Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
03/28/2023 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS March 28, 2023 1:02 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Stanley Wright, Chair Representative Laddie Shaw Representative Ben Carpenter Representative George Rauscher Representative Dan Saddler Representative Cliff Groh Representative Andrew Gray MEMBERS ABSENT All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR HOUSE BILL NO. 85 "An Act relating to professional licensing; relating to temporary licenses for some professions; and providing for an effective date." - HEARD & HELD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION BILL: HB 85 SHORT TITLE: PROFESSIONAL LICENSING; TEMP PERMITS SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR 02/27/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/27/23 (H) L&C, FIN 03/08/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/08/23 (H) Heard & Held 03/08/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/10/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/10/23 (H) Heard & Held 03/10/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/17/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/17/23 (H) Moved CSHB 85(L&C) Out of Committee 03/17/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/20/23 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 5DP 1AM 03/20/23 (H) DP: CARRICK, WRIGHT, PRAX, RUFFRIDGE, SUMNER 03/20/23 (H) AM: SADDLER 03/22/23 (H) MLV REFERRAL ADDED BEFORE FIN 03/22/23 (H) BILL REPRINTED 03/28/23 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120 WITNESS REGISTER GLENN SAVIERS, Deputy Director Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of the sponsor, House Rules by request of the governor, presented the committee substitute for HB 85(L&C), gave the sectional analysis, and gave a PowerPoint presentation. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:02:18 PM CHAIR STANLEY WRIGHT called the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. Representatives Gray, Groh, Saddler, Rauscher, Shaw, and Wright were present at the call to order. Representative Carpenter arrived as the meeting was in progress. HB 85-PROFESSIONAL LICENSING; TEMP PERMITS 1:03:02 PM CHAIR WRIGHT announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 85, "An Act relating to professional licensing; relating to temporary licenses for some professions; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was CSHB 85(L&C).] 1:04:02 PM GLENN SAVIERS, Deputy Director, Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, explained that the committee substitute (CS) for HB 85 is the result of the federal law, H.R. 7939, that went into effect on January 5, [2023], and it amends Title 7 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. She stated that Section 19 of this federal resolution concerns the "portability of professional licenses of members of the uniformed services and their spouses" and requires states to treat professional licenses from another jurisdiction held by these individuals as valid if the individuals have relocated because of military orders. Furthermore, for the license to be valid in the new jurisdiction, the servicemember or spouse must remain in good standing in any jurisdiction from which they have been issued a license of a similar scope of practice. She said the servicemember or spouse must also submit documentation related to standards of practice, discipline, and fulfillment of any continuing education requirements. The federal law also provides that, where a service member is able to operate in multiple states due to an interstate licensure compact, the terms of the compact would apply. She explained that the Department of Law helped the division identify how Alaska statute needs to change to comply, and it was determined that [CSHB 85(L&C)] would be the best vessel for the change. She stated that she would be explaining the Professional Licensing Section's duties and the Universal Temporary Licensure (UTL) based on the proposed legislation. 1:06:15 PM MS. SAVIERS offered the sectional analysis for Section 1 of CSHB 85(L&C) [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Section 1: Repeals and reenacts AS 08.01.062 temporary license to allow the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development ("department") to issue a temporary license if the applicant: • Is licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction that has license requirements substantially equivalent or greater than Alaska's, or authorizes a scope of practice substantially equivalent to the scope of practice for the license in Alaska; or • Meets the qualifications and requirements for the Alaska license through military education, training, and service under AS 08.01.064(a) and doesn't already hold a license in another jurisdiction. To qualify for a temporary license, the applicant cannot: • Be the subject of disciplinary action related to the profession in another jurisdiction or be the subject of an ongoing review or disciplinary proceeding by the profession's licensing entity in another jurisdiction. Have committed an act in another jurisdiction within the 10 years before the application that would have constituted grounds for denial or revocation of a license in Alaska at the time the act was committed. To qualify for a temporary license, the applicant must: Pays all required fees. • Undergo a criminal history background check if the department or applicable board requires such for the professional license. o Disclaimer: The department may consider an application