SB 91 PHYSICAL THERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY  CHAIRMAN LEMAN announced SB 91 to be up for consideration. MR. WELKER said it proposes two basic changes to statute. Section 1 has the extension date of 2003. Section 2 makes a minor correction change to the requirements for licensure. Statute requires that applicants pass an oral examination, for which English must be understood, administered by a Board member. These tests were being administered to Canadians who mostly speak English which seemed a little excessive. It was thought best to leave it to the discretion of the Board. SENATOR MACKIE moved on page 1, line 7 to delete "2003" and insert "2001." There were no objections and it was so adopted. MS. MARY VEALE, Alaska Chapter of the Physical Therapy Association, supported SB 91. MS. PAULINE BENNETT-GANNON, Occupational Therapist, testified that she had drafted amendments to SB 91 and reviewed them for the Committee. She said they didn't need the AMA information because AMA no longer approves the curriculum for occupational or physical therapists. It is now done by the American Occupational Therapy Association and the American Physical Therapy Association. MR. SEETHALER said he had no problems with the changes to the bill suggested by Ms. Bennett-Gannon. MS. REARDON said she also had no problems with the suggested changes. MR. WELKER said that he was neutral. SENATOR MACKIE moved to adopt amendment #2, adding Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants to the title amendment. There were no objections and it was so adopted. SENATOR MACKIE asked if amendment #3 changed the requirement to one accreditation of either the AMA or the Occupational Association. He moved to adopt the amendment. There were no objections and it was so adopted. TAPE 97-12, SIDE B SENATOR MACKIE moved to adopt amendment #4. MS. REARDON said the Department suggested, in response to the audit, that requiring the test of English, in case someone is denied a license after an interview at which the Board just said they didn't think they could effectively speak English, is better than having the Board giving an oral exam. An oral test is very subjective and there may be challenges. She noted that there are very few of our occupations for which the ability to speak English is required. It's not mentioned of doctors and dentists. SENATOR MACKIE said if they were challenged because they denied a license to someone who couldn't communicate with their patients, he would welcome that. CHAIRMAN LEMAN said he thought this was something the Board could deal with by regulation if it wanted to identify how it conducts that interview and what procedure is used. There were no objections to amendment #4 and it was so adopted. SENATOR MACKIE moved to adopt amendment #5. There were no objections and it was so adopted. SENATOR MACKIE moved to pass CSSB 91(L&C) from Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying $0 fiscal note. There were no objections and it was so ordered.