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.