                               
may be a confidential matter.   He said that the solution brought                                                               
forward  by  Ms. Curtis  gives  the  board  time to  address  the                                                               
issues.   He noted that  he is offering the  proposed legislation                                                               
on behalf  of the  Board of  Certified Direct-Entry  Midwives and                                                               
doesn't necessarily have any knowledge of the matter.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:31:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ  noted that she  has served for the  past four                                                               
years on  the Legislative Budget  & Audit Committee  and directed                                                               
attention to  page 5,  paragraph 3, of  the sunset  report, which                                                               
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The  reduced extension  is due  to an  issue identified                                                                    
     during the  audit that may  impact the  board's ability                                                                    
     to  protect the  public and  the board's  reluctance to                                                                    
     recommend  statutory  changes   in  the  public's  best                                                                    
     interest. The details of the  issue are not included in                                                                    
     this  report  to  preserve the  confidentiality  of  an                                                                    
     ongoing investigation.  The reduced  extension reflects                                                                    
     the need for continued oversight.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SPOHNHOLZ  expressed  that  the sunset  date  could  be                                                               
extended  two  years   to  allow  the  board   to  implement  the                                                               
recommended changes, and subsequently have a longer extension.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:33:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR FIELDS opened  public testimony on HB 117.   There being                                                               
no one who wished to testify, he closed public testimony.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
[HB 117 was held over.]                                                                                                         
          HB 117-EXTEND BOARD OF DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIVES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:13:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced  that the next order  of business would                                                               
be  a  return to  HOUSE  BILL  NO.  117,  "An Act  extending  the                                                               
termination  date   of  the   Board  of   Certified  Direct-Entry                                                               
Midwives; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:13:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ moved  to report HB 117 out  of committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  the  accompanying fiscal  notes.                                                               
There being no  objections, HB 117 was reported out  of the House                                                               
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.