HOUSE BILL NO. 99 "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." 9:03:42 AM REPRESENTATIVE MATT CLAMAN, SPONSOR, introduced himself and shared that he was carrying the bill at the request of the Alaska physical and occupational therapy associations. He read from prepared remarks: House Bill 99 amends the governing statutes for physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants practicing in Alaska. The changes it makes are designed to bring Alaska statutes in line with national standards and terminology and overall make the administrative experience of these professionals more efficient and up to date. This bill is supported by the state Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board, which believes House Bill 99 will help the board in its work to protect the public. A letter stating their support is in your packet. Currently, physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants are represented by the state Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board. This board is made up of one physician, three physical therapists, two occupational therapists, and one member of the public. The first change made by this bill is to remove the physician from this board and replace them with another occupational therapist. Thereby balancing the representation of the professionals on the board. There's good reason for this. When the statute was originally written, the work of physical and occupational therapists required referral by a physician. This has not been the case in Alaska for more than 30 years. House Bill 99 also enables the board to discipline a therapist who commits infractions under AS 08.84.120, such as conviction of a felony, gross negligence, or abuse of alcohol. Currently, the board has the ability to revoke or deny a license based on infractions but has no ability to discipline. This bill also clarifies the language and the requirements for those therapists who receive their training outside of the United States, ensuring that their training is equivalent to a U.S. professional physical therapy training program and also exempting therapists trained in an English language program for having to take an English proficiency test. Furthermore, this bill updates language in Alaska statutes that references an accrediting entity that no longer exists and makes the language more general, allowing the state board to designate the appropriate accrediting entity as needed. 9:06:20 AM Representative Claman continued reading from a prepared statement: Several other updates to terminology are made to update the language. House Bill 99 does not constitute a restructuring of the relevant statute, but it contains a number of long awaited changes. This is a way to make it easier for professionals to do business in Alaska. JOEY BOSWORTH, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE MATT CLAMAN, stated his understanding that the committee did not need a review of the sectional analysis. Co-Chair Merrick concurred. She OPENED public testimony. ALEC KAY, PRESIDENT, ALASKA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION (via teleconference), testified in support of the legislation. He discussed that the bill was primarily language modernization and improvement for the practice. Additionally, the bill would provide more clarity for the public. He pointed out that the bill was supported by several licensees who had written letters, the state licensing board, and the member association of chiropractors in Alaska. He hoped the bill would move forward to improve the practice and protections of the public. He thanked the committee. Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony. 9:08:44 AM AT EASE 9:09:35 AM RECONVENED Co-Chair Merrick asked the Legislative Finance Division (LFD) to speak to the fiscal note. SABRINA JAVIER, FISCAL ANALYST, LEGISLATIVE FINANCE DIVISION (via teleconference), reported that LFD had no technical issues with the fiscal note. She was available for questions. Co-Chair Merrick shared that the committee had been told the board had sufficient funds to cover the $2,300 fiscal note. She asked if LFD believed the committee could zero- out the note. Ms. Javier answered that based on the FY 20 annual professional licensing report, the board had a surplus of over $280,000; therefore, LFD believed the department could potentially absorb the one-time cost of $2,300. Representative Josephson agreed the board could afford it, but he had never seen a fee borne by the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (CBPL) absorbed by the board itself. Ms. Javier answered that it was merely a suggestion to committee members to take into consideration. She deferred to the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) about absorbing costs in prior fiscal notes. 9:12:06 AM SHARON WALSH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING (CBPL) (via teleconference), believed Representative Josephson was asking whether costs associated with the program could be absorbed and whether the fee was for regulation or legal costs. Representative Josephson clarified his support for the bill. He had no problem with the fiscal note. However, he remarked that he had never seen a board charged with the cost of a fiscal note. Ms. Walsh answered that the practice was pretty standard based on her understanding of fiscal notes. Co-Chair Foster MOVED to REPORT HB 99 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HB 99 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one previously published fiscal impact note: FN1 (CED). 9:13:47 AM AT EASE 9:18:37 AM RECONVENED Co-Chair Merrick noted that Representative Johnson had joined the meeting.