Legislature(2005 - 2006)BELTZ 211
04/14/2005 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
SB108 | |
SB157 | |
SB149 | |
SB148 | |
SB175 | |
HB61 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | HB 61 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | SB 149 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | SB 148 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | SB 175 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+= | SB 108 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 157 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 175-DISPENSING OPTICIANS CHAIR BUNDE announced SB 175 to be up for consideration and said it is one of the Legislature's goals to reduce the number of boards and commissions. While in this bill the board goes away, the licensing requirement for dispensing optician remains and it would become a function of the Division of Occupational Licensing. JANE ALBERTS, staff to Senator Bunde, explained that SB 175 sunsets the Board of Dispensing Opticians and transfers the authority for licensure to the Division of Occupational Licensing. It increases from 2 to 4 the number of apprentices who can work under one licensed optician, optometrist or medical doctor. This is included to perhaps allow more individuals to get into this occupation. SB 175 also simplifies in statute the process for licensing opticians from other states in Alaska and it transfers administration of the apprenticeship program from the Department of Labor to the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor already administers a number of apprenticeship programs across the nation, so the state's division would license applicants based on each one's meeting the basic requirements of the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship program. 2:43:12 PM SENATOR BEN STEVENS asked if anything in law prohibits reverse reciprocity if licensure is issued by a department and not a board. PAT DAVIDSON, Division of Legislative Audit, responded that often reciprocity is based on experience, education or testing accomplishments. It doesn't matter whether it's a department or board doing the licensing and not all states license dispensing opticians. That is part of the reason for Section 9, which acknowledges a master's certificate from a professional association for people practicing in those states that do not license them. "It increases the pool of people who can act in the state as a dispensing optician." 2:47:21 PM SHANA PICKFORD, member, Alaska Opticians Association, Anchorage, supported SB 175. She related that Rick Urion, Director, Division of Occupational Licensing, has said he would involve the association in the transition and she looks forward to working with him. 2:48:52 PM MATT MARUKIAN, licensed optician, said the Alaska public is being served well by the licensing system. His goal is to work with the Division of Occupational Licensing to have a seamless transition. He supported SB 175 overall. 2:50:29 PM KRISTY BRANT, President, Opticians Association of Alaska, Fairbanks, supported SB 175. It streamlines the regulation process, maintains licensing and transfers the administration of the apprenticeship program to the U.S. Department of Labor, which should be more efficient for everybody involved. She pointed out that if this legislation does not pass by June 30, the statutes will no longer be valid and the board will no longer be there to regulate them. It could be confusing and cost the state time and money. CHAIR BUNDE explained that it is the committee's practice to not pass a bill after only one hearing and he said he would hold it for another meeting. 2:52:58 PM ROBIN MARQUIS, licensed optician, Fairbanks, said she used to practice in a state that didn't license dispensing opticians and she knew that not every office provided good care. She has worked at various offices in Fairbanks and has a good relationship with other doctors and opticians. Topnotch speakers are brought in to meet continuing education requirements. They are trying their best to make sure the consumer comes first, not the almighty buck. She felt confident that SB 175 would streamline the licensing process. CHAIR BUNDE thanked her for her comments and said that the bill would be held for a second hearing.
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