CHAIRMAN RIEGER introduced  SB 298  (LICENSING OF PHYSICIANS) as the     e    
 last order of business before the committee.  He pointed out that             
 this bill had been requested by members of the State Medical Board.           
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN RIEGER moved to adopt Amendment 1.                                   
                                                                               
  AMENDMENT 1                                                                
                                                                               
 Page 1, lines 5-6:                                                            
  Delete " the board's designated representative "                           
  Insert " by a licensed physician designated for that purpose by             
  the board "                                                                 
                                                                               
 SENATOR ELLIS objected for purposes of discussion.  He inquired as            
 to whose concerns Amendment 1 addressed; Dr. Rowan or the State               
 Medical Board.                                                                
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN explained that Amendment 1 clarifies that the                   
 individual designated by the board would be a licensed physician              
 which was the board's intent.                                                 
                                                                               
 Hearing no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN RIEGER moved to adopt Amendment 2.                                   
                                                                               
  AMENDMENT 2                                                                
                                                                               
 Page 1, line 1, after " Board ":                                              
  Insert " and temporary permits for certain optometrists "                    
                                                                               
 Page 2, after line 2:                                                         
  Insert a new bill section to read:                                           
  " *Sec. 3.  AS 08.72 is amended by adding a new section to read:             
   Sec. 08.72.172. PERMIT FOR LOCUM TENENS PRACTICE. (a) A                     
  member of the board may issue a temporary permit to a                        
  nonresident optometrist for the purpose of assisting or                      
  substituting for an optometrist licensed under this chapter.                 
  The office employing an optometrist with a permit under this                 
  section must be an established practice, as determined under                 
  regulations adopted by the board, and be owned by a licensed                 
  optometrist whose practice is full time.                                     
   (b) A permit issued under this section is valid for 60                      
  consecutive days and may be renewed up to three times within                 
  a 12-month period if circumstances warrant.  Permits issued                  
  under this section are not valid for more than 240 consecutive               
  days of practice within a 12-month period.                                   
   (c) A person who applies for a permit under this section                    
  shall pay the required fee and furnish proof of                              
    (1) meeting the requirements of AS 08.72.140; and                          
    (2) holding a valid license to practice optometry                          
  issued by a state or territory of the United States or by a                  
  province or territory of Canada.                                             
   (d) Within 10 days after a permit has been issued under                     
  this section, the board member shall forward to the department               
  a report of the issuance of the permit."                                     
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER objected for purposes of discussion.                           
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN RIEGER explained that Amendment 2 would allow optometrists           
 to have temporary permits similar to what exists for physicians.              
 SENATOR MILLER removed his objection.                                         
                                                                               
 Hearing no objection, Amendment 2 was adopted.                                
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER moved SB 298 as amended out of committee with                  
 individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so                  
 ordered.