Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/29/2021 05:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
March 29, 2021
5:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mia Costello, Chair
Senator Roger Holland, Vice Chair
Senator Joshua Revak (via teleconference)
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Board of Dental Examiners
Christina Hansen - Fairbanks
Bradley Heaston - Eagle River
- CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED
Real Estate Appraisers Board
Valery Kudryn - Wasilla
Mae Hayes - Wasilla
- CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy
Lance Johnson - Nome
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
Christina Gilbert - Juneau
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Board of Massage Therapy
Kristin Tri - Eagle River
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Board of Professional Counselors
Laura Patin - Eagle River
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Board of Psychologist & Psychological Associate Examiners
Bradley McConnell - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board
Enlow Walker - Nome
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors
Elizabeth Johnston - Fairbanks
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
BRADLEY HEASTON, Appointee
Board of Dental Examiners
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Dental Examiners.
CHRISTINA HANSEN, Appointee
Board of Dental Examiners
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Dental Examiners.
VALERY KUDRYN, Appointee
Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Certified Real Estate Appraisers.
MAE HAYES, Appointee
Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Certified Real Estate Appraisers.
LANCE JOHNSON, Appointee
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska State
Board of Public Accountancy.
CHRISTINA GILBERT, Appointee
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska
Workers' Compensation Board.
KRISTIN TRI, Appointee
Board of Massage Therapy
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Massage Therapy.
LAURA PATIN, Appointee
Board of Professional Counselors
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Professional Counselors.
BRADLEY MCCONNELL, Appointee
Board of Psychologists and Psychological Examiners
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Dental Examiners.
DR. ENLOW WALKER, Appointee
State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified for reappointment to the State
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board.
ELIZABETH JOHNSON, Appointee
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified for reappointment to the Board of
Registration for Architects, Engineers, & Land Surveyors.
ACTION NARRATIVE
5:30:55 PM
CHAIR MIA COSTELLO called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Stevens, Holland, Revak (via
Teams), and Chair Costello.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Board of Dental Examiners
Real Estate Appraisers Board
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
Board of Massage Therapy
Board of Professional Counselors
Board of Psychologist & Psychological Associate Examiners
Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors
5:31:48 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of Governor
Appointees to Boards and Commissions. She explained the process
to the nominees.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Bradley Heaston to introduce himself,
provide a brief background, and share his interest in serving on
the Board of Dental Examiners.
5:32:59 PM
BRADLEY HEASTON, Appointee, Board of Dental Examiners,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development,
Anchorage, Alaska, stated that he is a lifelong Alaskan who
brings 17 years of IT experience and a background in HIPPA with
certifications. He said his interest is to help the Dental Board
with a pragmatic and fair approach to issues from an IT
perspective.
CHAIR COSTELLO commented on his extensive resume starting in
Barrow and then moving to Anchorage.
MR. HEASTON said he grew up in Barrow and returned to help build
a $20 million National Science Foundation research facility. He
also helped the Anchorage Daily News before moving on to the
structure of HIPPA policies and procedures in healthcare.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked how entities keep their information
private.
MR. HEASTON replied the first step is to do a security risk
assessment. Next is to build a framework and path forward based
on the National Institute of Standards methodology.
5:35:44 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Brad Heaston after discerning that no one wished
to testify.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Christina Hansen to introduce herself,
provide a brief background, and share her interest in serving on
the Board of Dental Examiners.
5:36:14 PM
CHRISTINA HANSEN, Appointee, Board of Dental Examiners,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development,
Fairbanks, Alaska, said she has been practicing as a hygienist
for six years. She applied to serve on this board to expand her
skillset, build her professional network, and gain a deeper
understanding of what it takes to run a successful organization
like this board.
CHAIR COSTELLO expressed appreciation that she was willing to
serve.
5:37:55 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Christina Hansen after discerning that no one
wished to testify.
CHAIR COSTELLO invited Valerie Kudryn to introduce himself,
provide a brief background, and share his interest in serving on
the Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers.
5:38:21 PM
VALERY KUDRYN, Appointee, Board of Certified Real Estate
Appraisers, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development, Wasilla, Alaska, advised that he has been an
appraiser in Alaska since 2007 and has been working as a
certified residential appraiser since 2010. He said he wants to
serve on this board to give back to the profession. He hopes to
apply his experience to promote appraiser independence when
completing assignments and increase public confidence in the
quality of appraisers being certified. He said he looks forward
to applying his experience to benefit the public and the
appraiser community in the state.
CHAIR COSTELLO commented that his experience in appraising green
buildings will likely be valuable to the board.
5:39:47 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Valery Kudryn after discerning that no one wished
to testify.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Mae Hayes to introduce herself, provide a
brief background, and share her interest in serving on the Board
of Certified Real Estate Appraisers.
5:40:14 PM
MAE HAYES, Appointee, Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development,
Wasilla, Alaska, advised that she is a certified residential
appraiser and a real estate broker. She said she wants to serve
on this board to gain a better understanding of the issues in
the field, the challenges her peers face when they work alone,
and how consumers perceive the profession. The value she brings
to the board is her perspective as both a realtor and appraiser.
