ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE  April 6, 2012 3:23 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Kurt Olson, Chair Representative Dan Saddler Representative Steve Thompson Representative Lindsey Holmes Representative Bob Miller MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Craig Johnson, Vice Chair Representative Mike Chenault COMMITTEE CALENDAR  State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors Howard "Keith Walters - Healy Appointed: 3/1/2012 Term Expires: 3/1/2016 - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED Board of Marine Pilots Tom Reuter - Anchorage Appointed: 4/1/2012 Term Expires: 3/1/2016 - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives Deborah Schneider - Wasilla Appointed: 3/15/2012 Term Expires: 3/1/2016 - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED Regulatory Commission of Alaska Janis Wilson - Anchorage Appointed: 4/10/2006 Reappointed: 4/1/2012 Term Expires: 3/1/2018 - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED Alaska Workers' Compensation Board Robert Weel - Anchorage Appointed: 1/23/2006 Reappointed: 3/1/2006 Reappointed 3/1/2009 Reappointed: 3/1/2012 Term Expires: 3/1/2015 - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED HOUSE BILL NO. 326 "An Act requiring health care insurers to offer a child-only policy; and providing for an effective date." - HEARD & HELD HOUSE BILL NO. 202 "An Act relating to the sale of food products by the producer to the consumer." - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD HOUSE BILL NO. 259 "An Act establishing procedures and guidelines for auditing pharmacy records; and providing for an effective date." - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD HOUSE BILL NO. 266 "An Act relating to the practice of naturopathy; and providing for an effective date." - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 122(L&C) "An Act relating to research on and examination of titles; relating to residency requirements for title insurance limited producers; relating to real estate transfer fees; and providing for an effective date." - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 326 SHORT TITLE: CHILD-ONLY HEALTH CARE COVERAGE SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) GUTTENBERG 02/17/12 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/17/12 (H) L&C, FIN 04/04/12 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 04/04/12 (H) Heard & Held 04/04/12 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 04/06/12 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER KONRAD JACKSON, Staff Representative Kurt Olson Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the confirmation hearings. REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBERG Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as prime sponsor of HB 326, presenting a brief synopsis of the bill. LINDA HALL, Director Division of Insurance Anchorage Office Department of Community & Economic Development (DCCED) Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the discussion of HB 326. ACTION NARRATIVE 3:23:35 PM CHAIR KURT OLSON called the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:23 p.m. Representatives Saddler, Thompson, Holmes, Miller, and Olson were present at the call to order. ^Confirmation Hearings Confirmation Hearings  State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land  Surveyors  Board of Marine Pilots  Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives  Regulatory Commission of Alaska  Alaska Workers' Compensation Board    3:23:47 PM CHAIR OLSON announced that the first order of business would be confirmation hearings. 3:24:48 PM KONRAD JACKSON, Staff, Representative Kurt Olson, stated that members have a copy of the memo from the Chief Clerk's office listing the names of the appointees to the various boards and commissions. 3:25:51 PM MR. JACKSON read the names of the nominees into the record, as follows: State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors Howard "Keith Walters Board of Marine Pilots Tom Reuter Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives Deborah Schneider Regulatory Commission of Alaska Janis Wilson Alaska Workers' Compensation Board Robert Weel 3:26:20 PM CHAIR OLSON commented that these nominees were late arrivals from the Boards and Commissions office. He stated that the committee members have had copies of nominee's resumes to review. Janis Wilson asked to make a brief statement, but due to technical difficulties her testimony was not recorded. 3:27:08 PM The committee took several at-eases from 3:27 p.m. to 3:37 p.m. due to technical difficulties. 3:37:24 PM CHAIR OLSON commented that committee members received copies of the nominee's resumes and the committee members have not expressed any concerns about the names or requested anyone should be online or in the room. CHAIR OLSON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on the confirmation hearings. 3:38:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES thanked members for stepping up to serve. She moved to advance the confirmations for appointees referred to the House Labor & Commerce Committee for consideration to the joint session of the House and Senate for consideration. She stated that signature on the committee's report in no way reflects the member's vote during the floor session. There being no objection, the confirmations were advanced. 3:39:17 PM The committee took an at-ease from 3:39 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. HB 326-CHILD-ONLY HEALTH CARE COVERAGE  3:40:48 PM CHAIR OLSON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 326, "An Act requiring health care insurers to offer a child-only policy; and providing for an effective date." 3:41:01 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBERG, Alaska State Legislature, stated that HB 326 is a child-only health care bill. The bill would tell providers that the legislature would like them to offer a health care plan for children only. Children qualifying for other plans are not eligible, but a gap exists for coverage for healthy children who do not qualify for Denali Kid Care or do not fall under some other plan. The bill would not require any discount or mandates just an insurance plan for healthy children. CHAIR OLSON related his understanding this coverage was offered until about a year ago. REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG agreed that the last time it was offered was in 2010. CHAIR OLSON recalled changes occurred in the federal law that has adversely affected children-only policies. 3:42:41 PM The committee took an at-ease from 3:42 p.m. to 3:47 p.m. 3:47:55 PM LINDA HALL, Director, Division of Insurance, Anchorage Office, Department of Community & Economic Development (DCCED), introduced herself, but was unable to testify due to technical difficulties in the transmission from Anchorage. The committee took an at-ease from 3:48 p.m. to 3:49 p.m. 3:49:18 PM CHAIR OLSON pointed out a number of people had signed up to testify from Anchorage via teleconference, but due to technical difficulties could not do so. [HB 326 was held over.] 3:51:15 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:51 p.m.