03/28/2024 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB309 | |
| HB283 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 309 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 283 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 28, 2024
3:05 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Prax, Chair
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair
Representative CJ McCormick
Representative Zack Fields
Representative Genevieve Mina
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Jesse Sumner
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 309
"An Act relating to the practice of optometry; and relating to
the delegation of routine services of optometry."
- MOVED HB 309 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 283
"An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska Commission
on Aging; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 283 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 309
SHORT TITLE: DELEGATION OF ROUTINE OPTOMETRY SERVICES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) RUFFRIDGE
02/07/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/07/24 (H) HSS, L&C
03/21/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
03/21/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/21/24 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/28/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
BILL: HB 283
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) DIBERT
01/22/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/24 (H) HSS
03/28/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
WITNESS REGISTER
BUD SEXTON, Staff
Representative Justin Ruffridge
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Ruffridge,
prime sponsor, presented HB 309.
REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, answered committee
questions on HB 309.
SYLVAN ROBB, Director
Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered committee questions on HB 309.
BRADLEY CROSS, Chair
Alaska Board of Optometry
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on HB 309.
REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 283 to the
committee.
BOB SILVERTSEN, Chair
Alaska Commission on Aging
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on HB 283.
KRIS CURTIS, Legislative Auditor
Legislative Audit Division
Legislative Agencies and Offices
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on HB 283.
JON HAGHAYEGHI, Executive Director
Alaska Commission on Aging
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on HB 283.
MARGE STONEKING, Representative
AARP of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on HB 283.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:05:39 PM
CHAIR PRAX called the House Health and Social Services Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. Representatives
Ruffridge, McCormick, Fields, Mina, and Prax were present at the
call to order.
HB 309-DELEGATION OF ROUTINE OPTOMETRY SERVICES
3:07:28 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 309, "An Act relating to the practice of
optometry; and relating to the delegation of routine services of
optometry."
3:08:10 PM
JAMES "BUD" SEXTON, Staff, Representative Justin Ruffridge,
Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Ruffridge,
prime sponsor, presented HB 309. He began his testimony by
giving a quick overview of the proposed legislation and its
policies. He explained that it would allow optometrists in
Alaska to delegate routine tasks to staff in optometrists'
offices and detailed how the bill would further "clean up"
Alaska statute to be clearer in its intent.
3:09:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA cited a letter of opposition and concern
from the American Academy of Ophthalmologists and asked the bill
sponsor if he had a response to it.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE, as prime sponsor, responded that the
letter seemed to be in opposition to HB 309, though the issues
it covered as inadequate are already addressed in the bill. He
provided specific examples and explained that HB 309 was a
framework bill that would give the Alaska Board of Optometry the
framework to draft any given provisions related to the
delegation of services.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA noted that Sylvan Robb had penned the
aforementioned letter and said she would like to hear from Ms.
Robb regarding her thoughts related to HB 309.
3:13:09 PM
MR. SEXTON suggested that a better comparison of statutory
language would be Alaska's existing ophthalmology statutes, of
which he cited Alaska Statute (AS) 8.64.106.
3:14:59 PM
SYLVAN ROBB, Director, Division of Corporations, Business, and
Professional Licensing (DCBPL), Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development (DCCED), explained that she
would need to read the statutory language regarding dentistry
referred to by Representative Mina and said that the type of
delegation language proposed under HB 309 is quite common and
generally preferable, because it would allow the statutory
entity to set its own regulations and not have to refer to the
Alaska State Legislature each time an entity would like to
change a regulation.
3:16:09 PM
BRADLEY CROSS, Chair, Alaska Board of Optometry, explained that
establishing the guardrails that would be set up under HB 309
via proposed regulation process is the typical way to accomplish
the goals that the proposed legislation aims to achieve.
3:17:15 PM
CHAIR PRAX inquired whether individuals who are delegated the
authority to do routine tasks have to be licensed specifically.
MS. ROBB responded that the licensee is responsible for the
practices performed by that person to whom they are delegating.
3:19:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 309 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 309 was reported out of the
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
3:20:05 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:20 p.m. to 3:22 p.m.
