Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

04/05/2023 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 62 RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUND TELECONFERENCED
Moved SCS HB 62(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 58 MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY: POSTPARTUM MOTHERS TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 58 Out of Committee
+= SB 75 AUD. & SPEECH-LANG INTERSTATE COMPACT TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                       April 5, 2023                                                                                            
                         9:04 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:04:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  called the Senate Finance  Committee meeting                                                                    
to order at 9:04 a.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair                                                                                                 
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Click Bishop                                                                                                            
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Kelly  Goode,  Staff,  Senator Donnie  Olson;  Sylvan  Robb,                                                                    
Director,   Division    of   Corporations,    Business   and                                                                    
Professional  Licensing, Department  of Commerce,  Community                                                                    
and Economic Development.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Tammie Perreault,  Regional Liaison, Department  of Defense;                                                                    
Susan  Adams,  American   Speech  and  Hearing  Association,                                                                    
Maryland;   Nancy  Lovering,   Alaska  Speech   and  Hearing                                                                    
Association, Anchorage.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 58     MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY: POSTPARTUM MOTHERS                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
          SB 58 was REPORTED out of committee with seven                                                                        
          "do pass" recommendations and with one new fiscal                                                                     
          impact note from the Department of Health.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SB 75     AUD. and SPEECH-LANG INTERSTATE COMPACT                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          SB 75 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                     
          consideration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HB 62     RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUND                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          SCS HB 62(FIN) was  REPORTED out of committee with                                                                    
          six   "do    pass"   recommendations,    one   "no                                                                    
          recommendation" and with  one previously published                                                                    
          fiscal note: FN 1(CED).                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 62                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the renewable energy grant fund                                                                        
     and recommendation program; and providing for an                                                                           
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:05:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman MOVED  to ADOPT  the committee  substitute                                                                    
for HB 62, Work Draft 33-LS0358\B (Wallace/Marx, 4/4/23).                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:06:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KELLY  GOODE, STAFF,  SENATOR  DONNIE  OLSON, explained  the                                                                    
committee  substitute. She  stated that  the change  removed                                                                    
line 6 in  the original bill, which removed  the sunset. She                                                                    
stated it was the only change.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson  REMOVED  their OBJECTION.  There  being  NO                                                                    
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  MOVED  to  REPORT  SCS  HB  62(FIN)  from                                                                    
committee  with  individual  recommendations,  and  attached                                                                    
fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SCS HB  62(FIN) was REPORTED  out of committee with  six "do                                                                    
pass" recommendations, one "no  recommendation" and with one                                                                    
previously published fiscal note: FN 1(CED).                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:07:28 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:09:52 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 58                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act relating  to  Medicaid eligibility;  expanding                                                                    
     eligibility  for postpartum  mothers; conditioning  the                                                                    
     expansion  of eligibility  on  approval  by the  United                                                                    
     States  Department of  Health and  Human Services;  and                                                                    
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:10:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman MOVED to REPORT SB 58 from committee with                                                                      
individual recommendations, and attached fiscal note. There                                                                     
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SB 58 was REPORTED out of committee with seven "do pass"                                                                        
recommendations and with one new fiscal impact note from                                                                        
the Department of Health.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:11:03 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:13:29 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 75                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  relating to  an audiology  and speech-language                                                                    
     interstate  compact;   relating  to  the   practice  of                                                                    
     audiology   and   the   practice   of   speech-language                                                                    
     pathology; and providing for an effective date."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:14:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DAVID WILSON, SPONSOR, read from the Sponsor                                                                            
Statement (copy on file):                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Since the 1950s the  number of licensed occupations has                                                                    
     risen  from five  percent of  the workforce  to twenty-                                                                    
     five  percent. Navigating  the various  state licensing                                                                    
     requirements,  rules,  regulations, and  fee  structure                                                                    
     can  present  significant  challenges for  workers.  To                                                                    
     address these  challenges, states and  professions have                                                                    
     turned to  occupational licensure  interstate compacts.                                                                    
     These    compacts   create    reciprocal   professional                                                                    
     licensing practices between  states, while ensuring the                                                                    
     quality and  safety of services and  safeguarding state                                                                    
     sovereignty.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     An  interstate compact  is a  contract  between two  or                                                                    
     more states. It carries the  force of statutory law and                                                                    
     allows states  to perform a  certain action,  observe a                                                                    
     certain  standard, or  cooperate in  a critical  policy                                                                    
     area.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Alaska   is   currently   a  member   of   twenty-eight                                                                    
     interstate compacts.  SB 75 enacts the  Audiologist and                                                                    
     Speech Language  Pathologists Interstate  Comact (ASLP-                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     IC).   The  ASLPIC    utilizes  a   mutual  recognition                                                                    
     approach:  eligible  audiologist  and  speech  language                                                                    
     pathologists   in  compact   member  states   currently                                                                    
     issuing  and  accepting  compact  privileges  have  the                                                                    
     option  of  obtaining  a  compact  privilege  in  other                                                                    
     member  states.  A  licensee providing  services  in  a                                                                    
     remote  state,  such  as   Alaska,  under  the  compact                                                                    
     privilege   must   function   within   the   laws   and                                                                    
     regulations  of   the  remote  state,   thus  improving                                                                    
     healthcare  availability for  Alaskan residents,  while                                                                    
     ensuring  those services  are provided  at the  highest                                                                    
     standard. The  ASLP-IC became official in  2019 and has                                                                    
