ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE  January 27, 2005 1:31 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Con Bunde, Chair Senator Ralph Seekins, Vice Chair Senator Johnny Ellis Senator Ben Stevens MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Bettye Davis COMMITTEE CALENDAR SENATE BILL NO. 2 "An Act relating to prerequisites for obtaining and recording a lien for payment of the contract price for labor or materials supplied for the construction, alteration, or repair of a building or improvement." SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD SENATE BILL NO. 42 "An Act extending the reporting date for and the termination date of the Task Force on Naturopathic Scope of Practice; and providing for an effective date." MOVED SB 42 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 42 SHORT TITLE: NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE TASK FORCE SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) SEEKINS 01/11/05 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 01/07/05 01/11/05 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/11/05 (S) L&C, FIN 01/27/05 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211 WITNESS REGISTER Mr. Joseph Michel Staff to Senator Seekins Alaska State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 42 for the sponsor. Ms. Kathleen Sweeney, ND Douglas AK POSITION STATEMENT: Present for SB 42.   ACTION NARRATIVE CHAIR CON BUNDE called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:31:39 PM. Senators Ellis, Stevens, Seekins and Chair Bunde were present. Senator Bettye Davis was absent. SB 42-NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE TASK FORCE    CHAIR CON BUNDE announce SB 42 to be up for consideration. 1:32:48 PM MR. JOSEPH MICHEL, staff to Senator Seekins, said SB 42 extends the termination date of the Naturopathic Task Force. It is a one-year extension of Senate Bill 306 that was passed last year establishing the task force. 1:33:11 PM MR. MICHEL listed the issues the task force was charged with studying: 1. the comparable education and training levels of naturopaths versus medical doctors; 2. the use of legend [potentially addictive drugs] and prescription drugs by naturopaths with respect to their scope of practice; 3. the non-pharmacological treatments by naturopaths including minor surgery; 4. collaborative protocols and agreements between naturopaths and medical doctors; 5. joint liability issues between collaborating practitioners; and 6. other issues of relevance. 1:33:40 PM He said the task force has nine members who met over the interim, but didn't have enough time to deal with all the issues. The reporting date is changed from December 1, 2004 to December 1, 2005 and the termination date is changed from February 1, 2005 to February 1, 2006. CHAIR BUNDE asked if there was a cost to running the task force. MR. MICHEL replied no. 1:34:18 PM CHAIR BUNDE noted that Kathleen Sweeney, ND was present as an observer. 1:34:37 PM SENATOR SEEKINS explained that the reason for the late start is because members were not appointed until late in the year and the subject is important and deserves adequate discussion among all the various players. Educational levels are being discussed while comparing curriculums and practical experience before a recommendation can be made. 1:35:44 PM CHAIR BUNDE humorously said he was breaking his rule of not passing things out in the first hearing, because discussion of the extension was dealt with adequately in one hearing. SENATOR SEEKINS moved to pass SB 42 from committee with individual recommendations and no fiscal notes. Senators Stevens, Ellis, Seekins and Chair Bunde voted yea; and SB 42 passed from committee. There being no further business to come before the committee, he adjourned the meeting at 1:37:32 PM.