ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE  March 27, 2014 1:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Mike Dunleavy, Chair Senator Donald Olson Senator Bert Stedman Senator Johnny Ellis MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Peter Micciche, Vice Chair COMMITTEE CALENDAR  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 269(JUD) "An Act relating to immunity for health care providers who provide health care services voluntarily and without pay; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED CSHB 269(JUD) OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE BILL NO. 183 "An Act extending the termination date of the emerging energy technology fund and grant program." - MOVED SB 183 OUT OF COMMITTEE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 167(RLS) "An Act relating to the regulation of architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects." - MOVED CSHB 167(RLS) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 183 SHORT TITLE: EXTEND EMERGING ENERGY TECHNOLOGY FUND SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MCGUIRE 02/19/14 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/19/14 (S) L&C 03/20/14 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 03/20/14 (S) Heard & Held 03/20/14 (S) MINUTE(L&C) 03/27/14 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) BILL: HB 269 SHORT TITLE: IMMUNITY FOR VOL. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) THOMPSON 01/21/14 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/21/14 (H) HSS, JUD 02/13/14 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106 02/13/14 (H) Moved CSHB 269(HSS) Out of Committee 02/13/14 (H) MINUTE(HSS) 02/17/14 (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) NT 5DP 02/17/14 (H) DP: SEATON, PRUITT, KELLER, TARR, HIGGINS 02/26/14 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 02/26/14 (H) Heard & Held 02/26/14 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 02/28/14 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 02/28/14 (H) Moved CSHB 269(JUD) Out of Committee 02/28/14 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 03/03/14 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/03/14 (H) Moved CSHB 269(JUD) Out of Committee 03/03/14 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 03/05/14 (H) JUD RPT CS(JUD) NT 7DP 03/05/14 (H) DP: MILLETT, LEDOUX, PRUITT, FOSTER, GRUENBERG, LYNN, KELLER 03/14/14 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 03/14/14 (H) VERSION: CSHB 269(JUD) 03/17/14 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/17/14 (S) L&C 03/25/14 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 03/25/14 (S) Heard & Held 03/25/14 (S) MINUTE(L&C) 03/27/14 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) BILL: HB 167 SHORT TITLE: ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, SURVEYORS SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE 03/15/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/15/13 (H) L&C 03/29/13 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/29/13 (H) Moved Out of Committee 03/29/13 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 04/01/13 (H) L&C RPT 3DP 2NR 04/01/13 (H) DP: SADDLER, JOSEPHSON, OLSON 04/01/13 (H) NR: CHENAULT, REINBOLD 04/09/13 (H) RLS TO CALENDAR PENDING REPORT 04/09/13 (H) IN RULES 04/09/13 (H) RLS RPT CS(RLS) 3DP 3NR 04/09/13 (H) DP: OLSON, GRUENBERG, JOHNSON 04/09/13 (H) NR: HERRON, CHENAULT, HAWKER 04/09/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 04/09/13 (H) VERSION: CSHB 167(RLS) 04/09/13 (H) RLS AT 9:30 AM CAPITOL 120 04/09/13 (H) Moved CSHB 167(RLS) Out of Committee 04/09/13 (H) MINUTE(RLS) 04/10/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/10/13 (S) L&C 02/11/14 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 02/11/14 (S) Heard & Held 02/11/14 (S) MINUTE(L&C) 03/27/14 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 269. JANE PIERSON, Staff Representative Steve Thompson Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information on HB 269. DR. DAVID LOGAN, DDS Alaska Dental Society Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to HB 269. JESSE LOGAN, Staff Senator Lesil McGuire Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Summarized SB 183 on behalf of the sponsor. ANNA LATHAM, Staff Representative Kurt Olson Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 167 on behalf of the sponsor. ACTION NARRATIVE  1:30:55 PM CHAIR MIKE DUNLEAVY called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Stedman, Ellis, Olson, and Chair Dunleavy. HB 269-IMMUNITY FOR VOL. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER  1:31:50 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of HB 269. REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 269, explained that the bill gives immunity to volunteer health care providers, especially dentists, who are planning to participate in the Mission of Mercy. 1:32:58 PM SENATOR OLSON asked if other states provide free health care by licensed providers. REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON explained that the Mission of Mercy started about 13 years ago in one of the southern states and has expanded across the country. This is the first time it will be held in Alaska. Plans are to do follow-ups next year in Fairbanks and Anchorage. Over 200 dentists are signed up to participate. SENATOR OLSON asked if there have been complaints of any kind in other states. REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON said he has not heard of any complaints. JANE PIERSON, Staff, Representative Steve Thompson, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, suggested Dr. Logan answer the question. 1:34:26 PM DR. DAVID LOGAN, DDS, Alaska Dental Society, Juneau, Alaska, introduced himself. SENATOR OLSON asked if there have been any complaints that would give rise to the need for this immunity. DR. LOGAN said there have been no complaints, just the opposite. People are grateful for the services and follow-up care is provided for 30 days. SENATOR OLSON asked if there has been any morbidity related to double extractions and abscesses. DR. LOGAN said no. For the most part, dentists doing those procedures are oral surgeons who manage cases very thoroughly. CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened and closed public testimony. 1:37:28 PM SENATOR STEDMAN moved to report CS for HB 269 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that without objection, CSHB 269(JUD) was reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee. 1:37:47 PM At ease SB 183-EXTEND EMERGING ENERGY TECHNOLOGY FUND  1:39:27 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SB 183. He said it was the second hearing on the bill. JESSE LOGAN, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, summarized SB 183 on behalf of the sponsor. He read from the following: SB 183 seeks to move the termination date of the Emerging Energy Technology Fund from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2020. The Fund was created in AS 42.45.375 under the Alaska Sustainable Energy Act to promote the expansion of energy sources available to all Alaskans. With a matching grant from the Denali Commission, a total of $8.9 million was available. Round one is underway and round two is expected to have approximately $2 million available for funds. It is not an angel fund; it is designed for projects that are still in the research and development phase with the expectation that they will be available for commercially ready projects within five years. EMILY FORD, Public Outreach Liaison, Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), Anchorage, Alaska, offered to answer questions. 1:40:41 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened and closed public testimony. 1:41:19 PM SENATOR STEDMAN moved to report SB 183 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that without objection, SB 183 was reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee. 1:41:30 PM At ease HB 167-ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, SURVEYORS  1:42:46 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of HB 167. It is the second hearing on the bill. ANNA LATHAM, Staff, Representative Kurt Olson, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented HB 167 on behalf of the sponsor. She explained that the bill is an Act relating to the regulation of architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects. It is a housekeeping bill and all changes were brought forth by their board. It requires registrants to sign the seals on documents instead of stamping the documents, signing and indicating which portion of the documents they are taking credit for. It requires documents containing multiple fields of practice to be sealed and signed by each registrant and it adds definitions. She noted the bill passed the House last year by a vote of 29:0 and it was previously heard by this committee on February 11, 2014. CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if there were any questions. 1:44:34 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened and closed public testimony. 1:45:12 PM SENATOR STEDMAN moved to report CS for HB 167, Version N, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that without objection, CSHB 167(RLS) was reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee. 1:45:29 PM There being nothing further to come before the committee, Chair Dunleavy adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee at 1:45 p.m.