ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
May 3, 2024
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Chair
Senator Click Bishop, Vice Chair
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Forrest Dunbar
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Kelly Merrick
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 225
"An Act relating to occupational licensing fees; and providing
for an effective date."
- MOVED SB 225 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 253
"An Act relating to refrigerants designated as acceptable for
use under federal law."
- MOVED HB 253 OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 17(HSS) AM(EFD FLD)
"An Act relating to insurance coverage for contraceptives and
related services; and relating to medical assistance coverage
for contraceptives and related services."
- MOVED SCS CSHB 17(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 237
"An Act relating to temporary permits for nurses with lapsed
licenses."
- MOVED HB 237 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 309
"An Act relating to the practice of optometry; and relating to
the delegation of routine services of optometry."
- MOVED HB 309 OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 254(JUD) AM
"An Act relating to minors and the Internet; and relating to use
of social media by minors."
- MOVED SCS CSHB 254(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 225
SHORT TITLE: OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING FEES
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
02/12/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/12/24 (S) L&C, FIN
03/15/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/15/24 (S) Heard & Held
03/15/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/03/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/03/24 (S) Moved SB 225 Out of Committee
05/03/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
BILL: HB 253
SHORT TITLE: FEDERALLY DESIGNATED REFRIGERANTS
SPONSOR(s): WRIGHT
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) L&C
02/14/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/14/24 (H) Moved HB 253 Out of Committee
02/14/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
02/15/24 (H) L&C RPT 6DP
02/15/24 (H) DP: CARRICK, SADDLER, PRAX, RUFFRIDGE,
FIELDS, SUMNER
03/28/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/28/24 (H) VERSION: HB 253
04/02/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/02/24 (S) L&C
04/19/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/19/24 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/22/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/22/24 (S) Heard & Held
04/22/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/03/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 17
SHORT TITLE: CONTRACEPTIVES COVERAGE:INSURE;MED ASSIST
SPONSOR(s): CARRICK
01/19/23 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/23
01/19/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/23 (H) HSS, CRA, L&C, FIN
02/07/23 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
02/07/23 (H) Heard & Held
02/07/23 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
02/18/23 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
02/18/23 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/02/23 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
03/02/23 (H) Moved CSHB 17(HSS) Out of Committee
03/02/23 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/07/23 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
03/07/23 (H) Moved CSHB 17(HSS) Out of Committee
03/07/23 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/08/23 (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 3DP 2NR
03/08/23 (H) DP: RUFFRIDGE, SUMNER, MINA
03/08/23 (H) NR: SADDLER, PRAX
03/16/23 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/16/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/16/23 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/17/23 (H) FIN REFERRAL REMOVED
03/17/23 (H) BILL REPRINTED
03/21/23 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/21/23 (H) Moved CSHB 17(HSS) Out of Committee
03/21/23 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/22/23 (H) CRA RPT CS(HSS) 5DP 1NR
03/22/23 (H) DP: HIMSCHOOT, MEARS, MCKAY, RUFFRIDGE,
MCCORMICK
03/22/23 (H) NR: MCCABE
03/27/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/27/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/27/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/31/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/31/23 (H) Moved CSHB 17(HSS) Out of Committee
03/31/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/03/23 (H) L&C RPT CS(HSS) 2DP 3NR
04/03/23 (H) DP: CARRICK, SUMNER
04/03/23 (H) NR: RUFFRIDGE, PRAX, WRIGHT
05/17/23 (H) ADJOURNED - ON 1/16/2024 CALENDAR
01/16/24 (H) RETURNED TO RLS COMMITTEE
03/22/24 (H) CALL FOR THE QUESTION
03/22/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/22/24 (H) VERSION: CSHB 17(HSS) AM(EFD FLD)
03/25/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/25/24 (S) HSS, L&C
04/16/24 (S) HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/16/24 (S) Heard & Held
04/16/24 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
04/23/24 (S) HSS AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/23/24 (S) Moved SCS CSHB 17(HSS) Out of Committee