SENATOR STEVENS asked how many real estate appraisers work in
Alaska.
MS. HAYES said she didn't know but she would guess that several
hundred appraisers practice in the state.
5:42:34 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Mae Hayes after discerning that no one wished to
testify.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Lance Johnson to introduce himself, provide
a brief background, and share his interest in serving on the
State Board of Public Accountancy.
5:42:59 PM
LANCE JOHNSON, Appointee, Alaska State Board of Public
Accountancy, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development, Anchorage, Alaska, stated that for more than 25
years he has held various management and executive positions in
the internal audit and risk management fields. He said he relies
heavily on the services that CPAs provide, so he has a vested
interest in ensuring that the integrity and quality of their
services meet the expectations of the public.
5:44:59 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Lance Johnson after discerning that no one wished
to testify.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Christina Gilbert to introduce herself,
provide a brief background, and share her interest in serving on
the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board.
5:45:29 PM
CHRISTINA GILBERT, Appointee, Alaska Workers' Compensation
Board, Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD),
Juneau, Alaska, stated that she has 20 years of human resource
(HR) experience and is currently the HR manager for Coeur
Alaska. Throughout this time she has managed part or all her
various employers' workers' compensation programs. She said she
was appointed at the end of 2020 and is still feeling out how to
use her experience to benefit the board and give back to the
state. She looks forward to the opportunity to offer her
service.
CHAIR COSTELLO commented on her breadth of experience and
expressed gratitude that she was willing to serve.
5:46:57 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Christina Gilbert after discerning that no one
wished to testify.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Kristin Tri to introduce herself, provide a
brief background, and share her interest in serving on the Board
of Massage Therapy.
5:47:31 PM
KRISTIN TRI, Appointee, Board of Massage Therapy, Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development, Eagle River,
Alaska, stated that she has been a massage therapist for nearly
five years and has served on the board since March 2020. She
said her interest in serving is to help this new board figure
out how it will serve the public and the massage therapists it
oversees. Part of this is to look at the government side and how
the board can help address the large issue of sex trafficking in
Alaska.
CHAIR COSTELLO noted that her resume indicates she is a busy
person.
5:49:04 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Kristin Tri after discerning that no one wished
to testify.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Laura Patin to introduce herself, provide a
brief background, and share her interest in serving on the Board
of Professional Counselors
5:49:48 PM
LAURA PATIN, Appointee, Board of Professional Counselors,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development,
Eagle River, Alaska, stated that she has served on this board
for the last year and would like to continue. She likes that the
board is at the forefront to make direct and quick changes,
which was valuable this last year during the COVID-19 pandemic
when therapists had to switch to teletherapy. Being part of the
process to accommodate that change was interesting and she would
like to be able to continue to serve Alaska in that way, she
said.
SENATOR STEVENS asked her to talk about transitioning from
working in the school district to being in private practice.
MS. PATIN said she worked at the school to be close to her
children and it was an easy transition when she opened her own
practice.
5:53:09 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Laura Patin after discerning that no one wished
to testify.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Bradley McConnell to introduce himself,
provide a brief background, and share his interest in serving on
the Board of Psychologists and Psychological Examiners.
5:53:33 PM
BRADLEY MCCONNELL, PsyD, MSCP, Appointee, Board of Psychologists
and Psychological Examiners, Department of Commerce, Community
and Economic Development, Anchorage, Alaska, stated that he is a
board certified clinical psychologist who has worked in a
variety of settings. Currently he practices with the Copper
River Native Association in Glennallen. He said his interest in
serving on this board is to bring knowledge and information on
national trends in the field of psychology and how those trends
can integrate into Alaska's unique culture. He said this board
was a national leader in facilitating ethical practice during
COVID-19 when Alaskans returned from other states. The board
established a national curtesy license for psychologists in
other states so they could continue to see their Alaskan
patients. Other states followed this lead. He said Alaska has
more than 300 practitioners and his goal in serving on this
board is to help support and expand the development of homegrown
psychologists in Alaska through local universities. He said he
looks forward to continuing to serve, if confirmed.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked what he is seeing in the national trends.
DR. MCCONNELL said he believes that his field has led the way in
transitioning to remote teletherapy. Alaska has desperately
needed this because so many Alaskans who need mental health
services must drive miles to the closest clinical site to see a
therapist. It was good long term for Alaska to be on the leading
edge in that regard, he said.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked why his resume indicates that he is
still in Bakersfield, California.
DR. MCCONNELL replied that resume is outdated; he has been in
Alaska for about 18 months. He was born and raised in
Bakersfield.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON suggested he think about updating his
resume and thanked him for being willing to serve.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked him to provide an updated resume to the
committee.
DR. MCCONNELL agreed to do so.
5:57:43 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Bradley McConnell after discerning that no one
wished to testify. She thanked him for being willing to serve.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Enlow Walker to introduce himself, provide
a brief background, and share his interest in serving on the
State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board.
