SENATE BILL NO. 55 "An Act extending the termination date of the State Medical Board; and providing for an effective date." 9:54:05 AM SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, SPONSOR, introduced himself. 9:54:39 AM KALI SPENCER, STAFF, SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI, stated that SB 55 extended the termination date of the State Medical Board to June 30, 2031. She stated that the recommendation came from an audit performed by Legislative Audit. 9:57:43 AM SYLVAN ROBB, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, stated that there was a small fiscal note that reflected the continued costs to the State Medical Board. Co-Chair Olson asked about the significance and cost of investigations. Ms. Robb responded that investigation costs were not within the fiscal note. She stated that the governors budget proposed changing the investigation fund source. Co-Chair Olson spoke of the cost of investigations. He asked about the current number of investigations. Ms. Robb said that the fiscal note reflected the cost of running the board. 10:00:07 AM KRIS CURTIS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, JUNEAU, spoke to the sunset audit of the board. 10:04:17 AM AT EASE 10:04:56 AM RECONVENED Co-Chair Olson OPENED and CLOSED public testimony. Senator Wielechowski stated that he did not have further comments. Ms. Spencer thanked the committee. 10:05:41 AM Senator Wilson recalled that there was a new cost shift for investigations and wondered whether a percentage of the fee could be used for investigations. He felt that shifting the entire cost to UGF might be too great. Ms. Robb stated that the investigative fees would be for the 21 boards that were covered by the Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing. She shared that the percentage had been examined in the past, such as the Board of Midwives. She stressed that spreading the set fee for every licensee, was because of the differential of the number of licensees. Senator Wilson felt that determining a fee to cover investigations would not be impossible. Ms. Robb replied that she could examine a way to determine the fee. Senator Wilson felt that maybe there could be a nominal fee to offset that cost. Co-Chair Olson wondered whether the State Medical Board still had a long wait period to receive a license. Ms. Robb replied that the current licensing time was approximately eight to ten weeks. 10:10:56 AM Co-Chair Olson wondered whether the delay was related to podiatrists and physicians assistants. Ms. Robb agreed to provide that information. SB 55 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration.