SB 38-EXTEND STATE MEDICAL BOARD  3:09:06 PM CHAIR HIGGINS announced that the next order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 38(FIN), "An Act extending the termination date of the State Medical Board; relating to the executive secretary of the State Medical Board; and providing for an effective date." 3:09:16 PM DAVID SCOTT, Staff, Senator Donny Olson, Alaska State Legislature, explained that SB 38 extended the sunset date for the State Medical Board through 2020. He reported that the Legislative Audit Division had reviewed the activities of this board, concluded that this board was serving in the public interest, and recommended for an extension to the sunset date. He detailed that the State Medical Board was responsible for the licensing, regulation, and discipline of physicians, podiatrists, physician assistants, and paramedics. He reported that the Board had two full time employees, and the operating costs associated with the Board were paid by revenue generated from license fees. Directing attention to the committee substitute for the proposed bill, which had been added in the Senate Finance Committee, he reported that there had been a request to increase the salary of the executive secretary to the Board, which was reflected on page 1, lines 7 - 10. He pointed out that a fiscal note was not necessary as the Board had unanimously agreed to raise its fees to cover this additional expense. 3:11:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD asked if the annual expense of almost $500,000 requested in the fiscal note was a reflection of past expenses. MR. SCOTT replied that this was his understanding. REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD offered her belief that it was the same, but that she wanted confirmation. 3:11:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD asked to clarify whether the fiscal note for SB 38 [Included in members' packets] reflected any increase, and if it was indeed paid by revenue generated by the licensing fees. DON HABEGER, Director, Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development, in response to Representative Reinbold, said that "this is a traditional fiscal note for a sunset review." He stated that fees were collected from licensees for application and renewal, and were used to pay for supported services. CHAIR HIGGINS asked to clarify if "they were paying their way." MR. HABEGER offered agreement, and, in response to Representative Reinbold, said that there was a slight increase to the salary range, which would be covered by an adjustment to the licensing fees. 3:13:33 PM CHAIR HIGGINS opened public testimony. 3:13:47 PM ED HALL, Former Chair, Alaska State Medical Board, said that the Alaska State Medical Board had unanimously supported the extension of the sunset, as well as the increase to the salary of the executive secretary. He pointed out that the Alaska State Medical Board had annually "rolled over" more than $1 million. He pointed out that the duties of the executive secretary, as well as the licensing examiner, were expanding with the increase to the number of licenses in Alaska. He clarified that he had just retired as chair of the board on March 1, 2013. 3:15:31 PM MR. HALL, in response to Chair Higgins, said that he did not know the amount of the fee increase, and that the current fees varied for each professional occupation. 3:16:14 PM CHAIR HIGGINS closed public testimony. 3:16:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSSB 38(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 38(FIN) was reported from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.