HB 24-LIST U-47700 AS A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE  1:54:17 PM CHAIR COGHILL announced the consideration of HB 24 and solicited a motion to adopt the proposed Senate committee substitute (CS). 1:54:36 PM SENATOR COSTELLO moved to adopt the Senate CS for CS for HB 24, version 30-LS0260\J, as the working document. CHAIR COGHILL objected for an explanation and the introduction of the bill. 1:55:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE CHARISSE MILLETT, sponsor of HB 24, said she understands that the new CS adds language to add tramadol to the list of schedule IVA controlled substances. This was recommended in the report from the Controlled Substance Advisory Committee (CSAC) that directed including U-47700 in the schedule I category. This aligns the intent of the CSAC recommendations and the intent of the legislature in establishing the CSAC. She continued to introduce HB 24 speaking to the following sponsor statement: U-47700, also known by the street name "Pink" is a synthetic opioid responsible for the overdose deaths of at least 46 people nationwide since 2015. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reports the drug is linked to three deaths here in Alaska. U-47700 can come in either powder form or tablets and is abused in the same manner as heroin and prescription opioids. The US Drug Enforcement Division decided late last year that the substance was so dangerous it posed an immediate threat to public safety and classified U- 47700 as a schedule 1 substance, a category of drugs that have no accepted medical use and pose an extremely high risk of abuse. Examples of other schedule 1 drugs include heroin and LSD. The DEA believes the drug is manufactured in illegal laboratories overseas, meaning its purity and quality are unknown and extremely dangerous to anyone that decides to use it. Samples of U-47700 have been found to be up to 800 percent more potent than heroin. House Bill 24 lists U-47700 as a schedule 1 controlled substance in Alaska statutes (AS 11.71.140(c)). This will be an important tool for Alaska law enforcement officers and prosecutors to arrest and prosecute individuals using or distributing this dangerous drug and protect Alaskans from the latest form of highly addictive and potentially fatal synthetic heroin. CHAIR COGHILL advised that in Section 2 starting on page 4, line 31, the Senate CS adds a new subsection that includes tramadol in the list of schedule IVA controlled substances. He noted that Senator Meyer introduced a similar bill but it's not as far along in the process. He asked Senator Meyer if he supports this version of HB 24 or if additions are needed. 1:58:40 PM SENATOR MEYER said version J aligns with the Senate bill the committee heard. He asked the sponsor why she didn't include tramadol in the initial version of HB 24. REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT said some House members were hesitant to put tramadol on the schedule of controlled substances because it is so highly prescribed as a pain medication. After she and her staff had additional conversations with House members about over prescribing and the dangers of tramadol, there seems to be a greater level of comfort having it on the schedule. CHAIR COGHILL asked if she agrees with the Senate CS. REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT answered yes. 2:00:06 PM CHAIR COGHILL removed his objection and version J was adopted. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the broad language in Section 2 could unintentionally sweep in other legal substances that contain trace amounts of the chemical compounds mentioned. REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT explained that the language is intended to encompass any molecular formula changes within Pink or tramadol. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if legislative legal counsel was available. CHAIR COGHILL asked Mr. Foster from the Crime Lab to address the question. 2:01:44 PM CHARLES FOSTER, Forensic Scientist and Chemistry Supervisor, State Crime Laboratory, Department of Public Safety, Anchorage, Alaska, advised that that wording is fairly like what the Drug Enforcement Agency uses. He said his interpretation is that it only covers tramadol, not other analogs. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he wants to be certain that the language doesn't make an otherwise legal substance illegal. He read the language in subsection (g) on page 5 and asked if he is aware of any legal substances that might contain trace amounts of the substance mentioned. MR. FOSTER answered no; that language is used in a lot of the legal wording of controlled substances. It is addressing the same chemical in its different forms. "It's addressing tramadol only in this case. It's not going to be addressing some other chemical that is currently not tramadol," he said. CHAIR COGHILL found no further questions and asked the will of the committee. 2:04:02 PM SENATOR MEYER stated support for moving the bill. SENATOR COSTELLO moved to report the SCS for CSHB 24, version 30-LS0260\J, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR COGHILL announced that without objection, SCS CSHB 24(JUD) is reported from the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.