and grant a temporary license before obtaining any resulting report. If the department subsequently receives criminal record information that would authorize the department or board to take disciplinary action, that authority shall be exercised. Temporary licenses are valid for up to 180 days. Applicants can apply for one 180-day extension, and those will be approved at the department's discretion." Temporary license holders are authorized to temporarily practice the profession for which the license was granted. The department has the authority to revoke a license issued under this section if the license was secured under deceit, fraud, or intentional misrepresentation." Temporary license provisions under this section do not apply to AS 08.48 (Architects, Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Landscape Architects), AS 08.54 (Big Game Guides and Related Occupations), or AS 08.62 (Marine Pilots). 1:08:10 PM The committee took a brief at-ease at 1:08 p.m. 1:08:49 PM MS. SAVIERS wrapped up discussion of Section 1 in the sectional analysis [text provided previously]. 1:09:46 PM MS. SAVIERS gave a PowerPoint presentation, titled "Universal Temporary Licensure" [hardcopy included in the committee packet]. On slide 2, she gave a brief overview of the Professional Licensing Section within the division. She explained that the division oversees professional licensing for 45 programs covering 125 professions. She pointed out that, not including the administrative support team or investigators, the Professional Licensing Section has a staff of 53 members, including non-permanent positions. She provided a breakdown of the 45 professional licensing programs within the division. She noted that within the division's 45 professional licensing programs, there are over 250 types of licenses, permits, certificates, and endorsements, as well as over 400 pathways to these initial licenses or permits. She pointed out that these license type numbers would not include all the military temporary courtesy licenses created by the passage of Senate Bill 21 [passed during the Thirty-second Alaska State Legislature]. 1:11:26 PM MS. SAVIERS pointed to the dental licensing program as an example of the complexity in licensing. She explained that the program has just two professions dentists and dental hygienists; however, there are many types of licenses, certificates, endorsements, and permits. She stated that a dentist license can be obtained by Examination Level III, by Examination Level II, or by credentials. She continued that the dental hygienist license can also be obtained by the same three pathways. She added that dentists can also obtain permits to administer moderate or minimal sedation. They can also obtain permits to administer deep sedation or general anesthesia. She said both types of permits can be obtained through multiple pathways. She explained that dental hygienists can also obtain advanced practice permits, certificates to administer local anesthetic agents, certificates to provide nitrous oxide, and endorsements to perform restorative functions. MS. SAVIERS commented that while the board does not regulate dental assistants, if dental assistants want to perform coronal polishing or restorative functions, they will need to obtain certificates from the board to do so. She noted other types of permits and licenses, including temporary dentist permits, courtesy dentist licenses, courtesy dental hygienist licenses, military temporary courtesy licenses for both dentists and dental hygienists, and collaborative agreements between dentists and dental hygienists. She highlighted that there would soon be 12 specialty dentist license types from legislation passed last year. She advised that all the aforementioned items require separate applications and supporting documents. In addition, she listed the course types that the board approves, including coronal polishing courses, continuing education courses for dentists and for moderate sedation permit holders. MS. SAVIERS emphasized that one program alone can require significant knowledge from staff. She stated that most programs are staffed by one range 14 licensing examiner, who not only handles all licensing duties but, in many cases, also staffs the board. She gave examples of other staff, which include professional counselors, chiropractors, physical and occupational therapists, massage therapists, social workers, and dental practitioners. She noted that due to the legislation passed last year the division is getting a second examiner to reestablish specialty licenses and create an advanced practice permit for hygienists. 1:13:50 PM MS. SAVIERS explained that some larger programs require additional staff for licensing teams; in example, nursing, which has a 11-person team. She noted that the pharmacy, medical, and construction contractor programs also have teams, but they are less than half the size of the nurse-licensing team. She explained that the division is receipt supported, meaning that per statute, fees are set based on the cost to run the program, including the processing of all documents and applications, answering calls and e-mails, staffing board meetings, and investigating complaints. MS. SAVIERS noted that the Professional Licensing Section has seen a 24 percent increase in its workload over the last 4 years and a 64 percent increase over the last 10 years. She advised that these numbers do not include other work done by the section, including the processing of submitted applications that do not result in a license, applications for course approvals, processing