02/12/2001 09:07 AM Senate FIN

     SENATE BILL NO. 52                                                                                                         
     "An Act extending the termination date of the State Physical                                                               
     Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board."                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HEATHER BRAKES, staff to  Senator Gene Therriault, explained that SB
 would extend the State  Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy                                                            
Board an additional  six years from June 30, 2001  to June 30, 2007.                                                            
She  pointed  out that  in  the packet  they  would find  a  sponsor                                                            
statement,  letters  of support,  a  draft zero  fiscal  note and  a                                                            
legislative  audit that  was  released on  September 6,  2000.   She                                                            
indicated  that the audit  found that the  board is operating  in an                                                            
efficient  and effective  manner and  that they  should continue  to                                                            
regulate physical  and occupational  therapists.  She further  noted                                                            
that the legislative  audit believes that the board  is safeguarding                                                            
the public  interest by  promoting the competence  and integrity  of                                                            
those that  hold themselves  out as such.   She indicated that  they                                                            
continue to  serve a public purpose  and to conduct a business  in a                                                            
satisfactory  manner.  She  pointed out that  the legislative  audit                                                            
also continued  to  propose changes  to regulation  and improve  the                                                            
effectiveness  of  the board  and  ensure  that the  occupations  it                                                            
oversees  were  licensed  in  the  State of  Alaska.    Finally,  it                                                            
recommended that the board be continued to June 30, 2007.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Donley  offered a conceptual  amendment on page  1, line 6,                                                            
to delete  "2007"  and insert  "2005."   There being  no  objection,                                                            
Amendment #1 was adopted.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Leman  offered a motion to  report from Committee,  CS SB 52                                                            
(FIN),  as amended  with  accompanying  zero  fiscal note  from  the                                                            
Department of Community and Economic Development.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
There was no objection and the bill MOVED FROM COMMITTEE.