SENATE BILL NO. 36 "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Nursing; and providing for an effective date." 9:28:24 AM SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, SPONSOR, explained the legislation. 9:34:41 AM KRIS CURTIS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, ALASKA DIVISION OF LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, addressed the audit included in the members' packets. 9:40:40 AM Senator Micciche noted the gaps in the basic business practices. He wondered who could suggest some solutions to the ongoing management issues. He noted that the reduction in the timeline process was to provide additional oversight, and queried the criteria. Ms. Curtis replied that it was an inexact science. She remarked that there was an examination of the materiality and severity of each recommendation. Co-Chair von Imhof felt that Mr. LaFleur could address questions about the inner management of the board. 9:44:40 AM JOE LEFLEUR, ACTING CHAIR, ALASKA BOARD OF NURSING, introduced himself. Senator Wielechowski restated hid question pertaining to funding and a downtrend in the surplus. He wondered about increased fees for telehealth. Mr. LeFleur responded that he had been in discussions about the issue with a company in Texas that wanted to do business in Alaska, but that company did not have the appropriate license to practice in Alaska. He stated that there was further review, and it was moved to the board that dealt with licenses. Senator Wielechowski asked whether telehealth was increasing the workload. He wondered whether there were discussions about increasing the fees for telehealth nurses. Mr. LeFleur responded that the desire was for the provider to be licensed in Alaska for Alaskan patients. Senator Wielechowski wondered whether there should be a separate classification for telehealth nurses to pay for the increased cost. Mr. LeFleur stated that if the cost went to the nurse's employer there would be another board required. Senator Wielechowski felt that incurring costs because of extra work, then the board could charge a fee for a possible new classification. Mr. LeFleur replied in the negative, because there was not jurisdiction. Co-Chair von Imhof wondered how many of the 19,000 nurses were Alaskan residents and living outside, but licensed in Alaska. 9:50:43 AM Senator Wielechowski queried the reason for the high turnover on the Board of Nursing, and its impact. Mr. LeFleur stated that he was brought to the Board in 2017, and there was a major turnover of six people, so he was the only one left of seven. He remarked that the Board was experiencing growing pains. Co-Chair von Imhof queried closing comments. Mr. LeFleur explained the Board's purpose. Senator Wielechowski remarked that the Board response to the audit recommendations stated that the November 2018 meeting would not adjourn until telehealth regulations were developed and read into the Board minutes. He queried the status of those regulations. Mr. LeFleur the regulations were developed, and due to a snafu, the Board took public testimony. The Department of Law would vote on the issue. Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED public testimony. 9:54:12 AM BETH FARNSTROM, PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES DIRECTOR ALASKA NURSES ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. Co-Chair von Imhof CLOSED public testimony. 9:55:47 AM SARA CHAMBERS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, addressed some of Senator Wielechowski's questions. Senator Wielechowski wondered how the Board would meet when six of the seven positions were vacant. Ms. Chambers replied that six new members were appointed by the administration, but the Board had not met since the appointments. Senator Micciche wondered whether the Boards were examined in between the renewal times. He queried the plan for the legislature to be comfortable by the department to encourage improvements in a relatively short timeline. Ms. Chambers replied that the findings were already resolved from the audit. The audit was almost a year old. Senator Micciche wondered how the lost documentation would be remedied. Ms. Chambers assured the committee that it would not happen again. Co-Chair von Imhof requested fiscal note information. Ms. Chambers explained the fiscal note. Co-Chair von Imhof announced that amendments were due by 5pm on Monday, March 4. SB 36 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration.