Legislature(2019 - 2020)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

02/06/2020 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

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01:30:20 PM Start
01:31:10 PM SB47
02:08:19 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ SB 47 PHYSICAL/OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BD/PRACTICE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                        
                        February 6, 2020                                                                                        
                           1:30 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop, Chair                                                                                                     
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair                                                                                                
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Mia Costello                                                                                                            
Senator Joshua Revak                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 47                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to the State Physical Therapy and Occupational                                                                 
Therapy Board; relating to the practice of physical therapy; and                                                                
relating to the practice of occupational therapy."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB  47                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: PHYSICAL/OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BD/PRACTICE                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) GIESSEL BY REQUEST                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
02/08/19       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/08/19       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
02/06/20       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL                                                                                                           
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor, introduced SB 47.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
JANE CONWAY, Staff                                                                                                              
Senator Cathy Giessel                                                                                                           
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered the sectional analysis for SB 47.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
LEEANNE CARROTHERS, PhD, PT, Government Affairs Liaison                                                                         
Alaska Physical Therapy Association (AKAPTA)                                                                                    
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 47.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SCOTTY ORR, OTD, OTR/L, President                                                                                               
Alaska Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 47.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEGHAN PUDELER, Manager of State Affairs                                                                                        
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)                                                                                
North Bethesda, Maryland                                                                                                        
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 47.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER CARLSON, Member                                                                                                        
Alaska Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board                                                                          
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 47.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:30:20 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR CLICK BISHOP called the  Senate Labor and Commerce Standing                                                             
Committee meeting to order at 1:30  p.m. Present at call to order                                                               
were Senators Stevens, Gray-Jackson-Jackson, and Chair Bishop.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
        SB  47-PHYSICAL/OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BD/PRACTICE                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:31:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BISHOP announced  the consideration of SENATE  BILL NO. 47,                                                               
"An Act relating  to the State Physical  Therapy and Occupational                                                               
Therapy Board; relating to the  practice of physical therapy; and                                                               
relating to the practice of occupational therapy."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
He advised that after the  bill is presented, the committee would                                                               
adopt a committee substitute (CS).                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:32:32 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, Alaska  State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,                                                               
sponsor of  SB 47, stated that  she was carrying the  bill at the                                                               
request of  the State Physical  Therapy and  Occupational Therapy                                                               
Board.  She  explained that  there  are  two primary  differences                                                               
between  an  occupational  therapist and  a  physical  therapist.                                                               
Occupational therapy  focuses on improving a  client's ability to                                                               
perform  activities  of  daily living  whereas  physical  therapy                                                               
focuses  on  a  client's  ability  to  perform  movement  of  the                                                               
physical  body. Both  professions require  a master's  degree and                                                               
the  physical therapy  profession is  transitioning to  require a                                                               
doctoral degree as  the level of entry. Right now  there are both                                                               
master's  prepared  and  doctoral prepared  physical  therapists.                                                               
After achieving a doctorate, physical  therapists must then go on                                                               
to pass  a national  board certification test  and then  they are                                                               
able to apply for a license.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
She  explained   that  occupational  therapists   have  certified                                                               
occupational  therapy assistants  that carry  out the  evaluation                                                               
and  goals  the  therapist  has set  for  the  patient.  Physical                                                               
therapists  have physical  therapy  assistants to  carry out  the                                                               
rehabilitation  plan  the  therapist developed.  They  also  have                                                               
physical  therapy  aides who  work  under  the direction  of  the                                                               
physical therapist to assist the patient.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:35:20 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL  said SB 47  clarifies terms and  the composition                                                               
of  the State  Physical Therapy  and Occupational  Therapy Board.                                                               
The bill affects both professions.  Currently the board has seven                                                               
members, composed of one physician,  three physical therapists or                                                               
assistants, two  occupational therapists  or assistants,  and one                                                               
public  member.  SB  47  replaces  the  physician  seat  with  an                                                               
occupational  therapist  or  an occupational  therapy  assistant.                                                               
This reflects  the change  in the  professions. When  the statute                                                               
was  enacted, these  professionals  were regulated  by the  State                                                               
Medical   Board.  Once   they  were   allowed  to   establish  an                                                               
independent  board,  they agreed  to  have  a physician  seat  to                                                               
provide oversight. She  said that is no longer  necessary and the                                                               
physician in that seat agrees.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
She said SB  47 also updates some of the  language related to the                                                               
education requirements.  It replaces  a reference to  an obsolete                                                               
accrediting entity  with broader  language that allows  the board                                                               
options  to  identify  which   accrediting  agencies  they  would                                                               
require  for educational  purposes  and  certification. The  bill                                                               
also allows  the board to  discipline a therapist  for committing                                                               
any acts  in AS 08.84.120(a),  such as fraud,  felony conviction,                                                               
gross negligence, and malpractice.  The board can already suspend                                                               
or revoke the license of a person who commits those acts.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 47 also changes the  terminology related to people who receive                                                               
their education  outside the U.S.  The term foreign  trained will                                                               
be  replaced   with  foreign  educated.  The   bill  changes  all                                                               
references   to  "physical   therapy   assistant"  to   "physical                                                               
therapist assistant."  This aligns with national  terminology. SB
47 also provides title protection.  If someone were to improperly                                                               
indicate they were  a licensed physical therapist,  they would be                                                               
subject to  a class  B misdemeanor  for misuse  of the  term. She                                                               
described the bill as a long-overdue clean up.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:39:26 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  STEVENS   questioned  the  legitimacy  of   requiring  a                                                               
doctorate  to become  a  physical therapist.  He  asked if  these                                                               
professionals receive a  Doctor of Philosophy, and  where they go                                                               
to school to get the degree.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL   replied  this   is  exactly  what   the  nurse                                                               
practitioner profession  is doing.  She deferred to  the physical                                                               
therapists waiting  to testify  to respond  to the  question more                                                               
completely.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BISHOP said  he had questions for Ms.  Conway about Section                                                               
3.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:40:45 PM                                                                                                                    
JANE  CONWAY,   Staff,  Senator   Cathy  Giessel,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,  paraphrased the following sectional                                                               
analysis  for SB  47,  noting that  many of  the  changes are  to                                                               
conform the terminology for the physical therapist assistant:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1  AS 08.84.010 Creation and  membership of the                                                                    
     board. This  section removes the  seat for  a physician                                                                    
     and balances  out the board with  3 physical therapists                                                                    
     and  3 occupational  therapists along  with one  public                                                                    
     member, to make up the 7-member board.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     It also  changes the term "physical  therapy assistant"                                                                    
     to "physical  therapist assistant" in this  section and                                                                    
     throughout the  entire statute. This  is to  conform to                                                                    
     title used nationally in the industry.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section  2 AS  08.84.030 Qualifications  for Licensing.                                                                    
     This  section   allows  the   board  to   have  broader                                                                    
     authority  over what  entities will  have accreditation                                                                    
     oversight  over  physical therapy  education  programs.                                                                    
     Some of the accrediting  entities listed in statute are                                                                    
     now  either renamed  or no  longer  exist, making  that                                                                    
     statute obsolete. The bill also  changes the statute in                                                                    
     the same way for occupational therapists.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2  also removes language from  statute relating                                                                    
     to additional  supervised field work  that occupational                                                                    
     therapists  must  complete  as these  requirements  are                                                                    
     covered by the accrediting bodies.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section  3  AS 08.84.032  Foreign-Educated  Applicants.                                                                    
     Changes   the  section   headline  from   "trained"  to                                                                    
     "educated."   Puppies   are   trained,   students   are                                                                    
     educated. New language is  added that requires foreign-                                                                    
     educated physical  therapist students to  have attended                                                                    
     a "substantially"  equivalent educational  program that                                                                    
     is accredited  by a U.S. accreditation  entity that has                                                                    
     been  approved  by  the board.  Outdated  and  obsolete                                                                    
     language is removed that can  be found on page 4, lines                                                                    
     3 -9 of this bill.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
          Added  to (3)  of  this  section is  language                                                                         
          that would require  that a physical therapist                                                                         
          or physical  therapist assistant pass  a test                                                                         
          demonstrating   competency  of   the  English                                                                         
          language  if their  program was  taught in  a                                                                         
          foreign language.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:43:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BISHOP asked if the board develops the test to determine                                                                  
an applicant is sufficiently fluent in English.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. CONWAY said it seems logical, but she would defer to the                                                                    
experts to respond.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
She continued:                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          (4) requires that a foreign educated applicant is                                                                     
          a legal alien or a U.S citizen                                                                                        
          (7) requires them to pay the required fee and                                                                         
          meet any other qualifications for licensure set                                                                       
          by the board under 08.84.010(b)                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     All the  above changes are replicated  for occupational                                                                    
     therapists or  occupational therapy assistants  on page                                                                    
     4, lines 27-31 and over to page 5, lines 1-22.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section  4  AS  08.84.060 Licensure  by  acceptance  of                                                                    
     credentials. Makes conforming terminology changes                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 5 AS  08.84.065(c) Makes conforming terminology                                                                    
     changes                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Section 6 AS  08.84.075(b) Makes conforming terminology                                                                    
     changes                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Section 7  AS 08.84.075(c) Changes language  that would                                                                    
     now  require   a  limited  permit  is   valid  for  120                                                                    
     consecutive days                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section  8  AS  08.84.075(d) Allows  only  one  limited                                                                    
     permit per 12-month period.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section 9 AS 08.84.090 Updates licensure terminology                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section 10 AS 08.84.120(a)  Adds disciplinary action as                                                                    
     a possibility to actions a  board might consider for an                                                                    
     infraction of  their licensure and  updates terminology                                                                    
     in item  (7) and states  in (9) that failure  to comply                                                                    
     with  the law  or  regulations or  order  of the  board                                                                    
     might result in disciplinary  action or suspension of a                                                                    
     license.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:46:22 PM                                                                                                                    
     Section 11  AS 08.04.130(a) Adds  updated credentialing                                                                    
     and terminology                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Section 12 AS 08.84.130(b) Updates terminology                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section 13  AS 08.84.190 Adds a  new paragraph defining                                                                    
     the updated term "physical therapist assistant"                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Section  14  AS  11.41.470(1)  Updates  definitions  in                                                                    
     criminal law/sexual assault statute                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 15  AS 47.17.290(14) Updates  terminology under                                                                    
     definitions in child protection statute                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Section 16  AS 08.84.190(7)  Is repealed, which  is the                                                                    
     definition  using outdated  term  of physical  therapy;                                                                    
     according to  Leg. Legal, when  the actual  "term" used                                                                    
     for the definition is being  changed, the entire citing                                                                    
     must  be repealed.  The new  definition is  set out  on                                                                    
     page 8, Section 13, lines 11-14.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section  17  Sets  out the  applicability  clauses  for                                                                    
     licensure for  sections 2  and 3 of  this Act  and also                                                                    
     for sections 7 and 8                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section 18  Transition language  for the  board vacancy                                                                    