04/23/24 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
04/24/24 (S) HSS RPT SCS 4DP 1AM TECHNICAL TITLE
CHANGE
04/24/24 (S) AM: WILSON
04/24/24 (S) DP: TOBIN, KAUFMAN, GIESSEL, DUNBAR
04/29/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/29/24 (S) Heard & Held
04/29/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/03/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 237
SHORT TITLE: TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR LAPSED NURSE LICENSE
SPONSOR(s): PRAX
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) L&C
02/02/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/02/24 (H) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 02/05/24>
02/05/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/05/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/05/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
02/19/24 (H) L&C AT 4:15 PM BARNES 124
02/19/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/26/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/26/24 (H) Moved HB 237 Out of Committee
02/26/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/01/24 (H) L&C RPT 5DP 1NR
03/01/24 (H) DP: CARRICK, PRAX, WRIGHT, RUFFRIDGE,
SUMNER
03/01/24 (H) NR: FIELDS
03/13/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/13/24 (H) VERSION: HB 237
03/15/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/15/24 (S) L&C
05/01/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/01/24 (S) Heard & Held
05/01/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/03/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 309
SHORT TITLE: DELEGATION OF ROUTINE OPTOMETRY SERVICES
SPONSOR(s): RUFFRIDGE
02/07/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/07/24 (H) HSS, L&C
03/21/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
03/21/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/21/24 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/28/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
03/28/24 (H) Moved HB 309 Out of Committee
03/28/24 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
04/01/24 (H) HSS RPT 3DP 2NR
04/01/24 (H) DP: RUFFRIDGE, MCCORMICK, PRAX
04/01/24 (H) NR: FIELDS, MINA
04/08/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/08/24 (H) Heard & Held
04/08/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/12/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/12/24 (H) Moved HB 309 Out of Committee
04/12/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/15/24 (H) L&C RPT 4DP 2NR
04/15/24 (H) DP: PRAX, WRIGHT, RUFFRIDGE, SUMNER
04/15/24 (H) NR: CARRICK, FIELDS
04/24/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/24/24 (H) VERSION: HB 309
04/26/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/26/24 (S) L&C
05/01/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/01/24 (S) Heard & Held
05/01/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/03/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 254
SHORT TITLE: BLOCK PORNOGRAPHY TO MINORS; SOCIAL MEDIA
SPONSOR(s): VANCE
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) L&C, JUD
01/31/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
01/31/24 (H) Heard & Held
01/31/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/06/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/06/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/06/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/11/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/11/24 (H) Moved HB 254 Out of Committee
03/11/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/13/24 (H) L&C RPT 1DP 1DNP 3NR 1AM
03/13/24 (H) DP: SADDLER
03/13/24 (H) DNP: CARRICK
03/13/24 (H) NR: PRAX, WRIGHT, RUFFRIDGE
03/13/24 (H) AM: FIELDS
03/13/24 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/13/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/13/24 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
03/15/24 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/15/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/15/24 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
03/18/24 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/18/24 (H) Moved CSHB 254(JUD) Out of Committee
03/18/24 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
03/20/24 (H) JUD RPT CS(JUD) 4DP 1DNP 1NR
03/20/24 (H) DP: C.JOHNSON, CARPENTER, ALLARD, VANCE
03/20/24 (H) DNP: GRAY
03/20/24 (H) NR: GROH
04/26/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/26/24 (H) VERSION: CSHB 254(JUD) AM
04/29/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/29/24 (S) L&C, JUD, FIN
05/01/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/01/24 (S) Heard & Held
05/01/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/03/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
SYLVAN ROBB, Director
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
(DCCED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave an overview of SB 225.
JOSIPHIAH MASON, Staff
Representative Stanley Wright
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave an overview of HB 253.
REPRESENTATIVE ASHLEY CARRICK, District 35
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 17; gave an overview of HB 17.
KC CASORT, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 17.
DEZARAE ARROWSUN, Board Member
Juneau Pro-Choice Coalition
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 17.
RILEY NYE, Staff
Representative Mike Prax
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave an overview of HB 237.
REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE, District 7
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 309; gave an overview of HB
309.
REBECCA WILBUR, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 309.
ROBERT BALLINGER, Staff
Representative Sarah Vance
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave an overview of HB 254.
DAVID EDMONSON, Senior Vice President
State Policy and Government Relations
TechNet
Austin, Texas
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 254.
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the changes in the Senate
committee substitute for HB 254, version R.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:33:44 PM
CHAIR JESSE BJORKMAN called the Senate Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Dunbar, and Chair
Bjorkman. Senator Bishop arrived thereafter.
SB 225-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING FEES
1:34:58 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
225 "An Act relating to occupational licensing fees; and
providing for an effective date."
1:35:28 PM
SYLVAN ROBB, Director, Division of Corporations, Business and
Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development (DCCED), Juneau, Alaska, explained that SB
225 proposed a shift in funding for professional licensing
investigations from licensee fees to fees from corporations.
This change would stabilize licensing fees, which have shown
significant volatility, such as midwives' fee increase from
$1,800 to $3,800. She said SB 255 is expected to reduce fees for
many programs, particularly those with high investigation needs.
It would also ensure that compliant licensees are not cross-
subsidizing investigations into unlicensed practitioners and
would address a potential disincentive for reporting misconduct.
She said SB 255 had the support of 14 out of 21 regulatory
boards and the Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association.
1:38:01 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 225; finding none,
he closed public testimony.
1:38:16 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
1:38:24 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SB 225, work order 33-
GS2366\A, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
1:38:40 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SB 225 was reported from
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
1:38:55 PM
At ease
HB 253-FEDERALLY DESIGNATED REFRIGERANTS
1:40:12 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 253 "An Act relating to
refrigerants designated as acceptable for use under federal
law."
1:40:48 PM
JOSIPHIAH MASON, Staff, Representative Stanley Wright, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that HB 253 would
ensure the heating, ventilation and air conditioning and
construction (HVAC) industries in Alaska can easily transition
to the use of new refrigerants and technologies which are less
pollutant than the currently used hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HB
253 is necessary so that Alaska may participate in the larger
federal push to transition away from HFC containing
refrigerants, which was initiated as part of the American
Innovation and Manufacturing Act signed into law December 2020.
He noted that HB 253 does not contain any mandates. He said the
bill would allow Alaskans to move forward with this transition
by ensuring that our building codes cannot prevent the use of
HFC alternatives if all safety installation standards are met.
1:41:56 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 253; finding none,
he closed public testimony.
1:42:28 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
1:42:31 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report HB 253, work order 33-
LS0983\A, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
1:42:43 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and HB 253 was reported from
the SL&C.
1:43:06 PM
At ease
HB 17-CONTRACEPTIVES COVERAGE:INSURE;MED ASSIST
1:44:12 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HB 17 "An Act relating to insurance coverage
for contraceptives and related services; relating to medical
assistance coverage for contraceptives and related services; and
providing for an effective date."
[Before the committee is SCS HB 17(HSS).]
1:44:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ASHLEY CARRICK, District 35, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 17, said it would
align Alaska statutes with federal contraceptive coverage
mandates and provide for up to a 12-month prescription for
contraception instead of the current one-to-three-month
prescription. She said HB 17 does not include controversial
items such as emergency contraception or abortifacients nor
would it change anything about the relationship between the
provider and the patient, in terms of what to prescribe for a
particular patient. She said HB 17 would simply change what the
patient can have covered by insurance.
1:46:08 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked if HB 17 would legalize drugs that are not
currently legal and available to people.
1:46:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK answered that it would not.
1:46:19 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 17.