of supporting documents and renewals, responding to e-mails or calls, or the work done by administrative and investigations teams. She said that coupled with the severe staffing vacancies and turnovers, the division has seen the longest processing times ever. She suggested that staffing is getting back on track, and the governor would be granting additional positions in the fiscal year 2024 (FY 24) amended budget. She said the division appreciates the additions; however, there is more that can be done. 1:15:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER referenced the comment about the additional staffing in FY 24. He asked Ms. Saviers to enumerate the additions and total cost. MS. SAVIERS answered that additions in the FY 24 budget would include six administrative assistants, four occupational licensing examiners for nursing, medical, and professional counselors, and one licensing and records supervisor to be assigned to the State Medical Board. In response to a follow-up question, she stated that the added staff would also be used for previously assigned duties. She explained that the division has witnessed increases in the programs to such a degree that staff are needed in order to keep pace with the existing workload. She elaborated that the division needs administrative assistances in the frontend, which would aid examiners, so they would be able to focus on processing applications rather than on handling paperwork. 1:16:43 PM MS. SAVIERS returned to the PowerPoint presentation on slide 3 to show a list of board regulated programs within the division. She said there are 136 board members, when all the seats are filled. She stated that there are many meetings a year, so many boards have weekly work that must be completed. She pointed out that slide 4 lists the 24 programs regulated by the division. She noted that none of the numbers of license types listed include military temporary courtesy licenses, which exist for most of the other programs. MS. SAVIERS pointed attention to two items listed. The first is the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). She explained that, while it is under the Board of Pharmacy, it is regulated and managed by the division. This is because it requires its own staff separate from the Board of Pharmacy staff, with a hands-on approach that cannot be provided by volunteer board members. She said that PDMP currently impacts six boards, including the Board of Pharmacy. She noted that the second item is the telemedicine business registry, which is a registry for businesses providing in-state and out-of-state telehealth services in Alaska. 1:18:12 PM MS. SAVIERS moved to slide 5 to explain UTL [as proposed by CSHB 85(L&C)]. She said that this would allow the department to issue temporary licenses to qualified professionals who have similar licenses from other U.S. jurisdictions or to those who meet the requirements for an Alaska license through military education, training, service, and are not licensed in another jurisdiction. She noted that this change would allow these individuals to begin work faster in Alaska. She noted that the changes made by the CS apply to this provision. MS. SAVIERS moved to slide 6 to explain how an individual qualifies for a UTL. She said that an individual coming from another jurisdiction would still have to apply to the department and demonstrate his/her license is in good standing, or the individual would need to qualify through military education or training. If a criminal history background check is required for the profession in Alaska, this would be needed prior to issuing the temporary license, and the applicant would have to pay a fee. She explained that an individual would not be able to obtain one of these licenses if the other jurisdiction does not have substantially similar requirements; the individual is currently the subject of disciplinary action in the other jurisdiction; or the individual has committed an act in another jurisdiction in the last 10 years that would have prevented a license in Alaska at the time of the act. 1:20:19 PM MS. SAVIERS, in response to a question from Representative Rauscher, explained that currently boards have the ability but are not required to establish temporary licenses, as they all have different requirements and meanings. She explained that the goal of the proposed legislation would be to repeal the existing definitions for temporary license and streamline this for all programs. In response to a follow-up question, she said Section 27 of CSHB 85(L&C) would list all statutes that would be affected by the proposed legislation. 1:22:49 PM MS. SAVIERS returned to the presentation on slide 7. Explaining temporary licensure, she stated that once the department determines an applicant meets the qualifications, these licenses would be valid for 180 days. She said there would also be an option for a one-time extension of another 180 days, and this would be when a temporary licensee can show the permanent licensure is in progress, but the individual has been unable to meet the requirements within the first 180-day period. These reasons may include that the courses were not yet available or information from a third party had not yet been received. She stated that holders of these temporary licenses must follow all of Alaska's statutes and regulations related to the profession. She pointed out that the department can revoke a license that was obtained through deceit, fraud, or intentional misrepresentation. MS. SAVIERS said of the 43 different professional programs the department licenses, CSHB 85(L&C) would cover 40. She listed the three that are omitted: licenses under the Board of Marine Pilots, because operating a barge or cruise ship in Alaska requires Alaska-specific training; licenses under the Big Game Commercial Services Board, because guiding hunts in Alaska is not like guiding hunts anywhere else due to Alaska's animals, terrain, weather patterns, and the state's laws; and professionals covered by the Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors, because there are Alaska-specific things concerning building in an Arctic or sub- Arctic climate. 