     and appointments  for the PT/OT board,  and states that                                                                    
     the changes do not apply  to current licensees until it                                                                    
     is  time  for  their  licensure renewal  and  then  all                                                                    
     changes to the law will apply.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:48:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BISHOP noted the updated  fiscal note identifies $2,300 for                                                               
postage and other costs associated with mailing notifications.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
He  solicited  a  motion  to   adopt  the  work  draft  committee                                                               
substitute (CS).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:49:10 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the  work draft CS for SB 47, work                                                               
order 31-LS0109\U, as the working document.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BISHOP objected for an explanation of the changes.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. CONWAY read the  following explanation: [Original punctuation                                                               
provided.]                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     The  CS (vsn  U) contains  a change  from the  original                                                                    
     bill, version M:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 8,  line 14: "?therapist assistant  do not include                                                                    
     testing or evaluation."                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Removes  "testing or"  because  the physical  therapist                                                                    
     assistant  does do  some minimal  testing on  patients,                                                                    
     but they do not evaluate the results of the testing.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:50:53 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BISHOP removed his objection  and Version U was adopted. He                                                               
asked Ms. Carrothers and Mr. Orr to provide their testimony.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:51:26 PM                                                                                                                    
LEEANNE CARROTHERS,  PhD, PT, Government Affairs  Liaison, Alaska                                                               
Physical   Therapy  Association   (AKAPTA),  Anchorage,   Alaska,                                                               
testified in support of SB 47.  She advised that AKAPTA has about                                                               
400   licensed   physical   therapists   and   physical   therapy                                                               
assistants. She responded to Senator  Stevens' question about the                                                               
doctoral  level  of education  by  explaining  that to  attend  a                                                               
professional entry-level school of  physical therapy a bachelor's                                                               
degree   in  some   discipline  is   required.  There   are  also                                                               
prerequisites  in anatomy,  physiology,  physics, chemistry,  and                                                               
psychology,  among  others.  The doctoral  program  is  generally                                                               
three years, two  of which are in the classroom  and 12 months of                                                               
supervised clinical rotation.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
She  explained  that   a  psychologist  may  hold   a  Doctor  of                                                               
Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor  of Psychology (PsyD) and the Doctor                                                               
of Physical Therapy (DPT) would be analogous to the PsyD.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  recapped that the doctoral  program goes through                                                               
an  accredited  institution.  He  asked  which  schools  offer  a                                                               
doctorate.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARROTHERS  replied  many   across  the  country,  including                                                               
private  graduate medical  schools and  some state  universities.                                                               
She said  that there are  literally hundreds of  programs because                                                               
of the need for physical  therapists, particularly with the aging                                                               
population. The  national accrediting  body is the  Commission on                                                               
Accreditation in  Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).  To sit for                                                               
the national  physical therapy licensing exam,  an applicant must                                                               
have  graduated  from  a  CAPTE  accredited  school.  This  is  a                                                               
requirement in  every state  in the U.S.  The standards  for that                                                               
accreditation are incredibly high, she said.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  asked if this  was the  wave of the  future with                                                               
more students going into a doctoral program.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARR answered  yes. She said all of  the entry-level physical                                                               
therapy  programs  are  at the  clinical  doctorate  level.  Most                                                               
states  have  some  form  of  direct  access,  which  means  that                                                               
patients do not need a prescription  from a physician in order to                                                               
see their  physical therapists. The Physical  Therapy Association                                                               
decided that  with that privilege came  increased responsibility,                                                               
particularly the  ability to  be able to  evaluate a  patient and                                                               
know  when  the  patient  should   not  be  seen  by  a  physical                                                               
therapist.   Courses  were   added  in   differential  diagnosis,                                                               
radiology, and pharmacology  to increase the level  and degree to                                                               
which  people are  competent to  be able  to keep  patients safe.                                                               
With that, the transition to  the entry level doctorate was made,                                                               
she said.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  related his understanding  that the bill  is not                                                               
