HB 56-CONTROLLED SUB. DATA: EXEMPT ANIMAL RX  1:48:49 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 56 "An Act exempting controlled substances prescribed or dispensed by a veterinarian to treat an animal from the requirements of the controlled substance prescription database." He stated that this is the second hearing of this bill. The committee heard the Senate companion bill on March 24 and adopted a committee substitute. He noted that James Sexton would provide a brief recap of HB 56. 1:49:36 PM JAMES SEXTON, Staff, Representative Justin Ruffridge, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that HB 56 exempts veterinarians from the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). Currently, when pets are admitted as patients, veterinarians are required to review the human owner's personal medical history of pharmaceutical drug prescriptions and other information. Veterinarians are not trained in human medical information, medications, or correlating dosages. Veterinarians are not listed under privacy for HIPPA purposes. This bill would remove this burdensome requirement and address the corresponding privacy concerns. 1:50:53 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 56; finding none, he closed public testimony. 1:51:31 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt the Senate committee substitute (SCS) for HB 56, work order 33-LS0394\B, as the working document. CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion. 1:52:08 PM SENATOR BISHOP joined the meeting. 1:52:16 PM LAURA ACHEE, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the explanation of changes to the Senate committee substitute. She said the Senate committee substitute (SCS) is identical to the committee substitute adopted for the companion of this bill [CSSB 51 was adopted March 24, 2023]. This bill would expand statutory allowances for certification to allow veterinarians that haven't been qualified in the United States, but who are well-qualified and have alternative certifications to be certified to work in the state of Alaska. 1:53:21 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection and SCS for HB 56 was adopted as the working document. 1:53:30 PM At ease. 1:56:52 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting. SENATOR MERRICK joined the meeting. 1:57:12 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee. 1:57:15 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SCS HB 56, work order 33- LS0394\B, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 1:57:45 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SCS HB 56(L&C) was reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.