HB 295-DENTIST SPEC. LICENSE/RADIOLOGIC EQUIP 3:17:57 PM CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 295, "An Act relating to the practice of dentistry; relating to dental radiological equipment; and providing for an effective date." 3:18:09 PM CO-CHAIR FIELDS opened public testimony on HB 295, then closed it after ascertaining that no one wished to testify. 3:18:59 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY, in relation to the fiscal note, inquired about the number of dentists currently under the direction of the Board of Dental Examiners. 3:19:21 PM DAVID LOGAN, DDS, Executive Director, Alaska Dental Society, replied that there are about 550 dentists. REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked how many of those dentists are specialists that could fit under this new proposal. DR. LOGAN responded that it is about 120-150. REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY observed that [the analysis sections in fiscal notes HB295-DCCED-CBPL-02-04-22 and HB295-DOH-LABS-2-4- 2022] state that the responsibility for inspecting dental radiological equipment would be moved [from the Board of Dental Examiners in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED)] to the [Division of Public Health] in the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). He asked why a large chunk of funds is still requested for DCCED personnel. 3:21:17 PM SARA CHAMBERS, Director, Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED), spoke to the fiscal note from DCCED. She answered that the legislature would be moving responsibility to DHSS for a program [within DCCED] that exists in statute but does not exist in practicality. There is no effort, staff time, nor expenditure on this program, she continued, so no staff time is being freed up for this program. The specialty license portion of the bill would add licensure for about 150 people at any number of specialties that could exist. The additional new licenses, complexity, and volume could not be managed by the one person in DCCED who manages the Board of Dental Examiners. REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY recalled previous statements [during the bill's 2/9/22 hearing] that the dentists would be paying for an examiner to come inspect their equipment. He therefore inquired about the projection of zero revenue on the DHSS fiscal note. 3:23:13 PM JAYME PARKER, MD, Chief, Alaska State Public Health Laboratory Fairbanks, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), replied that during the initial year the lab would need implementation time to get its house in order and to hire another Radiological Health [Physicist] 1 plus some administrative help. Recruiting and hiring someone in that position will take about four months, she explained, so the general funds request is reduced [for fiscal year 2023]. In the following fiscal years, the "I/A Receipts" line is coming from DCCED and represents the fees that would be charged for the number of devices to be registered. REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked why no revenue is projected for fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028 if equipment is going to be examined during those years. DR. PARKER replied that the I/A Receipts line of 224.2 would be the total fees collected that would support those two positions and the resources they would need to complete that job. 3:24:54 PM The committee took an at-ease from 3:24 p.m. to 3:25 pm. 3:25:58 PM CO-CHAIR FIELDS noted that the question had been resolved and that no amendments were received for the bill. 3:26:10 PM CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ moved to report HB 295 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 295 was reported from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.