3:17:05 PM SENATE BILL NO. 253 An Act extending the termination date for the Board of Chiropractic Examiners; and providing for an effective date. TOM MAHER, STAFF, SENATOR GENE THERRIAULT, provided a brief background on the sunset process that produced SB 253. Sunset reviews were conducted under revisions made last session to statutes that govern the sunset process. The standard sunset period for occupational boards and non- occupational boards was changed from "not to exceed four years" to "not to exceed eight years". Increasing the standard sunset period allows for better use of audit staff, committee time, and makes the sunset process less consuming for boards and regulatory agencies. Mr. Maher added that Alaska's sunset process has matured, most of the sunset reviews are less about eliminating boards and commissions, and more about operational performance. To better measure operational performance, last session, two new criteria were added to statute that must be considered in the course of a sunset review by the auditors: · The extent to which the board, commission, or agency has effectively attained its objectives and the efficiency with which it has operated · The extent to which the board, commission, or agency duplicates the activities of another governmental agency or the private sector. Mr. Maher continued, expanding criteria assures auditors will measure the efficiency and effectiveness of boards, commissions or agencies under review. SB 253 stems from recommendations contained in the Legislative Audit Sunset Report dated September 26, 2005. They concluded that the Board of Chiropractic Examiners is operating in the public's best interest and should continue to regulate chiropractors. SB 253 follows the auditor's recommendation that extends the sunset to June 30, 2014 for an eight-year extension. There is a fiscal note and that extending the Board would not incur any additional costs over the amounts proposed in the FY07 Governor's operating budget request. The Board is self-supporting. 3:119:53 PM Representative Kelly referenced Page 5 of the audit. PAT DAVIDSON, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, LEGISLATIVE AUDIT DIVISION, explained that the Board seemed to get "caught up" in a couple issues such as independent medical examinations (IME). The Department of Law warned them, they had no statutory authority to provide school sport examinations or MIE's, which tied into LBA's first recommendation to improve efficiency of the meeting process. Representative Kelly asked if there was a cost to the State for those inefficiencies. Ms. Davidson replied that the license fees support the Board's activities. 3:22:03 PM Representative Foster referenced the attorney general's recommendations listed on Page 18 of the audit. Ms. Davidson echoed previous comments regarding the independent medical examiners. PUBLIC TESTIMONY CLOSED 3:23:29 PM Representative Foster MOVED to REPORT SB 253 out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note. Representative Weyhrauch OBJECTED noting the number of boards of commissions statewide. Representative Weyhrauch WITHDREW his OBJECTION. Representative Foster pointed out that in 1989, there were 114 Boards and Commissions. After Governor Hickel's term, there were 142. There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. SB 253 was reported out of Committee with a "no recommendation and with fiscal note #1 by the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development. 3:25:29 PM