HB 324-VIOLENT CRIMES COMPENSATION BOARD MEMBERSHIP  9:05:23 AM CHAIR STOLTZE announced the consideration of HB 324. REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE LEDOUX, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that HB 324 amends the membership of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board in order to give the board flexibility in recruitment. She detailed that the board had problems recruiting for the medical doctor or osteopathic physician board member designation. She revealed that HB 324 would add either a physician assistant or advanced nurse practitioner to increase the pool of people. CHAIR STOLTZE asked if the change included retired physicians. 9:07:21 AM COURTNEY ENRIGHT, Staff, Representative LeDoux, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, replied that the change was just a wording change and the board had previously been allowed to have retired physicians. CHAIR STOLTZE asked if a doctor retired from active practice with a suspended license would qualify. REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX replied that membership currently reads "retired." She surmised that a retired doctor with a suspended license probably would not qualify. CHAIR STOLTZE specified that he meant voluntary license suspension, similar to suspending one's insurance. REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX answered correct. 9:08:57 AM GERAD GODFREY, Chairman, Violent Crimes Compensation Board, Anchorage, Alaska, stated that he would provide background information on what necessitated HB 324. He detailed that on three occasions during his 14-year tenure the board could not fill the statutorily-required seat for a medical doctor. He noted that the board has three members and a quorum was possible with two members, but a medically-trained person brought insight and experience to the meetings. He specified that a medically trained person could look at medical billing records, understand the scope of injuries from the crime, or identify individuals that use the incident to have the state pay for their prescription drug addiction. MR. GODFREY summarized that the board has experienced challenges in getting a practicing physician to commit the time required for the medical-doctor's board seat. He said expanding the scope of medical expertise that would be qualified to serve on the board would make it easier to find someone to commit the time. 9:13:55 AM CHAIR STOLTZE commended Dr. Regina Chennault for her past contribution as a board member for the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. 9:15:54 AM MR. GODFREY thanked Chair Stoltze for being an advocate for the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. 9:17:17 AM KATE HUDSON, Executive Director, Violent Crimes Compensation Board, Juneau, Alaska, concurred with Mr. Godfrey's testimony. CHAIR STOLTZE closed public testimony on HB 324. He asked Ms. Hudson to discuss the board's funding from the Permanent Fund and the possible funding impact from the proposed changes to the Permanent Fund. 9:19:00 AM MS. HUDSON acknowledged that funding does come from the Permanent Fund. She specified that the board has two funding sources: withheld dividends to incarcerated felons in addition to state and federal funding. She concurred that changes to the Permanent Fund dividend would impact the way the board was funded. She noted that the fiscal notes were indeterminate due to the various bills that affect the Permanent Fund. CHAIR STOLTZE pointed out that the bill has a zero-fiscal note. 9:21:14 AM SENATOR COGHILL moved to report the CS for HB 324(STA) from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero- fiscal note. 9:21:21 AM CHAIR STOLTZE announced that hearing no objection, CSSB 234(STA) moved from committee.