HB 239-EXTEND BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:19:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR OLSON announced  that the first order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 239,  "An Act extending  the termination  date of                                                               
the  Board  of  Examiners  in Optometry;  and  providing  for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:20:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CRYSTAL  KOENEMAN, Staff,  Representative  Lora Reinbold,  Alaska                                                               
State   Legislature,  on   behalf  of   Representative  Reinbold,                                                               
sponsor,  stated  that  HB  239 will  reauthorize  the  Board  of                                                               
Examiners in Optometry  for eight years at  the recommendation of                                                               
the Legislative Audit Division.   The division concluded that the                                                               
termination date of June 30,  2022 was sufficient since the board                                                               
serves  the   public  interest   by  effectively   licensing  and                                                               
regulating the  industry.   The legislative  auditors recommended                                                               
that  the Division  of Corporations,  Business, and  Professional                                                               
Licensing (DCBPL)  within the Department of  Commerce, Community,                                                               
and Economic Development (DCCED)  continue its efforts to improve                                                               
the case management system.  In  the past few years, the division                                                               
has  taken  great  strides  to   improve  the  integrity  of  the                                                               
aforementioned  system  and  she anticipated  the  efforts  would                                                               
continue.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:22:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether  any developments or changes                                                               
have arisen for the practice of optometry.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. KOENEMAN  answered no.   In further  response to  a question,                                                               
she was not aware of any other bills that affected this board.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:23:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  OLSON,  after first  determining  no  one else  wished  to                                                               
testify, closed public testimony on HB 239.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON remarked that this is clearly needed.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:24:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  moved to report  HB 239 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no objection,  HB 239 was reported  from the                                                               
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.