CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 125(JUD) "An Act relating to the licensing, regulation, enforcement, and appeal rights of ambulatory surgical centers, assisted living homes, child care facilities, child placement agencies, foster homes, free-standing birth centers, home health agencies, hospices or agencies providing hospice services or operating hospice programs, hospitals, intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, maternity homes, nursing facilities, residential child care facilities, residential psychiatric treatment centers, runaway shelters, and rural health clinics; relating to possession of a firearm at licensed entities and facilities; relating to criminal history requirements, and a registry, regarding certain licenses, certifications, approvals, and authorizations by the Department of Health and Social Services; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date." This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance Committee. Co-Chair Green explained that this legislation would relate to the licensing, regulation, and reinforcement of medical or care facilities. She specified that this legislation would have no fiscal impact, as zero fiscal notes accompany it. Four Committee Members heard testimony on this bill during its hearings before the Senate Health, Education, and Social Services (HES) Committee. Due of an inadvertent oversight on her part, the intent to waive the bill from Committee had not occurred. Therefore the bill is before the Committee with the desire that a brief discussion occur. 4:29:03 PM RICHARD MANDSAGER, M.D., Director, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services explained that, originally, a zero fiscal note from the Department accompanied this bill. A Department of Law zero fiscal note was subsequently added to account for a federal grant that would provide for the expenses the Department of Law might experience in its regulation revision and review. Dr. Mandsager stated that this legislation "would bring together" in a standardized manner the different statutory and regulatory authorities for the various entities such as hospitals, nursing homes, hospice, and assisted living homes that the Department licenses. This legislation would make the process easier for these entities to manage. Dr. Mandsager continued that the bill would align background check processes for employees and entities that provide services to vulnerable Alaskans. Public and criminal information regarding such issues as abuse, fraud, neglect, or Medicaid fraud would be streamlined to develop a measurement to determine which individuals would be prohibited from working in the affected fields. Were this bill adopted, one entity would monitor the background checks. 4:30:15 PM Co-Chair Green spoke to "the consistency" that this legislation would provide to the different users and providers of services. It would provide one set of qualifiers as opposed to multiple sets as is the current mode of operation. In addition, higher standards would be implemented. Dr. Mandsager affirmed. He noted that currently, the Department does not conduct background checks on the entirety of the entities it might license. In addition, some employers voluntarily conduct background checks on its employees and others do not. This legislation would align the same standard to all entities. This information is included in the Department's "Public Health Protecting and Promoting The Health of All Alaskans" handout [copy on file] that is included in Members' bill packets. 4:31:08 PM Senator Olson asked whether there has been any response from small clinics or single practitioner in the State in regard to the impact this legislation might incur on them. Dr. Mandsager explained that this legislation would only apply to entities that the Department currently licenses. Therefore single doctor offices and health aid clinics that the Department does not currently license would not be affected by this legislation. Co-Chair Wilken moved to report SB 125 (JUD) from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SB 125 (JUD) was REPORTED from Committee with previous zero fiscal note #2 dated February 28, 2005 from the Department of Health and Social Services and zero fiscal note #3 dated April 12, 2005 from the Department of Law. AT EASE: 4:32:00 PM / 5:00:22 PM