making any additional requirements for  a doctorate, it is simply                                                               
where the industry is headed.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. CORR agreed. She said Senator  Giessel asked her to cover the                                                               
benefits  of  physical  and  occupational  therapy,  particularly                                                               
pertaining  to   opioids.  She  related  that   there  is  clear,                                                               
scientific  evidence  that  early   access  to  physical  therapy                                                               
reduces the  overall need  for opioids.  Sometimes people  do not                                                               
even need them,  she said. The old standard of  practice would be                                                               
for  patients with  back pain  to see  their physician  and leave                                                               
with a  prescription for  Percocet (Oxycodone  and Acetaminophen)                                                               
and muscle  relaxers. This  could persist  for months,  she said.                                                               
With direct  access, people  can see  a physical  therapist first                                                               
and  get back  to work  more  quickly without  opioids and  often                                                               
avoiding   expensive  imaging   or   surgery.  The   conservative                                                               
treatment is the way to go, she said.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:57:14 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  CORR  stated her  support  for  SB  47 and  appreciation  to                                                               
Senator   Giessel.  She   summarized   that   the  bill   updates                                                               
terminology  to  the   national  practice.  Nationally,  physical                                                               
therapist assistants  have not been referred  as physical therapy                                                               
assistants since  1978. This bill  will bring Alaska up  to date.                                                               
It  would  also  update  the current  accreditation  bodies  that                                                               
accredit programs. It would change  the composition of the board,                                                               
which  would  remove  the  remnant  of  the  need  for  physician                                                               
supervision for physical therapists, which  has not been the case                                                               
since  the  1960s. It  would  reduce  obstacles to  licensure  of                                                               
foreign-educated  applicants.   She  cited   the  example   of  a                                                               
colleague  who went  to  school  in London  and  had  to take  an                                                               
English proficiency exam to be eligible for licensure in Alaska.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
She said SB 47 would  also give the board disciplinary authority,                                                               
which will  help contribute to  public safety. Further,  the bill                                                               
would  provide term  protection for  physiotherapists, the  title                                                               
P.T., and  physical therapists, which  will clarify  to consumers                                                               
the type of clinician they are seeing.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:59:13 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS said he assumed that  a patient would first see a                                                               
medical  doctor  who   would  make  a  referral   to  a  physical                                                               
therapist,  but he  understood her  to say  that a  patient could                                                               
proceed directly to the physical therapist.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. CORR said that is correct.  Most states have direct access to                                                               
physical  therapists  without   a  prescription.  Some  insurance                                                               
companies require  a prescription  or a doctor's  signature prior                                                               
to treatment,  but Alaska  has long been  a direct  access state.                                                               
This  was done  to  reduce barriers  in a  state  that has  fewer                                                               
providers. Typically,  if someone  sprained an ankle,  they would                                                               
see a primary  care physician, be referred to  an orthopedist who                                                               
would perform  X-rays or  other diagnostic  tests and  then refer                                                               
the  patient to  a physical  therapist. With  direct access,  the                                                               
patient  would go  directly  to a  physical  therapist and  begin                                                               
treatment. The physical therapist  will do a detailed examination                                                               
to determine  if the injury  relates to a  musculoskeletal issue.                                                               
If that is  not the case, the physical therapist  would refer the                                                               
person to  a physician or  suggest imaging studies to  be certain                                                               
the injury is  a sprain and not a fracture.  Direct access really                                                               
reduces barriers to care, she said.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS said it seems more efficient and less costly.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:01:23 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR   GRAY-JACKSON   admitted   she  was   unaware   that   a                                                               
prescription  was  not  needed  in   Alaska  to  see  a  physical                                                               
therapist.  She   asked  if  it   is  also  based   on  insurance                                                               
requirements.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CORR said  some insurance  companies, workers'  compensation                                                               
for  example,  need  a  prescription   or  a  referral  prior  to                                                               
treatment  by a  physical therapist.  Medicare requires  that the                                                               
physical therapist, after the  initial patient evaluation, submit                                                               
the treatment  plan to the physician  who signs off on  it. It is                                                               
not  necessarily an  approval, but  rather a  Medicare hoop,  she                                                               
said. The  physical therapist  would ensure  that the  person had                                                               