HB 283-EXTEND ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING
3:22:01 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 283, "An Act extending the termination date of
the Alaska Commission on Aging; and providing for an effective
date."
3:22:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 283. She began by giving the committee a
background on the Alaska Commission on Aging and emphasized its
importance to Alaskans. She explained that the proposed
legislation would extend the Alaska Commission on Aging until
June 30, 2032, based on the recommendations of the Legislative
Budget and Audit Committee. She said that the commission has
existed since 1981 and has been extended every eight years since
then. She highlighted that the Alaska Commission on Aging plays
a vital role in coordinating state initiatives to assist and
uplift Alaska's senior population. She explained that the
Alaska Commission on Aging is vital in the assurance that Alaska
carries out its federal mandate to take care of its senior
population under the Older Americans Act of 1965. She
highlighted that the commission helps to collect snapshot data
of the health and well-being of Alaska residents who are aged 60
years and older, as well as basic demographic and economic
statistics of that age group. Representative Dibert advised
that the summary of data that the commission collects is
important to help the state understand the underlying dynamics
at play in senior communities and tailor programs toward those
who need them most. She emphasized that the Alaska Commission
on Aging is a commission that advocates for Alaska's senior
population and underlined the importance of its existence.
3:27:30 PM
BOB SILVERTSEN, Chair, Alaska Commission on Aging, gave invited
testimony on HB 283. He explained his history in Alaska and his
role as chair of the Alaska Commission on Aging. He explained
the importance of the commission and its relevance to all
Alaskans. He shared some of the data collected from the
previously mentioned studies of the commission and explained how
those studies have positively impacted Alaska's senior
population.
3:30:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked why the Alaska Commission on Aging
has a sunset clause in the first place.
MR. SILVERTSEN answered that it gives the legislature an
opportunity to audit the commission's performance.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE recommended that the audit be performed
year to year and asked Mr. Sivertsen what his plans and ideas
were for the future of the commission.
MR. SILVERTSEN acknowledged the recommendation and replied that
he wanted to see term limits on the commission, as well as more
thorough administration.
3:33:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT introduced Kris Curtis of the Legislative
Audit Division to the committee.
KRIS CURTIS, Legislative Auditor, Legislative Audit Division,
Legislative Agencies and Offices, gave invited testimony on HB
283. She briefly summarized the federal requirements that the
State of Alaska must follow with regard to its senior relations
and explained that current federal regulations require yearly
reports and summarized audit findings.
3:35:53 PM
CHAIR PRAX asked whether the Alaska Commission on Aging is
working to coordinate its services with other state agencies.
MR. SILVERTSEN answered that the commission tries to make the
most efficient decisions for seniors and said that he works hard
to ensure that a relationship between the commission and
Alaska's senior citizens is established and maintained.
3:39:06 PM
JON HAGHAYEGHI, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Aging,
gave invited testimony on HB 283. He emphasized that the Alaska
Commission on Aging is instrumental in ensuring that meals,
transportation, and service needs are met for Alaska's senior
population.
3:41:54 PM
MARGE STONEKING, Representative, AARP of Alaska, gave invited
testimony on HB 283. She highlighted the importance of the
annual senior snapshot studies that the Alaska Commission on
Aging performs and explained that the data in those studies are
invaluable to AARP.
3:44:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS inquired whether the committee would hear
a motion on the proposed legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 283 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 283 was reported from the
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
3:46:22 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health and Social Services Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 3:46 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 309 Block of Support Letters.pdf |
HHSS 3/28/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 309 |
| HB 309 Opthalmology Acad. Opposition.pdf |
HHSS 3/28/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 309 |
| HB 283 Fiscal Note DOH-COA.pdf |
HHSS 3/28/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 283 |
| HB 309 Lamigo Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/28/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 309 |
| HB 309 Karpik Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/28/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 309 |
| HB 309 Walgenbach Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/28/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 309 |
| HB 309 Delaney Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/28/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 309 |
| HB 309 Charlton Support.pdf |
HHSS 3/28/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 309 |
| HB 309 (HSS)Follow-Up from DCCED-CBPL.pdf |
HHSS 3/28/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 309 |