5:58:14 PM
ENLOW WALKER, MD, Appointee, State Physical Therapy and
Occupational Therapy Board, Department of Commerce, Community
and Economic Development, Nome, Alaska, stated that he was
seeking reappointment to this board.
DR. WALKER related that he is a retired family practice
physician whose medical training was financed by an Air Force
scholarship program. He served on active duty with the Air Force
for seven years, five of which were at Eielson Air Force Base.
In 1988 he started to work at the Fairbanks clinic and retired
in 2016. Since retiring, he has provided part time coverage for
former partners. He said he was first appointed to this board in
2018 and currently serves as secretary. He explained that while
practicing as a physician he interacted with physical and
occupational therapists, including as supervisor of the physical
therapy department at the Fairbanks clinic. He advised that he
has also been serving on the State Advisory Board for Alcoholism
and Drug Abuse since 2011 and the Fairbanks North Star Borough
(FNSB) Health and Social Services Commission since 2018. He said
he believes his experience is helpful to the board.
SENATOR STEVENS congratulated him for staying involved after
retiring.
CHAIR COSTELLO noted that he worked at two youth facilities and
a pioneer home. She asked if he had insight on the issues facing
both Alaskan youths and Alaska's elderly population.
DR. WALKER said those are both complex issues. For the elderly
it is access to medical care because many providers are not
willing to take Medicare patients due to bureaucracy and low
rates of reimbursement. He said didn't really have any new ideas
for youths, but they would benefit if the adults in their lives
set better examples.
6:02:13 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Dr. Enlow Walker after discerning that no one
wished to testify. She expressed appreciation that he brought
extensive experience to his service.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Elizabeth Johnston to introduce herself,
provide a brief background, and share her interest in serving on
the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, &
Land Surveyors.
6:02:59 PM
ELIZABETH JOHNSTON, Appointee, Board of Registration for
Architects, Engineers, & Land Surveyors, Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development, Fairbanks, Alaska, advised
that this board oversees 18 different professions and if a bill
in the process were to pass, interior designers would be added.
She stated that she is seeking reappointment to this board after
serving for four years because there is much unfinished work she
would like to help complete. The board is working to facilitate
military spouse licensure and is tracking legislation making its
way through the process. The board is also working to help with
license mobility, particularly related to the way continuing
education is regulated and tracked. She noted that the board has
a large outreach component to educate peripherally associated
individuals and unlicensed professions about what the board does
to protect the public. She said the foregoing is the major work
the board will do over the next year.
SENATOR HOLLAND observed that she won the 2015 Illuminating
Engineering Society Award of Merit for the Nanook Locker Room.
MS. JOHNSTON she explained that the ceiling has a blue,
undulating LED lighting system to simulate the underside of a
glacier.
SENATOR HOLLAND extended his congratulations for outstanding
work.
6:05:58 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony on the
appointment of Elizabeth Johnston after discerning that no one
wished to testify. She thanked her for being willing to continue
to serve.
6:06:12 PM
At ease
6:06:18 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting.
6:06:22 PM
SENATOR HOLLAND stated that in accordance with AS 39.05.080, the
Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee reviewed the
following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to a
joint session for consideration:
Board of Dental Examiners
Christina Hansen - Fairbanks
- Bradley Heaston - Eagle River
Real Estate Appraisers Board
Valery Kudryn - Wasilla
Mae Hayes - Wasilla
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy
Lance Johnson - Nome
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
Christina Gilbert - Juneau
Board of Massage Therapy
Kristin Tri - Eagle River
Board of Professional Counselors
Laura Patin - Eagle River
Board of Psychologist & Psychological Associate Examiners
Bradley McConnell - Anchorage
Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board
Enlow Walker - Nome
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors
Elizabeth Johnston - Fairbanks
Signing the reports regarding appointments to boards and
commissions in no way reflects individual members' approval or
disapproval of the appointees; the nominations are merely
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.
6:07:37 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Costello adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting at 6:07 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SLAC GOV Appointee Christina Hansen Board Application Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE DE CHRISTINA HANSEN |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Bradley Heaston Board Application Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE DE BRADLEY HEASTON |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Bradley Heaston Resume Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE DE BRADLEY HEASTON |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Valery Kudryn Board Application Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE REA VALERY KUDRYN |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Valery Kudryn Resume Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE REA VALERY KUDRYN |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Mae Sprague Hayes Board Application Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE REA MAE SPRAGUE HAYES |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Lance Johnson Resume Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE PA LANCE JOHNSON |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Christina Gilbert Resume Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE SCB CHRISTINA GILBERT |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Hannah St George Board Application Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE CDEM HANNAH ST GEORGE |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Kristin Tri Board Application Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE MT KRISTIN TRI |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Laura Patin Resume Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE PC LAURA PATIN |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Bradley McConnell Board Application Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE PPAE BRADLEY MCCONNELL |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Enlow Walker Resume Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE PTOT ENLOW WALKER |
| SLAC GOV Appointee Elizabeth Johnston Resume Redacted.pdf |
SL&C 3/29/2021 5:30:00 PM |
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE AELS ELIZABETH JOHNSTON |