SB 126-VISITING PHYSICIANS WITH SPORTS TEAMS  1:03:15 PM CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of SB 126. 1:03:36 PM SENATOR ANNA MACKINNON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 126, introduced the legislation speaking to the following sponsor statement: Competitive sports teams typically have a team physician who provides care for the athletes. When the team travels out of state, the physician often accompanies them. However, if an athlete is injured or needs a prescription filled while traveling in Alaska, the team physician would not be able to provide care without being licensed here. Senate Bill 126 would provide an exemption for state licensure for this narrow circumstance. The physician would have to be licensed to practice medicine in another state, under a written contract to provide care to an athletic team in that state and would be limited to providing services to members of the team while they are traveling or participating in a sporting event in Alaska. The bill is a narrow solution to a specific problem. Thirty-five other states have passed similar legislation to ensure that the doctors who know their patients best can continue to treat them. SENATOR MACKINNON summarized that this is a simple policy decision to allow sports team members from out of state to be treated by their team physician when they're traveling in Alaska. 1:04:49 PM SENATOR GARDNER asked if she'd heard any opposition to the bill. SENATOR MACKINNON answered no and noted a new letter of support in the packets. SENATOR MICCICHE pointed out that the physician must have a written agreement with the team. SENATOR MACKINNON agreed. 1:05:41 PM CHAIR COSTELLO opened public testimony on SB 126. 1:05:58 PM DR. JEFF MOORE, Orthopedic Physician and National Delegate, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 126. He reported that 35 states have passed similar legislation and 13 states, including Alaska, have it under consideration. He opined that it would be very beneficial if team physicians could take care of their own athletes when they visit Alaska. CHAIR COSTELLO asked, should the bill pass, if the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development would have any involvement with the visiting physician. 1:07:17 PM DEBORA STOVERN, Executive Administrator, State Medical Board, Division of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, replied the State Medical Board may need to adopt regulations to implement the bill and the department supports the board in those endeavors. SENATOR MICCICHE observed that the fiscal note reflects that this is a receipt supported service and therefore a net zero to the state. CHAIR COSTELLO asked Senator MacKinnon if she wished to comment on the fiscal note that reflects $2,500 for a regulations project. SENATOR MACKINNON expressed appreciation that DCCED submitted a fiscal note after multiple requests. She agreed that the fiscal impact is net zero and opined that the bill could be referred to finance. 1:10:00 PM CHAIR COSTELLO closed public testimony on SB 126. SENATOR MEYER asked if one team doctor is prohibited from helping another team doctor in the event of injury. DR MOORE said local doctors would be available to help visiting team doctors. 1:11:41 PM SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report SB 126 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR COSTELLO stated that without objection, SB 126 moved from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.