Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

02/29/2024 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Please Note Time Change --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 26 OFFICIAL LANG; COUNCIL FOR AK NATIVE LANG TELECONFERENCED
Moved SCS CSHB 26(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 91 TELEHEALTH: MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE TEAM TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 91(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 132 EMPLOYMENT TAX FOR EDUCATION FACILITIES TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 132(FIN) Out of Committee
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                     February 29, 2024                                                                                          
                         1:33 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:33:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson called the Senate Finance Committee meeting                                                                      
to order at 1:33 p.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Click Bishop                                                                                                            
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair                                                                                                 
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ken Alper, Staff, Senate Finance Committee; Representative                                                                      
Andi Story, Sponsor; Senator Matt Claman, Sponsor; Claire                                                                       
Lubke, Staff, Senator Matt Claman.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 91     TELEHEALTH: MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE TEAM                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 91(FIN)  REPORTED OUT  of committee  with two                                                                    
          "do     pass"     recommendations,     two     "no                                                                    
          recommendations" and one new  fiscal note from the                                                                    
          Department  of  Commerce, Community  and  Economic                                                                    
          Development.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SB 132    EMPLOYMENT TAX FOR EDUCATION FACILITIES                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          CS SB 132(FIN) REPORTED  OUT of committee with two                                                                    
          "do  pass"  recommendations,  one  "do  not  pass"                                                                    
          recommendation, and  one "no  recommendation"; and                                                                    
          one new  zero fiscal  note from the  Department of                                                                    
          Labor and Workforce Development, and one new                                                                          
          fiscal note from the Department of Revenue.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 26(TRB)                                                                                                                    
     OFFICIAL LANG; COUNCIL FOR AK NATIVE LANG                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          SCS CSHB  26(FIN) REPORTED  out of  committee with                                                                    
          two   "do    pass"   recommendations,    two   "no                                                                    
          recommendations"  and two  new  fiscal notes  from                                                                    
          the    Department   of    Education   and    Early                                                                    
          Development.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 26(TRB)                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  relating to  the  official  languages of  the                                                                    
     State of  Alaska; renaming  the Alaska  Native Language                                                                    
     Preservation and  Advisory Council  as the  Council for                                                                    
     Alaska Native  Languages; and  relating to  the Council                                                                    
     for Alaska Native Languages."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:34:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Merrick MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for                                                                     
CS HB 26(TRB), Work Draft 33-LS0266\S (Bergerud, 2/27/24).                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:35:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, discussed the                                                                       
Explanation of Changes (copy on file):                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Change 1:  At the request  of the Council,  the Council                                                                    
     is  being  moved  from   the  Department  of  Commerce,                                                                    
     Community, and  Economic Development to  the Department                                                                    
     of  Education  and Early  Development.  To  do so,  the                                                                    
     current  statute   establishing  the  Council,   in  AS                                                                    
     44.33.520,   is   repealed.    Similar   language   re-                                                                    
    establishing the Council is added in AS 14.07.200.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     The other changes that the  earlier version of the bill                                                                    
     was  making, which  included changing  the name  of the                                                                    
     Council, adding  two languages to the  list of official                                                                    
     language of  the state, and expanding  the Council from                                                                    
     five to seven members, remain  in the new Department of                                                                    
     Education language.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Change  2:  Adds   transition  language  ensuring  that                                                                    
     current Council  members' appointments, as well  as any                                                                    
     adopted  orders  and   regulations,  remain  in  effect                                                                    
     despite moving the council.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The staff  position providing  services to  the Council                                                                    
     does not  automatically move  to Education;  this would                                                                    
     have to be done through the budget process.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Change  3: Deletes  one sentence  in AS  44.12.320 that                                                                    
     states  the  English language  is  to  be used  in  all                                                                    
     government  functions  and  actions, because  this  has                                                                    
     been determined  to be unconstitutional and  is notated                                                                    
     as such in the statute books.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson  REMOVED  his   OBJECTION.  There  being  no                                                                    
further objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:37:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, SPONSOR,  agreed with the changes                                                                    
within the committee substitute.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Merrick MOVED  to  REPORT SCS  CS  HB 26(FIN)  from                                                                    
committee  with  individual  recommendations,  and  attached                                                                    
fiscal note. There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SCS  CSHB 26(FIN)  REPORTED out  of committee  with two  "do                                                                    
pass" recommendations, two "no  recommendations" and two new                                                                    
fiscal  notes from  the Department  of  Education and  Early                                                                    
Development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:39:16 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:42:08 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 91                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An   Act   relating   to   telehealth;   relating   to                                                                    
     multidisciplinary  care  teams;  and  relating  to  the                                                                    
     practice of medicine."                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:42:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson  MOVED to ADOPT the  committee substitute for                                                                    
SB 91, Work Draft 33-LS0193\S (A. Radford, 2/27/24).                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:42:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN  ALPER, STAFF,  SENATE FINANCE  COMMITTEE discussed  the                                                                    
Explanation of Changes (copy on file):                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Change  1:  Clarifies  that the  Telehealth  option  is                                                                    
     available   if    the   services   provided    by   the                                                                    
     multidisciplinary   care   team  are   not   reasonably                                                                    
     available in the state.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Change  2: Reorganizes  the changes  made in  the prior                                                                    
     draft   by  adding   a  new   subsection   (3)  to   AS                                                                    
     08.02.130(b), regarding  ongoing treatment  and follow-                                                                    
     up care provided by an  out of state physician and that                                                                    
     physician's multidisciplinary care team.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Change   3:  Clarifies   that   all   members  of   the                                                                    
     multidisciplinary  care   team  must  be   licensed  in                                                                    
     another state.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Change  4: Adds  "advanced nurse  practitioner" to  the                                                                    
     list of  providers that  are eligible to  be part  of a                                                                    
     multidisciplinary care team.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Change  5:  Removes  the   section  that  required  all                                                                    
     members of a team to  register with the department. The                                                                    
     existing  statute requiring  the  employer to  register                                                                    
     with the  state, which was added  in earlier Telehealth                                                                    
     legislation, will apply  to multidisciplinary care team                                                                    
     members.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson   felt  that  Mr.  Alper's   comments  about                                                                    
"earlier  telehealth  legislation"  should be  corrected  to                                                                    
say, "earlier telehealth committee."                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Alper  replied  that  the  change  was  in  a  previous                                                                    
committee, but was referring  to telehealth legislation that                                                                    
was passed a few years prior.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson  REMOVED  his   OBJECTION.  There  being  no                                                                    
further objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:46:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  MATT CLAMAN,  SPONSOR, agreed  with the  changes in                                                                    
the committee substitute.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson requested closing comments.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:46:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CLAIRE LUBKE,  STAFF, SENATOR MATT  CLAMAN, stated  that she                                                                    
had no additional comments.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  asked whether  Ms. Lubke  was in  support of                                                                    
the changes.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Lubke replied in the affirmative.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson  MOVED to  REPORT SB  91 from  committee with                                                                    
individual recommendations  and attached fiscal  note. There                                                                    
being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 91(FIN)  REPORTED OUT of  committee with two  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations,  two  "no   recommendations"  and  one  new                                                                    
fiscal note  from the Department of  Commerce, Community and                                                                    
Economic Development.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:47:45 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:50:33 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 132                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  imposing  an  annual  educational  facilities                                                                    
     maintenance and  construction tax on net  earnings from                                                                    
     self-employment    and   wages;    relating   to    the                                                                    
     administration  and  enforcement   of  the  educational                                                                    
     facilities  maintenance   and  construction   tax;  and                                                                    
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:50:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  MOVED to ADOPT the  committee substitute for                                                                    
SB 132, Work Draft 33-LS0764\U (Nauman, 2/28/24).                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:51:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN  ALPER, STAFF,  SENATE FINANCE  COMMITTEE discussed  the                                                                    
Explanation of Changes (copy on file):                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Change  1:   Adds  language  that,   for  self-employed                                                                    
     individuals, the tax is due  to the department no later                                                                    
     than April 15th of the next calendar year.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Change 2:  In AS  43.45.021(e), page 3  line 17  of the                                                                    
     CS, changes  "shall" to "may" regarding  the ability of                                                                    
     the   Department   of   Revenue   to   coordinate   tax                                                                    
     administration  with the  Department of  Labor if  this                                                                    
     would result in cost savings to the state.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Change  3: Updates  the effective  date  to January  1,                                                                    
     2025.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson  REMOVED  his   OBJECTION.  There  being  no                                                                    
further objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:52:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  CLICK BISHOP,  SPONSOR  felt that  the  bill was  a                                                                    
small  step forward  to meeting  the huge  unfunded deferred                                                                    
maintenance for education.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:54:00 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:55:27 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:55:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop MOVED to REPORT  SB 132 out of committee with                                                                    
individual recommendations and  attached fiscal notes. There                                                                    
being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CS SB 132(FIN) REPORTED OUT  of committee with two "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations, one  "do not pass" recommendation,  and one                                                                    
"no recommendation"; and  one new zero fiscal  note from the                                                                    
Department of  Labor and Workforce Development,  and one new                                                                    
fiscal note from the Department of Revenue.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:55:57 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:57:14 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson discussed housekeeping.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
1:57:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 1:57 p.m.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB26 CS in SFIN summary of changes 2-29-24.pdf SFIN 2/29/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 26
HB 26 work draft version S.pdf SFIN 2/29/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 26
SB91 CS in SFIN summary of changes 2-29-24.pdf SFIN 2/29/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 91
SB 91 work draft version S.pdf SFIN 2/29/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 91
SB132 CS in SFIN summary of changes 2-29-24.pdf SFIN 2/29/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 132
SB 132 work draft version U.pdf SFIN 2/29/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 132
SB 91 Aguero Letter to Senate Finance Committee Re SB 91.pdf SFIN 2/29/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 91
HB 26 Support HB26 Council for Alaska Native Languages 042723 Alaska Regional Coalition.pdf SFIN 2/29/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 26