     been adopted by twenty-three states.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Compacts  represent  the  only mechanism  in  the  U.S.                                                                    
     Constitution by  which the states themselves  can alter                                                                    
     the fundamental dynamics  of their relationship without                                                                    
     the  intervention of  federal government.  Unlike other                                                                    
     means of  interstate cooperation, compacts  both create                                                                    
     a   state-based  solution   to  regional   or  national                                                                    
     problems  and effectively  retain  policy control  over                                                                    
     certain  interstate matters  for the  future. The  only                                                                    
     way  for  states  to   preserve  their  authority  over                                                                    
     interstate problems  may be to share  their sovereignty                                                                    
     and  work  together  cooperatively  through  interstate                                                                    
     compacts.  Without  compacts,  federal  involvement  in                                                                    
     traditional  state policy  areas is  a serious  threat.                                                                    
     Senate   Bill  74   is  necessary   to  encourage   the                                                                    
     interstate practice of physical  therapy and to protect                                                                    
     state sovereignty.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:15:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TAMMIE  PERREAULT, REGIONAL  LIAISON, DEPARTMENT  OF DEFENSE                                                                    
(via  teleconference), spoke  in  support of  the bill.  She                                                                    
stated that the occupational  licensure compacts ensure that                                                                    
the  military spouse  professionals could  continue to  work                                                                    
seamlessly  without  cumbersome  processes of  the  licensee                                                                    
when they  move to Alaska. The  compacts promote reciprocity                                                                    
and reduce barriers.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:17:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SUSAN  ADAMS,  AMERICAN   SPEECH  AND  HEARING  ASSOCIATION,                                                                    
MARYLAND (via  teleconference), testified in support  of the                                                                    
bill. She stated  that the legislation was a  contract and a                                                                    
compact  between states  to ensure  seamless practice,  with                                                                    
passage in 25 other states and introduction in 15 states.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl  wondered  why there  would  be  a  liability                                                                    
shield in law for ordinary negligence.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Adams replied  that there was not a  shield for ordinary                                                                    
negligence,  and  she   believed  the  compact  specifically                                                                    
referred  to non-intentional  issues as  being covered.  She                                                                    
stated that the  current immunity coverage by  the state was                                                                    
the  same   immunity  provided  by  the   delegates  to  the                                                                    
commission.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl felt  that  the language  was  very clear  to                                                                    
shield from liability.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Martin  replied that she  could work with  the committee                                                                    
on the issue.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:24:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NANCY  LOVERING,  ALASKA  SPEECH  AND  HEARING  ASSOCIATION,                                                                    
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified  in support of the                                                                    
legislation.  She stated  that it  would make  it easier  to                                                                    
hire  practitioners and  would improve  access to  necessary                                                                    
care across the state.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  wondered who would  hear the  complaints and                                                                    
concerns of patients.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Lovering   replied  that  those  complaints   would  be                                                                    
forwarded  to  the  people  that  process  the  applications                                                                    
through the state.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson felt  that it seemed like an  added burden to                                                                    
the department.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:27:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SYLVAN  ROBB, DIRECTOR,  DIVISION OF  CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS                                                                    
AND   PROFESSIONAL   LICENSING,  DEPARTMENT   OF   COMMERCE,                                                                    
COMMUNITY  AND ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,  explained the  fiscal                                                                    
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson   wondered  whether  the  division   had  an                                                                    
investigator on staff.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Robb replied that the division  had 25 of their staff in                                                                    
the investigators unit                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Wilson  wondered   how   the  mentioned   proposed                                                                    
amendment would affect the fiscal note.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Robb  replied that  it  would  decrease the  number  of                                                                    
months to implement.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop asked  how many new licenses  would come into                                                                    
the state.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Robb replied  that the compact enabled  people to obtain                                                                    
the  privilege  to practice  in  the  state, so  they  would                                                                    
already be licensed in their home state.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bishop  assumed  that there  would  be  fingerprint                                                                    
processing.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Robb replied in the affirmative.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:30:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop queried the  number of forecasted fingerprint                                                                    
cards.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Robb  replied  that  in   FY  22  there  were  122  new                                                                    
applications. She stated  that she anticipated approximately                                                                    
123 new applications.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson wondered  how it  compared  to the  previous                                                                    
five years.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Robb  replied that there  was an increase of  64 percent                                                                    
in required professional license applications.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl  wondered what would  occur if  Alaska revoked                                                                    
the license but their home state did not act.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Martin  replied that the  home state was the  only state                                                                    
that  could take  action  on  a home  state  license, but  a                                                                    
remote  state could  take action  against  the privilege  to                                                                    
practice across the compact states.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl assumed  that if  the  remote state  declared                                                                    
that  one could  practice for  five  years, it  was not  two                                                                    
years in Alaska, but five.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Martin agreed.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  surmised that a privilege  to practice would                                                                    
be revoked in the compact states.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:34:26 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:36:01 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:36:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Martin replied  in the affirmative to  the question from                                                                    
Co-Chair Olson.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Olson  wondered   what   would   happen  with   a                                                                    
suspension.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Martin  replied  that  it  would  be  the  same  for  a                                                                    
suspension.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OPENED and CLOSED public testimony.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  stated that  the next  meeting would  be the                                                                    
following Wednesday.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SB  75  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in   committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
9:37:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 9:37 a.m.                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 62 work draft version B.pdf SFIN 4/5/2023 9:00:00 AM
HB 62