1:24:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY questioned why construction contractors and home inspectors would not be included. MS. SAVIERS responded that the department did not flag architects, engineers, and land surveyors as being a concern, but rather the board had brought forward this concern. 1:25:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked about temporary licenses being valid for 180 days. He asked if it takes 180 days to attain an Alaska license that is not a temporary license. MS. SAVIERS answered no, and she explained that if a person comes to Alaska from another state, and the requirements are higher in Alaska, it might take six months to attain the needed education. She also pointed out that for a person licensed in all 50 states, it would be in the licensee's hands as to how long it takes for the department to receive a full application packet. She noted that the Alaska Medical Board would require verification of hospital privileges of every hospital the person has worked in, which she said could be hundreds for a person that provides telemedicine. REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER referred to slide 6, regarding the application process. He asked how the listed requirements compare to a normal Alaska license. MS. SAVIERS responded that it would depend on the program and the license type. She said that, for example, if there are eight or nine requirements for permanent licensure, the goal would be for the person to have the ability to work once five requirements have been met, while waiting for the other requirements. She stressed that this would vary individually by license type. REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER questioned the verification process when a person is the subject of a disciplinary proceeding or review in another jurisdiction. MS. SAVIERS answered that for a person to qualify for a temporary license, there would need to be a verification of licensure from the other jurisdiction. Because of the ease of document forgery, she said, this information must come directly from the other state to the department. She said the plan would be to use national programs, like the National Practitioner Database, which requires states to report disciplinary actions taken on individuals. She pointed out that the applications would also contain professional fitness questions, like whether the person has undergone disciplinary action or has been convicted of a crime. If it is found that a license had been obtained through deceit or intentional misrepresentation, the department could revoke this license. In response to a follow- up question, she said the state still has the authority to revoke regardless of whether the license is temporary or permanent. REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER offered his understanding that CSHB 85(L&C) would create additional work for the division. He questioned whether the state has considered reducing the time necessary to license individuals in the first place. MS. SAVIERS responded, "You are hitting it spot on." She indicated she would address this in upcoming slides. She suggested that temporary licensure would become an automatic part of the permanent licensure process; therefore, it is not an additional license, just an indication as to whether the person wants a temporary or permanent license. She said the idea of the proposed legislation is to prevent an increase in the number of applications that staff must process; instead, it would be the same license filed that would shift from temporary to permanent when the time comes. 1:31:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked for the reason behind allowing applicants to apply for a 180-day extension. MS. SAIVERS responded that applications are often delayed because pieces are coming from a third party, such as a school or hospital in another state, and the department does not want to penalize the applicant if the delay is due to something out of the applicant's control. 1:32:26 PM MS. SAVIERS moved to slide 8 and pointed out that Alaska is experiencing a workforce shortage in several fields, and she advised that it is time to streamline the process to allow qualified professionals to be able to work quickly in the state. She said that processing times are lengthening for many programs because of the 64 percent increase in the number of professional licenses in the last decade, compounded by record high staffing shortages and turnover rates in the last few years. She reported that there have been significant improvements in staffing, but the workload is still heavy. MS. SAVIERS explained that UTL is being adopted by many states, and Alaska needs to use every option available to safely get qualified licensed professionals to work in Alaska sooner. For professionals looking for permanent licensure in Alaska, she said the department would issue the temporary license automatically if the applicant met the qualifications as part of the permanent licensure