04/05/2022 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 173                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the practice of dentistry;                                                                             
     relating to dental radiological equipment; and                                                                             
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:04:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop  relayed that it  was the third  hearing for                                                                    
SB  173, and  the  committee had  opened  and closed  public                                                                    
testimony on  February 24,  2022. The  committees  intention                                                                    
was  to  hear  a  brief bill  reintroduction,  cover  fiscal                                                                    
notes, and look to the will of the committee.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson,  Sponsor,  explained   that  SB  173  would                                                                    
transfer  the inspection  of  dental radiological  equipment                                                                    
from  the Board  of Dental  Examiners to  the Department  of                                                                    
Health and  Social Services and would  establish a specialty                                                                    
license.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson  discussed the fiscal notes.  He addressed FN                                                                    
1 from the Department of Health.  In FY 23 there was a total                                                                    
of $95,000  with $92,500 in outgoing  years. The legislation                                                                    
was  expected  to  have  an   impact  on  Medicaid  provider                                                                    
enrollment. The  additional scope  could not be  absorbed by                                                                    
the current staff and the  fiscal note reflected an increase                                                                    
of  one permanent  part-time Medicaid  Program Specialist  2                                                                    
position, located in Anchorage.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop  addressed FN 1.  He thought the  $95,000 in                                                                    
FY  23 as  well as  the cost  in outgoing  years would  be a                                                                    
split between  Undesignated General Funds (UGF)  and federal                                                                    
funds.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson  clarified  that   the  fiscal  note  showed                                                                    
$47,500  federal receipts  and $47,500  in matching  UGF. In                                                                    
outgoing years, the funding amount would also be split.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson  addressed  FN  2  from  the  Department  of                                                                    
Health, OMB Component 2252. The  note showed operating costs                                                                    
of $193,200 with $224,200 in  outgoing years. The bill would                                                                    
transfer   the   responsibilities    of   registration   and                                                                    
certification of dental radiological  devices from the board                                                                    
to the  department effective July  1, 2023. The  funds would                                                                    
allow the department media to promulgate the regulations.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson  MOVED  to  report   CSSB  173(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 173(FIN)  was REPORTED out  of committee with  four "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendations and  with  three "no  recommendation"                                                                    
recommendations, and with  three previously published fiscal                                                                    
impact notes: FN 1(DHS), FN 2(DHS), and FN 3(CED).                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:08:02 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:09:29 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED