ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE  March 25, 2022 1:36 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Mia Costello, Chair Senator Peter Micciche Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Joshua Revak, Vice Chair Senator Gary Stevens COMMITTEE CALENDAR  Board of Massage Therapists Kelli Shew - Chugiak Amanda Nosich - Eagle River - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED 5/2/2022 Board of Chiropractic Examiners Dr. Walter Campbell - Palmer - CONFIRMATION ADVANCED 5/2/2022 SENATE BILL NO. 232 "An Act relating to employee intellectual property." - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD   PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  No previous action to record. WITNESS REGISTER KELLI SHEW, Appointee Board of Massage Therapists Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Chugiak, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of Massage Therapists. AMANDA NOSICH, Appointee Board of Massage Therapists Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of Massage Therapists. DR. WALTER CAMPBELL, Appointee Board of Chiropractic Examiners Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Palmer, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:36:11 PM CHAIR MIA COSTELLO called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:36 p.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Micciche, and Chair Costello. ^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S) CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)  Board of Massage Therapists  Board of Chiropractic Examiners     1:36:31 PM CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of Governor Appointees to Boards and Commissions. She asked each appointee to state their name, the board they are appointed to, whether this was a new or reappointment, and the seat to which they were appointed. She explained that she would hold the appointments today to move all the names the committee has considered at one time. She asked Kelli Shew to tell the committee about her interest in serving on the Board of Massage Therapists. 1:37:59 PM KELLI SHEW, Appointee, Board of Massage Therapists, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Chugiak, Alaska, stated that she is a new appointee. She has been a licensed massage therapist since 2008 and has worked in a variety of settings such as clinics, chiropractor offices, and spas. She has been an employee, self employed, and an independent contractor. She related her interest in serving is to protect both the public and therapists and to advance the practice of massage therapy. CHAIR COSTELLO asked what challenges she anticipates that massage therapists face coming out of COVID-19 and if she sees any other challenges. MS. SHEW replied many clients and massage therapists are eager to remove their masks, but it is important to determine that is the safest route because contact between the client and therapist is so close. The career field has grown in the last decade or so and massage therapists are now able to bill insurance companies for this service. This has benefited the profession but it is important that billings are done properly so the profession is not discredited. CHAIR COSTELLO thanked her for being willing to serve on the board. CHAIR COSTELLO asked Amanda Nosich to provide some background, tell the committee about her interest in serving on the Board of Massage Therapists, and whether this is a reappointment. 1:40:23 PM AMANDA NOSICH, Appointee, Board of Massage Therapists, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, stated that she has been a licensed massage therapist since 2003. She shared that she was part of the original team that "stormed the capital" and helped create the current law. She noted that she sat on the board for a while, but this was a new appointment. She expressed interest in streamlining the process so applicants receive their licenses more timely. She is also interested in working to have reciprocity between states. CHAIR COSTELLO noted that the committee is looking at a bill that is related to reciprocity. 1:41:32 PM SENATOR MICCICHE commented that using the term "storming the capitol" may not be as popular as it once was. MS. NOSICH thanked him for his candor. CHAIR COSTELLO admitted that she though about that too until it was clear that it was to work on the massage therapist legislation. She thanked Ms. Nosich for her willingness to serve. MS. NOSICH said she looked forward to serving once again. 1:42:09 PM CHAIR COSTELLO turned to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. She asked Dr. Walter Campbell to tell the committee about his interest in serving on the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. 1:42:26 PM DR. WALTER CAMPBELL, Appointee, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Palmer, Alaska, stated that he was honored to be asked to serve again. He is a lifelong Alaskan who previously served on the board for eight years. He has been practicing chiropractic for 17 years and is happy to serve the state in any capacity he can. CHAIR COSTELLO noted that the committee considered the board's extension and that bill was currently in Senate Finance. She asked if he had anything to add before she turned to public comment. DR. CAMPBELL offered to answer questions pertaining to the board based on his eight year's experience serving. He acknowledged that it had been a few years since he had any dealings with the current issues facing the board. 1:43:49 PM CHAIR COSTELLO offered her understanding that that the board does not have anything to do with investigations. It is the division? DR. CAMPBELL interjected that the division not only handles the investigation, but also bills the board for the division's time to conduct the investigation. The process is that one board member serves as a liaison then recuses him or herself if the investigation progresses to the point that the board has to adjudicate. CHAIR COSTELLO said the committee is aware that the board is in a hands-off position until there are more details. She explained that the shorter extension for the board is for the protection of the public, the division, and the department. She said she believes the committee made that clear when it heard the sunset bill for the board. DR. CAMPBELL said he would like that topic explored more thoroughly. He related that when he previously served for eight years the board was intimately involved with the national board. He learned that Alaska ranks number one for few board complaints about licensees. CHAIR COSTELLO clarified that the audit did not look at complaints against the board; it was an Alaskan that filed a complaint about a chiropractor. She thanked him for being willing to serve. DR. CAMPBELL restated that he was honored to be considered. 1:46:19 PM CHAIR COSTELLO opened public testimony on the appointment of Kelli Shew and Amanda Nosich to the Board of Massage Therapists, and the appointment of Dr. Walter Campbell to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Finding none, she closed public testimony. She stated that the names would be forwarded for consideration by the full legislature. 1:47:13 PM SENATOR MICCICHE thanked the chair for mentioning that all the names considered by this committee were being held and would be forwarded in one batch for consideration by the full body. CHAIR COSTELLO offered her understanding that the joint session would be April 13. At that time the Senate Secretary would name each appointee. 1:48:32 PM There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Costello adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting at 1:48 p.m.