Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/08/2022 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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HCR10 | |
SB156 | |
SB124 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | HCR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 124 | TELECONFERENCED | |
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+= | SB 156 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 156-PROHIBIT COVID-19 VACCINE DISCRIMINATION 1:49:00 PM CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 156 "An Act relating to COVID- 19 immunization rights; and relating to objection to the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine." CHAIR WILSON solicited amendments. 1:49:20 PM SENATOR REINBOLD moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 32- LS1352\I.7. 32-LS1352\I.7 Dunmire/Foote 3/4/22 AMENDMENT 1 OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR REINBOLD Page 1, line 1: Delete "and" Page 1, line 2, following "vaccine": Insert "; and providing for an effective date" Page 2, following line 30: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c)." 1:49:23 PM CHAIR WILSON objected for discussion purposes. 1:49:25 PM SENATOR REINBOLD explained that Amendment 1 would insert an immediate effective date. She related that, in her experience, sometimes bills were delayed because they lacked sufficient votes on the Senate floor to adopt the effective date clause. 1:49:43 PM SENATOR BEGICH stated that adding an effective date to this bill could delay it if the Senate did not have a two-thirds vote to adopt the effective date clause. 1:50:05 PM At ease 1:50:39 PM CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting. 1:50:46 PM SENATOR BEGICH stated his question was whether Amendment 1 was to add an effective date to the bill that would require 14 votes for the effective date clause to pass the Senate. He advised that if the bill does not have an effective date, it will default to becoming effective 90 days after passage. 1:51:033 PM SENATOR REINBOLD stated she intended to add an immediate effective date in SB 156 because the unvaccinated were being discriminated against. 1:51:26 PM CHAIR WILSON removed his objection; he found no further objection, and Amendment 1 was adopted. 1:51:38 PM SENATOR REINBOLD moved to adopt Amendment 2, work order 32- LS1352\I.8. 32-LS1352\I.8 Dunmire/Foote 3/4/22 AMENDMENT 2 OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR REINBOLD Page 1, line 1: Delete "and" Page 1, line 2, following "vaccine": Insert "; and relating to COVID-19 vaccination status and eligibility for health care insurance" Page 2, following line 30: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 2. AS 21.54.100(a) is amended to read: (a) A health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews a health care insurance plan in the group market may not establish rules for eligibility, including continued eligibility and waiting periods under the plan, for an individual or dependent of an individual based on (1) health status; (2) medical condition, including physical and mental illnesses; (3) claims experience; (4) receipt of health care; (5) medical history; (6) genetic information; (7) evidence of insurability, including conditions arising from acts of domestic violence; [OR] (8) disability; or (9) the individual's COVID-19 vaccination status; in this paragraph, "COVID-19" has the meaning given in AS 18.09.290." 1:51:40 PM CHAIR WILSON objected for discussion purposes. 1:50:41 PM SENATOR REINBOLD stated that members received 500 emails on SB 156, noting that several constituents requested adding eligibility for health care insurance. She explained that Amendment 2 would say that insurance could not deny a claim based on vaccine status. 1:52:27 PM SENATOR BEGICH pointed out that her concern was already covered under current law. He referred to page 1, lines 15-19 of Amendment 1, to AS 21.54.100(a)(1)(5). He stated that health status, medical condition, including physical and mental illnesses, claims experience, receipt of health care, and medical history cannot be used as reasons. Further, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) also prohibits pre-existing conditions. He said he would not oppose Amendment 2 but wanted to point out that in his discussions with the Division of Insurance and in reading the statutes, adding paragraph (9) would add redundancy. 1:54:06 PM SENATOR HUGHES asked if Title 21 relates to insurance, so adding this language to the statute would clarify that COVID-19 vaccination status cannot be discriminated against. 1:54:26 PM LORI WING-HEIER, Director, Division of Insurance, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, responded that Title 21 relates to the insurance code. She agreed with Senator Begich that a health care insurer could not ask any questions related to pre-existing conditions. Thus, a health care insurer cannot ask if someone has received polio, shingles, or pneumonia vaccines. SENATOR BEGICH said it might not be necessary to add the language. 