HB 309-DELEGATION OF ROUTINE OPTOMETRY SERVICES  3:08:05 PM CHAIR PRAX announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 309 "An Act relating to the practice of optometry; and relating to the delegation of routine services of optometry." 3:08:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, introduced HB 309, saying that passage of HB 309 would remedy the exclusion of optometrists in the state, and that it would bring the request to the Board of Optometrists. 3:10:21 PM JAMES SEXTON, Staff, Representative Justin Ruffridge, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Ruffridge, prime sponsor, gave a PowerPoint presentation on HB 309 [hardcopy included in the committee packet]. He began on slide one of his presentation, explaining that optometric practices do note have current statute language defining their authority. He compared other healthcare professions in Alaska that do have statutory definitions of their authority and gave examples of the tasks and medical duties of an optometrist. He said the current challenges faced by optometrists are rising patient load, absence of assistance, and financial burden. He explained the impacts of HB 309, saying there is great support for this bill and what the goal of the bill would be. MR. SEXTON gave a sectional analysis on HB 309[included in committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Section 1 (7) authorizes an optometrist licensed under the chapter to delegate routine services and ensures regulations must (A) require that an agent not licensed under the chapter must meet standards established by the Board. (B) prohibits an optometrist from delegating duties related to pain management and opiod use and addiction (C) Defines the phrase "routine services of optometry". Section 2 (a) and (b) refers to section 1 services that are delegated by the Optometry Board. Section 3 Allows for the practice of routine services of optometry as delegated by the Board established in Section 1. 3:15:21 PM DAMIEN DELZER, O.D. President-Elect, Alaska Optometric Association, He explained that HB 309 is legislation requested by the Board of Optometry, saying that it addresses many issues raised by the board. He said that while many states recognize optometry as a medical authority, Alaska does not. He said that assistance improves access to nearly all types of medical care. He said that HB 309 would help to decrease patient cost and improve access. He gave examples of what optometrists do beside eye care and explained that HB 309 would allow for specific language to create regulation on optometry. 3:19:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER asked what routine services are in an optometrist's office. DR. DELZER said the assessment of vision, taking a photograph of the eyes for interpretation, performing scans for the interpretation of the doctor, and performance of vision tests, are some of the duties performed by a technician or assistant. 3:20:26 PM ELIZABETH STEVENS, Executive Director, Alaska Optometric Association, explained what the bill would do to ease workload in optometrists' offices. She stated the association's strong support of HB 309. 3:21:35 PM KATHLEEN RICE, representing self, voiced her support for HB 309. She said that Alaska optometrists have had a long-time authority to delegate tasks to technicians and assistants, and that this bill would allow an optometrist to delegate tasks to a technician or assistant. She said it would update statute to match what optometrists across Alaska are already doing. She said it would relieve optometrists of many duties that may take away from their work as optometrists. 3:24:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked Representative Ruffridge what the clean-up of statute would look like. 3:25:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE said there is none that he is aware of, and that he would have to look into it. He said that is not something he looked at in preparation for this bill. 3:25:52 PM CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony. After ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify, he closed public testimony. 3:26:36 PM BRADLEY CROSS, Optometrist, said that optometry is responsible for primary eye care in Alaska. He said that optometry has shown itself to be safe, sustainable, and economically beneficial. He said that HB 309 would correct the current statute to allow optometrists to delegate tasks to technicians and assistants, as they are allowed to in other places of the country. He said that as Alaska's population ages, optometrists will be more important than ever, and that this bill would help solve that problem. 3:30:54 PM CHAIR PRAX announced that HB 309 was held over. 3:31:21 PM The committee took an at-ease from 3:31 p.m. to 3:33. p.m. 3:33:36 PM ^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S): CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):  ^Alaska State Medical Board Alaska State Medical Board  DAVID PAULSON, M.D. Appointee, State Medical Board, explained his history in the medical field and medical politics, as well as explained his focus as a board appointee. 3:34:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA said that there isn't much geographic diversity on the state medical board and asked how Dr. Paulson would address rural issues with the whole board being from Anchorage. DR. PAULSON said he doesn't specifically have a solution for it, but it should be brought up in a board meeting to bring more attention to the issue. 3:36:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS mentioned Dr. Paulson's history with anti- masking during the COVID-19 Pandemic and his history taking different sides on medical issues. DR. PAULSON answered that he isn't an anti-masker, that his opinions aren't contrary to those of the medical community. 3:36:54 PM CHAIR PRAX asked if Dr. Paulson came across anything during his time on the board that is of particular interest. DR. PAULSON said that there are some areas in virtual care and telemedicine and Artificial Intelligence (AI) that need to be addressed. 3:38:12 PM CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on the confirmation hearing. After ascertaining that there was no one in the room who wished to testify, he closed public testimony. 3:38:45 PM DR. PAULSON, in response to committee questions, indicated he would send additional biographical information to Representative Saddler and responded to Representative Fields that he had not been the one to redact information from [his resume]. 3:41:19 PM The committee took an at-ease from 3:41 p.m. to 3:43 p.m.