HOUSE BILL NO. 73                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     An Act extending the termination date of the State                                                                         
     Medical Board.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  NANCY  DAHLSTROM   noted  that  AS  08.64.010                                                                   
established  the State  Medical  Board and  provided for  the                                                                   
appointment of members  by the Governor.  The  Board consists                                                                   
of   five  licensed   physicians,   one  licensed   physician                                                                   
assistant,  and   two  persons   with  no  direct   financial                                                                   
interests  in the  healthcare industry.   HB  73, if  enacted                                                                   
would extend the Board operation  for another 4 years to June                                                                   
30, 2007.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
She commented  that the Board  serves the public  interest by                                                                   
establishing  the  minimum  education   and  work  experience                                                                   
requirements  that individuals must  meet to become  licensed                                                                   
physicians,   osteopaths,   podiatrists,    paramedics,   and                                                                   
physicians assistants.   The Board further serves  the public                                                                   
interest   by  investigating   complaints  against   licensed                                                                   
professionals and  taking disciplinary licensing  action when                                                                   
appropriate.    The  Board  has  consistently  proven  to  be                                                                   
efficient and Representative Dahlstrom  recommended that they                                                                   
be extended until June 30, 2007.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
KIMBERLY  HANGER,  STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE   NANCY  DAHLSTROM,                                                                   
stated  that in  accordance with  the  intent of  Title 24  &                                                                   
Title 44 of the Alaska Statutes,  the Division of Legislative                                                                   
Audit  viewed  the activities  of  the  Medical Board.    The                                                                   
conclusion  resulting from  that audit  was a  recommendation                                                                   
for  an extension  of the  Board.   She  referenced a  letter                                                                   
received  from Catherine  Reardon, previous  Director of  the                                                                   
Division  of  Occupational  Licensing in  the  Department  of                                                                   
Community  and  Economic  Development,   which  endorses  the                                                                   
findings and recommends the extension.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Hanger  referenced Amendment  #1.  (Copy  on File).   The                                                                   
amendment would extend the Board through 2011.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Harris  inquired  if   the  previous  Committee  of                                                                   
referral  had   recommended  the  extension  date   of  2007.                                                                   
Representative Dahlstrom explained  that there was discussion                                                                   
on that date  and the previous Committee had  agreed upon it.                                                                   
After  the  review  of  the  audit   recommendations  and  in                                                                   
cooperation with  the Senate, the  amendment was added.   The                                                                   
original bill was drafted with the 2007 extension date.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Harris  asked  the  cost  of  doing  an  audit  and                                                                   
questioned  why  the Legislature  would  want  to extend  the                                                                   
sunset.   Representative Dalstrom  informed members  that the                                                                   
Legislature could request an audit  at any time; however, she                                                                   
did not know the cost of performing an audit.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Harris  pointed out that  the fiscal  note indicates                                                                   
that  the funds  would  come  from Receipt  Support  Services                                                                   
(RSS).   He  believed that  the  Board was  not projected  to                                                                   
spend  any  extra  funds through  the  coming  fiscal  years.                                                                   
Representative Dalstrom acknowledged that was correct.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Harris MOVED  to ADOPT  Amendment  #1, which  would                                                                   
change the extension date from  2007 to 2011.  There being NO                                                                   
OBJECTION, the amendment was adopted.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
RICK URION,  DIRECTOR OCCUPATIONAL  LICENSING, DEPARTMENT  OF                                                                   
COMMUNITY  AND  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,   indicated  that  the                                                                   
Division does  support the  extension of  the Board  to 2011.                                                                   
He stated that  the Board has done a good job  and encouraged                                                                   
the Board's extension to 2011.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Meyer  MOVED to  report  CS HB  73  (FIN) out  of                                                                   
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CS  HB 73  (FIN) was  reported out  of Committee  with a  "do                                                                   
pass"  recommendation  and with  a  new  fiscal note  by  the                                                                   
Department of Community & Economic Development.