process, which would reduce the need for multiple applications. She added that for professionals looking to come to Alaska for 180 days or less, the department would issue a temporary license when the required items have been received and processed. She asserted that conducting the program this way versus an "express line" for temporary licenses would get people to work quicker without the increase in the number of applications that staff must process. MS. SAVIERS moved to slide 8, titled "Why is UTL Needed?" She pointed out that currently all boards have the authority to offer temporary licenses under AS 08.01.062, but only some do. She stated that this provision would be repealed under Section 1 of CSHB 85(L&C), and a standardized, streamlined temporary licensure process would be created, with requirements that would be the same across all programs. She asserted that Alaska needs to promote the fact it is "open for business," by making it easier for qualified licensees in good standing to come to the state to fill vacancies and assist residents in the need of services. 1:35:28 PM MS. SAVIERS moved to slide 9 to explain how UTL would help. She relayed that the State Medical Board and the Alaska Board of Nursing has led the way in making temporary permits part of the permanent licensure process. Although temporary licensure does require some additional tracking beyond what was previously needed for the permanent license, it would also eliminate the need for professionals to submit applications for both a temporary and permanent license. This would reduce the number of applications that staff must process for the same person. She explained that this regulation change would allow physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, and practical nurses to work in Alaska while licensing examiners wait on verifications from third parties. She said that under Senate Bill 21 the state currently has similar provisions under the temporary military licenses offered to active-duty military members and their spouses. MS. SAVIERS pointed out that UTL would reduce processing times by creating a standardized concept across all programs. She reiterated that because professionals will be able to specify when only a temporary license is needed, staff time would be saved by not having to address the permanent licensure requirements. She voiced that the division would like to expand this process for all professional licensures. 1:37:21 PM MS. SAVIERS moved to slide 10 and discussed compact bills being considered this session, such as the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). She pointed out the difference between the UTL laws versus interstate license compacts. She stated that the division is looking both internally to find efficiencies and externally to speed up professional licensing. She stated that UTLs and compacts are all tools to help with processing times. In addressing the nursing shortage, she said the department still sees NLC as the very best option to reduce application processing times. She added that UTL would complement NLC, as it would allow a pathway for qualified nurses from non-compact states to obtain a temporary license quickly and get to work. Furthermore, NLC is specific to registered and practical nurses, whereas UTL applies to 40 professional licensing programs within the division. MS. SAVIERS moved to slide 11 to showcase the states that have enacted some form of UTL law. She stated that according to the Council of State Governments, as of May 2022, 18 other states have already enacted some type of UTL laws for professionals licensed by other states. She concluded the presentation on slide 12 by providing Director Sylvan Robb's contact information. 1:39:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked whether a nurse practitioner would fall under UTL. MS. SAVIERS answered yes and explained that a nurse practitioner would fall under the temporary license category but would need to attain a registered nurse license first in Alaska. In response to a follow-up question, she said this would apply to a person who was licensed in another state but wanted to move to Alaska and do the same job. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER pointed out that there are already 180 days in a UTL, as well as another 180 days in the extension. He asked whether it would be possible for a person who has had action taken against him/her in another state to work in Alaska. MS. SAVIERS answered that the way the law is written, the individual would not be able to unless there is a blatant lie on the application. She explained that the department would ask the individual whether there are any pending disciplinary actions or investigations against the individual's license. If the applicant responds in the negative, and it is later found a license was obtained through deceit, action would be taken. 