SB 248-EXTEND BD OF MARITAL & FAMILY THERAPY  3:54:58 PM CHAIR OLSON announced that the next order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 248(L&C), "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Marital and Family Therapy; and providing for an effective date." 3:55:02 PM TIM BENINTENDI, Staff, Senator Donny Olson, Alaska State Legislature, explained that SB 248 would extend the Board of Marital and Family Therapists until June 30, 2014. He further explained that the committee substitute corrects the sunset date to reflect the sunset date in the audit. He related that this board is a small board consisting of three therapists, two public members, and 84 licensees. The pool of funds is small and the license fee is $775. The audit did not find any adverse impacts to the public but did find that the cost of operating the board is more than the revenues received. In short, the Board of Marital and Family Therapists is working to reduce its deficit, which currently stands at $2,000. Auditors discovered the board is working to reduce its deficit rather than to work on regulation projects it needs. As with the other boards, the auditors found the DCCED needs to provide additional support. Further, the Office of the Governor needs to make more timely appointments to the board. No other problems were found, he stated. 3:57:25 PM PAT DAVIDSON, Legislative Auditor, Division of Legislative Audit, Alaska State Legislature, introduced herself. REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES asked about the expensive licensing renewal fees and how the fees compare to other licensees. MS. DAVIDSON explained that the occupational licensing boards pay licensing fees every other year. The statutes require the boards to be financially self supporting. The Board of Marital and Family Therapists has a declining membership. She explained that counselors cannot call themselves marital and family therapists unless they are actually professional therapists. However, there is some overlap of practice between this board and the Board of Professional Counselors. Since the occupation of marital and family therapists is a specialty, if a therapist found the fees were onerous, he/she may decide to select a different license. While the license may require some additional training or study, generally the auditors found a lot of movement between the two boards. She related that four years ago the auditors reviewed the mental health professional boards, including Social Workers, Marital and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors, Psychologists and Psychological Associates. The auditors researched whether the boards should be combined and found a "lot of pushback." The professionals did not want to combine their professions and the legislature made no effort to do so. She applauded the board for being fiscally prudent, but pointed out it is important for professional boards to keep regulations up to date to better serve Alaska's citizens. Therefore, the auditors recommended only a four-year extension to review whether the board is viable. MS. DAVIDSON, in response to Representative Holmes, explained that to some degree the board is caught between a "rock and a hard place" and whatever decision they make will be a difficult one. 4:01:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH asked whether any other boards are not self- sustaining. MS. DAVIDSON offered her belief that other boards are either not in a deficit situation or have raised fees to the extent that they would be solvent in a two or possibly four year timeframe. 4:02:09 PM MS. DAVIDSON, in response to Representative Buch, answered that she is not certain of details but these professionals have very similar education and experience. She said she could not speak to whether that may be the difference of one college course. She recalled that some costs occur at startup or during a regulations project. Additionally, when an investigation goes through the complete process it can be costly in terms of an investigator's time and Department of Law's costs. This board just went through one of those items and it is just a matter if working through the cycle, she stated. REPRESENTATIVE BUCH inquired as to whether the Board of Marital and Family Therapists can sustain itself. MS. DAVIDSON explained that in reviewing the five-year fiscal analysis, auditors found the board has been working itself out of its deficit. She reported that in FY 06 the deficit was $42,000; in FY 08, it was down to $29,000. She related that there are only 83 professionals on this board, although other boards are equally as small. She stated that the Board of Direct Entry Midwives also has high fees. She further related that the professionals generally agree to pay the higher fees. REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT asked why the auditors recommended extending the board only four years instead of the typical eight years. MS. DAVIDSON explained since the Board of Marital and Family Therapists delayed its regulations project the auditors wanted to see the board addressing the issues. 4:07:43 PM CHAIR OLSON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on SB 248. 4:07:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT moved to report the CSSB 248(L&C) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 248(L&C) was reported from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee. 4:08:28 PM The committee took an at-ease from 4:08 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. 4:10:43 PM