the appropriate documents in place prior to treatment.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:02:45 PM                                                                                                                    
SCOTTY ORR,  OTD, OTR/L,  President, Alaska  Occupational Therapy                                                               
Association (AOTA),  Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in  support of                                                               
SB 47. He stated that  the AOTA represents about 120 occupational                                                               
therapists  and  certified  occupational therapy  assistants.  He                                                               
said that AOTA supports the  bill, specifically regarding updated                                                               
language  to make  it more  current with  national standards  and                                                               
replacing the  physician on the  Physical Therapy  and Occupation                                                               
Therapy Board member with an occupational therapist.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:03:43 PM                                                                                                                    
MEGHAN PUDELER,  Manager of State Affairs,  American Occupational                                                               
Therapy Association (AOTA) ,  North Bethesda, Maryland, testified                                                               
in support of  SB 47. She said AOTA is  the national professional                                                               
association that  represents the  interests of more  than 213,000                                                               
occupational  therapists, students  of occupational  therapy, and                                                               
occupational therapy assistants. AOTA  strongly supports the role                                                               
of state  government in regulating  the practice  of occupational                                                               
therapy.  She  said  the organization  has  advocated  for  state                                                               
occupational   therapy  laws   with  the   same  core   licensure                                                               
requirements  as successful  completion of  academic requirements                                                               
of  an  educational  program   for  occupational  therapists,  or                                                               
occupational therapy assistants. The  programs must be accredited                                                               
by the  Accreditation Council for Occupational  Therapy Education                                                               
(ACOTE) or predecessor  organizations. Other requirements include                                                               
successful  completion  of  a period  of  supervised  field  work                                                               
experience and passing the entry-level exam, she said.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS.  PUDELER said  SB 47  proposes to  revise qualifications  for                                                               
licensing  for occupational  therapists and  occupational therapy                                                               
assistants   by  removing   from   statute   specific  names   of                                                               
organizations   that   exercise    certification   control   over                                                               
occupational   therapy.  The   bill   would   also  clarify   the                                                               
requirements for foreign-educated  applicants. These changes will                                                               
also remove obsolete  language, she said. The  bill also proposes                                                               
a change  to the composition  of the  board which will  allow for                                                               
more balanced representation.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:05:29 PM                                                                                                                    
JENNIFER   CARLSON,   Member,   Alaska   Physical   Therapy   and                                                               
Occupational  Therapy  Board,  Fairbanks,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
support of  SB 47.  She said  she has served  on the  board since                                                               
March  2017. The  changes  in the  bill are  ones  the board  has                                                               
sought for  many years. Further,  SB 47 would update  and clarify                                                               
the  current law  to ensure  professional licensing  requirements                                                               
and  supporting   documents  are  consistent  and   aligned  with                                                               
national  and   international  standards.  A  similar   bill  was                                                               
introduced  in 2017,  but  due  to the  budget  crisis and  board                                                               
turnover, it did  not get a hearing. She thanked  the sponsor and                                                               
the committee for hearing the bill.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:06:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BISHOP opened  public testimony  and after  determining no                                                               
one wished to testify, closed public testimony on SB 47.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BISHOP  stated that he  would hold  SB 47 in  committee for                                                               
further consideration.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:08:19 PM                                                                                                                    
There being  no further  business to  come before  the committee,                                                               
Chair  Bishop adjourned  the Senate  Labor and  Commerce Standing                                                               
Committee meeting at 2:08 p.m.                                                                                                  

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 47 Sponsor Statement 1.30.2020.pdf SFIN 2/24/2020 9:00:00 AM
SL&C 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 47
SB47 Sectional Analysis vsn M 1.30.2020.pdf SL&C 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 47
SB047- DRAFT Fiscal Note ver M- DCCED-CBPL- 01-31-2020.pdf SL&C 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 47
SB 47 Work Draft vsn U 1.27.2020.pdf SL&C 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 47
SB 47 Explanation of Changes ver M to U 2-5-2020.pdf SL&C 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 47
SB 47 Supporting Document Current PT-OT Roster 1.31.2020.pdf SFIN 2/24/2020 9:00:00 AM
SL&C 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 47
SB 47 Supporting Document Principles of Practice 3.2015.pdf SL&C 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 47
SB47 Supporting Document PT-OT comparison.pdf SL&C 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 47
SB 47 Support Letters Received by 1.30.2020.pdf SL&C 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 47