1:55:02 PM SENATOR REINBOLD asked if Amendment 2 would complement current statute. MS. WING-HEIER replied that Amendment 2 would likely create confusion because people may wonder about the intent. The current statute does not need to be complemented because it is already addressed in the five paragraphs. SENATOR REINBOLD offered her belief that discrimination regarding COVID-19 vaccination status was occurring nationwide. She offered her view that insurance claims were being denied for vaccinations and for those who were unvaccinated. 1:56:13 PM SENATOR HUGHES asked whether federal and state laws prohibit insurers from asking about vaccination status or pre-existing conditions. 1:56:34 PM MS. WING-HEIER replied that it was based on federal law, but state law mimics federal law as much as possible. 1:56:47 PM CHAIR WILSON removed his objection; he found no further objection, and Amendment 2 was adopted. 1:56:58 PM SENATOR BEGICH moved to adopt Amendment 3, work order 32- LS1352\I.6. 32-LS1352\I.6 Foote 3/3/22 AMENDMENT 3 OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR BEGICH Page 1, following line 3: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the legislature that every person should have the right to choose their own medical interventions because art. I, sec. 22, of the Constitution of the State of Alaska protects a person's right to privacy." Page 1, line 4: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 2" 1:57:00 PM CHAIR WILSON objected for discussion purposes. 1:57:02 PM SENATOR BEGICH stated that numerous arguments had been made in committee and on the floor about tying legislation to a person's autonomy and right to make medical decisions. He explained that Amendment 3 would add legislative intent that every person has the right to choose their medical intervention and a right to privacy. 1:57:57 PM SENATOR REINBOLD asked for assurance that Amendment 3 did not eliminate Section 1. SENATOR BEGICH answered that Amendment 3 does not delete any language in the bill, but the sections are renumbered. 1:58:52 PM CHAIR WILSON removed his objection; he found no further objection, and Amendment 3 was adopted. SENATOR REINBOLD stated that SB 156 would provide for individual choice without discrimination based on COVID-19 vaccination status. She said it would prohibit immunity passports. She expressed concern that a hostess at a restaurant would ask for a vaccination card. 2:01:28 PM CHAIR WILSON solicited the will of the committee. 2:01:34 PM SENATOR HUGHES moved to report SB 156, work order 32-LS1342\I, as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and attached Statement of zero fiscal impact. CHAIR WILSON found no objection and CSSB 156(HSS) was reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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HCR 10 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM SHSS 3/10/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HCR 10 |
HCR 10 - CDC Heart Disease Facts.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM SHSS 3/10/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HCR 10 |
HCR 10 2021 AMA 2021 Update.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM SHSS 3/10/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HCR 10 |
SB 156 Amdmt I.6 Begich.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 156 |
SB 156 Amdt I.7 Reinbold.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 156 |
SB 124 Version GS 1730 A.PDF |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB 124 Transmittal Letter.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB 124 Sectional Analysis Version GS1730 A.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB 124 - Sectional Anaylsis Ver. Work Draft CS.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB 124 Definitions in AS 47.30.915.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM SJUD 4/27/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB 124 - Fiscal Note - SB124-DOH-MS-2-4-2022.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB 124 - Fiscal Note - SB124-JUD-ACS-4.28.21.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB 124 - Fiscal Note - SB124-DPS-DET-03-07-22.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB 124 - Fiscal Note -SB 124-DFCS-IMH-3-4-2022.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB 124 - Infographics - Proposed Statutory Changes to Title 47 3.6.22.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB124-HB172Ltr Psych Rights 2.22.22.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HB 172 SB 124 |
SB 124 CS Work Draft V. B.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM SHSS 3/17/2022 1:30:00 PM SHSS 3/22/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |
SB 124 - Memo to DHSS-HB 172 (SB 124) response to Gottstein comments 3.3.2022.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HB 172 SB 124 |
SB 156 Letters 3.3.22.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 156 |
SB 156 Testimony (Sponsor) 3.7.22.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 156 |
SB 156 Testimony 3.7.22.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 156 |
SB 156 Amdmt I.8 Reinbold.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 156 |
SB 124 - Letter Psych Rights 3.7.22.pdf |
SHSS 3/8/2022 1:30:00 PM SHSS 3/17/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 124 |