ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE  March 11, 2015 1:31 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Bert Stedman, Chair Senator Cathy Giessel, Vice Chair Senator Pete Kelly Senator Bill Stoltze Senator Johnny Ellis MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR  SENATE BILL NO. 18 "An Act exempting a health care sharing ministry from regulation as an insurer." - MOVED SB 18 OUT OF COMMITTEE SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 1 "An Act prohibiting smoking in certain places; relating to education on the smoking prohibition; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED CSSSSB 1 (HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 18 SHORT TITLE: HEALTH CARE SHARE MINISTRY NOT INSURANCE SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) COGHILL 01/21/15 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/16/15 01/21/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/21/15 (S) HSS, L&C 02/18/15 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 02/18/15 (S) Heard & Held 02/18/15 (S) MINUTE(HSS) 03/11/15 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 BILL: SB 1 SHORT TITLE: REGULATION OF SMOKING SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MICCICHE 01/21/15 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/15 01/21/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/21/15 (S) HSS, STA, FIN 01/30/15 (S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS 01/30/15 (S) HSS, STA, FIN 02/11/15 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 02/11/15 (S) Heard & Held 02/11/15 (S) MINUTE(HSS) 03/11/15 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 WITNESS REGISTER SENATOR PETER MICCICHE Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska, POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 1. CHUCK KOPP, Staff Senator Peter Micciche Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska  POSITION STATEMENT: Explained changes in Version I of SB 1. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:31:18 PM CHAIR BERT STEDMAN called the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Ellis, Stoltz, Kelly, Giessel, and Chair Stedman. SB 18-HEALTH CARE SHARE MINISTRY NOT INSURANCE  1:31:53 PM CHAIR STEDMAN announced the consideration of SB 18. He related that the bill was previously heard by the committee and there was public testimony. The bill defines what health care sharing ministries are - faith-based non-profits with participants who share in medical expenses accordingly to their religious beliefs and who provide and share in contributions to financial and medical needs of members. Such entities should be exempt from regulation as insurance. There are no promises to pay a certain amount, assumption of risk, or having to make payment as an insurance industry. CHAIR STEDMAN asked if there were any questions for the bill sponsor. Seeing none, he requested a motion. 1:32:55 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SB 18, version H, from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. There being no objection, the motion carried. SB 1-REGULATION OF SMOKING  1:33:24 PM CHAIR STEDMAN announced the consideration of SB 1. He said it is the second hearing of the bill and there has been public testimony. He noted there is a new committee substitute (CS) before the committee. SENATOR KELLY moved to adopt CS for SSSB 1, labeled 29-LS0003\I, as the working document. CHAIR STEDMAN objected for discussion purposes. SENATOR PETER MICCICHE, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB 1, thanked the committee for hearing the bill. He said he remains supportive of the bill because it recognizes the very adverse effects of secondhand smoke, especially on Alaska's workers. He suggested that the bill would evolve throughout the bill process. CHUCK KOPP, Staff, Senator Peter Micciche, Alaska State Legislature, explained changes in Version I of SB 1. He said the first change is on page 3, line 24, where the definition of prohibition of smoking was amended to allow a smoking area at Alaska International Airport System airports for in-transit passengers. The second change is on page 4, line 5, and amends the definitions of marine vessels used as a place of employment to also include any vessels engaged in commercial or sport charter fishing. The third change is on page 4, line 6, and deletes the exemption for "private club". The sponsor was unable to find any specific private club that met the parameters of the exact definition in the bill. The fourth change on page 4, line 8, was recommended by the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee. It deletes "may" and inserts "shall" as it applies to requiring the commissioner to adopt regulations authorizing smoking in a stand-alone shelter. The fifth change is on page 5, lines 24-26, and amends the non- retaliation section to remove the reference to applicants and limits the applicability of this section to employees. The last change is on page 6, line 29, and deletes all of the references to citations and fines from peace officers because they are found elsewhere in the bill, and it removes the heavy- handed approach to have officers write tickets. 1:39:56 PM CHAIR STEDMAN removed his objection. Seeing no further objection, version I was adopted. SENATOR STOLTZE said he has many concerns about the bill, but will deal with them in the next committee. CHAIR STEDMAN said the bill goes to State Affairs next. 1:41:05 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report CSSSSB 1(HSS) from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. There being no objection, the motion carried. 1:42:08 PM There being nothing further to come before the committee, Chair Stedman adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee at 1:42 p.m.