SB 172-OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT  2:54:10 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 172 "An Act relating to occupational therapist licensure; relating to occupational therapy assistant licensure; and relating to an occupational therapist licensure compact." 2:54:35 PM MATT CHURCHILL, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced SB 172 on behalf of the sponsor and read the following: [Original punctuation provided.] Occupational therapy plays a vital role in helping people learn or reestablish the ability to independently do many of the everyday tasks that most of us take for granted, from chewing and swallowing food, to balancing and walking, to simply dressing and undressing themselves. There is only one training program in the entire state, and we simply do not have enough occupational therapists for the many Alaskans who are in need of this life-changing service (particularly in rural parts of the state) with over 200 listed job positions for physical therapists currently unfilled across Alaska. Senate Bill 172 enacts the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, an interstate compact that increases patient access to occupational therapy by making it easier for licensed physical therapists to move and work between member states without repeatedly dealing with bureaucratic red tape. Enacting the Compact will at the same time enhance the state's ability to protect the public's health and safety. This bill's goal is to make it possible for all Alaskans in need to receive this vital health care service. The Compact enacted by SB 172 will draw more occupational therapists to live and work in our state and thus improve access to physical therapy for thousands of Alaskans. 2:56:28 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN announced invited testimony on SB 172. 2:56:42 PM KEITH BUCKHOUT, Policy Analyst, Council of State Government, Lexington, KY, testified by invitation on SB 172. He said the Occupational Therapy (OT) Compact is an agreement among states that allows licensed occupational therapists and assistants to practice across member states through a streamlined process. The OT Compact improves access to care, supports military families, and ensures continuity of services. He said practitioners must hold an active, unencumbered license, complete background checks, and follow the laws of the state where the patient is located. Member states may also require a jurisprudence exam. The OT Compact enhances public protection through shared data on investigations and discipline. It currently has 32 member states in the process of becoming operational for licensees. 2:59:27 PM BRIANNA OSWALD, President, Alaska Occupational Therapy Association, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 172. She stated that the organization represents 173 occupational therapists and therapy practitioners who serve patients across various settings, including schools, hospitals, and community-based clinics, helping individuals improve their independence, life skills, and self-care throughout their lifespan. Currently, Alaska has only one academic program that graduates 8 to 14 occupational therapists each year, which is far below the statewide demand. She said the Alaska Occupational Therapy Association estimates a need for around 77 occupational therapists due to turnover, retirements, and the frequent relocation of military spouses and other professionals. She said as a result, the state relies heavily on practitioners from outside Alaska to meet these needs. She said SB 172 would help address the workforce shortage by reducing bureaucratic barriers, allowing qualified professionals from other states to practice more easily in Alaska. 3:01:07 PM KATHLEEN HANSEN, Assistant Director of Rehabilitation, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 172. She said as a hiring manager at SEARHC, she witnessed services for Alaskans across all stages of life in outpatient, inpatient, long-term, home-based, and school-based care. She saw firsthand how licensure delays hindered timely access to care. 3:02:27 PM REBECCA DEAN, Public Member, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (PTOT) Board, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 172. The PTOT is in support of SB 172 and HB 173 and stated that the PTOT board could effectively manage the licensing changes and compact privileges outlined in the bills. The PTOT board noted its prior experience implementing the physical therapy compact, which uses similar procedures. She emphasized that the OT compact would improve access to qualified therapists, reduce administrative redundancies, and strengthen patient safety through centralized background checks and shared disciplinary data. 3:05:20 PM MS. DEAN stated that the Alaska PTOT Board closely monitored the national success of the Occupational Therapy Compact and conducted extensive education on its implementation. She said the board fully supports adopting the compact, identifying it as a strategic initiative to improve access to care, particularly in rural areas, and reduce administrative burdens for licensed providers. Between July 2024 and May 2025, 82 occupational licenses were approved, and federal agencies have recognized interstate compact licenses for Medicare and Medicaid participation. She emphasized that all applicants would undergo background checks and fingerprinting before qualifying and urged the legislature to pass SB 172 to address workforce shortages and enhance patient access across Alaska. 3:08:30 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN concluded invited testimony on SB 172. [CHAIR BJORKMAN held SB 172 in committee.]