1:27:20 PM SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 113(L&C) "An Act relating to the prescription and use of pharmaceutical agents, including controlled substances, by optometrists; and providing for an effective date." This was the second hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance Committee. Co-Chair Stedman announced intent to report this bill from Committee. He noted the zero fiscal note. 1:28:03 PM Senator Olson compared the small number of board certified ophthalmologists to the approximately 110 board certified optometrists. He asked the financial consequences to the ophthalmologists resulting from the ability of optometrists to provide some of the medical care previously limited to ophthalmologists. He expressed concern that fewer ophthalmologists would be attracted to practice in Alaska. 1:29:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE RALPH SAMUELS, Sponsor of the bill, measured the issue of commercial interest versus health care. Under the provisions of this legislation, patients could receive care from one doctor rather than two. This would save patients money especially those in rural areas who travel to larger communities for medical treatment. Ophthalmologists would continue to perform many procedures, including surgery. Patient care and affordability of treatment was of higher priority than any earnings reduction. The "revenue shift" would not be so significant as to deter ophthalmologists from practicing in the state. 1:31:04 PM Senator Olson asked the sponsor to comment on the possibility of including lapse date in which the provisions of the bill would be reviewed and possibly reconsidered. 1:31:09 PM Representative Samuels informed that this bill represents his second attempt to implement these changes. Former Governor Frank Murkowski vetoed similar legislation passed unanimously by the Twenty Forth Legislature. Representative Samuels asserted that a lapse date should not be imposed on the provisions of the current bill for no other reason than "commercial interests". 1:31:56 PM Senator Huggins offered a motion to report the bill, 25- LS0411\T, from Committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. 1:32:12 PM Senator Elton objected to note for the record the receipt of written testimony from Bob Loescher. Senator Elton removed his objection. 1:32:35 PM Co-Chair Stedman objected for discussion purposes. 1:32:40 PM Senator Dyson shared that the optometrist that he was a patient of has supported this proposal for several years. 1:32:55 PM Senator Olson asked if testimony would be taken at this hearing. 1:32:58 PM Co-Chair Stedman reminded that testimony had been received at the previous hearing on this bill. 1:33:01 PM Senator Olson commented on the "devastating effect", including blindness, of certain diseases that were not diagnosed early. 1:33:51 PM Co-Chair Stedman removed his objection to the motion to report the bill from Committee. Without further objection SCS CS HB 113(L&C) was REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE with zero fiscal note #1 from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.