1:41:33 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER expressed concern that making this process faster, reviews would be fewer and looser. He opined that if the UTL process envisioned is good, it should be used for all licenses; otherwise, the state should not use it for any licenses. He asked whether there are enough resources for the current applications. If not, he questioned whether a temporary group of full-time staff might help reduce the backlog. Furthermore, he questioned what the benefit would be in issuing temporary licenses over issuing just temporary and permanent licenses. MS. SAVIERS responded that this would apply to a person that meets a specific set of requirements. The person must have worked in another state and have no disciplinary action, convictions, or pending investigations. She expressed the opinion that this would not be the case for all applicants, and she asserted that the division is comfortable with the idea of "squeaky-clean" applicants coming in on a temporary basis while their credentials are verified. Conversely, for a person who has not worked in another state, there are other requirements to ensure the education and the training have been obtained. She explained that those who have had disciplinary actions in other states need to have this resolved, and the board needs the ability to review such information. She explained that the division is attempting to balance speed with filling vacancies in the state, while also ensuring that public safety measures are retained. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER discussed the advantage of giving deference to an applicant's assertion of a clean record, so the applicant would not have to wait two to three months for the division's investigation before working. He asked if giving more deference to the applicant would be the advantage of the proposed legislation. MS. SAVIERS answered that if the applicant appears to be clean in another state, the division will trust this and verify afterwards; whereas, if the division must verify ahead of time, having deference would be an advantage of CSHB 85(L&C). 1:45:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY shared that he arrived in California in 2013 and applied for a physician assistant license. He stated that he had a license within three weeks and began working. He continued that when he moved to Alaska in 2017, he was working for the Alaska Veterans Administration (VA) and the Army National Guard, both of which accepted his California license. He explained that an Alaska license took almost 180 days; therefore, he expressed gratitude that he could work for the federal government with the California license. He expressed the opinion that this would be the benefit from CSHB 85(L&C). He opined whether any state has enacted UTL, and then repealed it. 1:46:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER, concerning the concept of issuing a license and then double-checking it, questioned whether the systemic review would need to happen in the regulatory process. He stressed that it should not take 180 days to get a license. He said a fundamental question needs to be asked: Would it be truly risk free for the state to have the responsibility to ensure a person is certified to conduct work? He argued that the employer has the responsibility to ensure that the people they hire can do the job. If the employer were to provide a probationary period, he asked whether the state would need 180 days and bureaucracy costs to do this. MS. SAVIERS responded that this question comes down to what is in statute and what is addressed by the boards. She said that right now the division meets the requirements that are in law; however, it cannot issue a license to a person until that requirement is met. She expressed the opinion that the balance would be finding the line between efficiency and public safety. She said that employers do indeed have the responsibility, but as to whether all of them follow this, she expressed the opinion that they would not. She pointed out that there would be a vetting process in a hospital; however, for a small employer, she expressed uncertainty concerning the process. 1:49:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER referenced the comment that the administration's budget would add additional administrative staff with the aim of addressing the workload backlog. He suggested that CSHB 85(L&C) would add to the existing workload with the task of comparing all the different license types and programs from other states. He asserted that only one or two people doing this work would be a challenge. MS. SAVIERS responded that the fiscal note shows a request for two positions: a paralegal, who will review laws from other states when there are questions, and a project assistant, who will ensure that a log is kept when research is carried out. She expressed confidence that the division would only request the positions it would need. She surmised that the work would be possible with the two positions; however, if it is found that the workload is larger than expected, the division would be willing to come back before the legislature and admit this. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER offered his understanding that initially the two positions would be added using general funds; however, the revised fiscal note suggests that they would be funded via program receipts. He asked how the division proposes to allocate the costs for the additional staff across the different licensures. MS. SAVIERS said the division has a number of positions that support all programs, so those are considered indirect costs when looking at the program or board's cost report. Indirect costs cover management, for example. Further, she said that staff who do not specifically work on individual programs for a long time are spread out across the department. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER predicted that if CSHB 85(L&C) is passed with the accompanying fiscal note, the division would be back next year seeking more funding. 1:52:33 PM CHAIR WRIGHT informed members that a committee substitute would be drafted. [CSHB 85(L&C) was held over.] 1:52:50 PM ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was adjourned at 1:52 p.m.