1:46:44 PM
KC CASORT, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in
support of HB 17. She expressed appreciation for the sponsor for
prioritizing the bill and advancing it through the House and
Senate. She said HB 17 would provide consistent access to birth
control for Alaskans who rely on it for family planning and
managing conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary
syndrome (PCOS), which affects one in ten women in Alaska. She
said HB 17 would allow patients to pick up a year's supply of
birth control if their doctor decides that's what's best. She
described the inconvenience of having to visit the pharmacy
within a narrow refill window, often leading to missed doses and
emphasized the challenges faced by people without reliable
transportation or flexible jobs in accessing medication monthly.
She shared that her birth control worked as intended, allowing
her to focus on her education and career. She concluded her
testimony by expressing her hope that the bill would be passed
to improve access to birth control for many Alaskans.
1:49:13 PM
DEZARAE ARROWSUN, Board Member, Juneau Pro-Choice Coalition,
Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of HB 17. She said it was
very important that women be able to maintain their birth
control regularly. She said she had an abortion because she ran
out of birth control and was unable to get it in time before
becoming pregnant. She said it was an awful decision to have to
make, and that she didn't want other women to have to make that
decision if they are unable to maintain their prescription. She
urged support for HB 17.
1:50:15 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on HB 17.
1:50:36 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
1:50:40 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SCS CSHB 17(HSS), work
order 33-LS0222\R, from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). She further moved
to grant Legislative Legal the authority to make corrections to
any typographic errors in the bill.
1:51:00 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SCS CSHB 17(HSS) was
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
1:51:13 PM
At ease
HB 237-TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR LAPSED NURSE LICENSE
1:53:06 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 237 "An Act relating to
temporary permits for nurses with lapsed licenses."
1:53:48 PM
RILEY NYE, Staff, Representative Mike Prax, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said the idea for HB 237 came about
when a returning Alaskan nurse contacted the Representative's
office with her concerns. She was seeking to reinstate her
Alaska nursing license and learned that the Alaska Board of
Nursing was unable to issue a temporary permit for her to
practice while she was waiting for a license to be reinstated.
She didn't understand why she could not obtain a temporary
permit to practice, yet a nurse applying for their first license
could. The Alaska Board of Nursing is statutorily limited in
issuing temporary permits only to those people seeking a first
time Alaska nursing license. HB 237 would solve this problem by
amending AS O8.68.010, to allow the Board of Nursing to issue a
temporary permit to a person applying for reinstatement of a
lapsed license, as long as the person meets the same
requirements as a person applying for a license by examination.
He emphasized that with Alaska's medical providers facing a
[nurse] vacancy rate of 20 to 30 percent, it's vital to address
this problem from every angle.
1:55:29 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 237; finding none,
he closed public testimony.
1:55:52 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
1:55:55 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report HB 237, work order 33-
LS1098\A, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
1:56:09 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and HB 237 was reported from
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
1:56:18 PM
At ease
HB 309-DELEGATION OF ROUTINE OPTOMETRY SERVICES
1:58:12 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 309 "An Act relating to the
practice of optometry; and relating to the delegation of routine
services of optometry."
1:58:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE, District 7, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 309, said the bill
seeks to allow optometrists to delegate some of the routine
services that they perform inside their clinics to staff that
have the training necessary to do so. He said the bill would
allow the Board [of Examiners in Optometry] to adopt regulations
that would authorize an optometrist to delegate some routine
services to an agent of the optometrist. Those regulations would
require that the agent acquire a license to perform those duties
because it's a delegated duty. HB 309 would prohibit the
optometrist from delegating any duties for pain management or
opioid use or addiction, and also require the board to define
what a routine service would be. He noted that some of those
services were described during testimony from optometrists. He
noted HB 309 was a bit of a clean-up bill as some of these
practices are ongoing, and the bill was brought about by some
changes in regulation that were attempted by the Board [of
Examiners in Optometry] that could not be processed because
optometrists did not have the authority to delegate routine
services.
2:00:35 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 309.
2:00:59 PM
REBECCA WILBUR, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified
in support of HB 309. She said she was an Alaska Native person,
Yupik Eskimo and optometrist from Quinhagak, Alaska and that she
practiced in Fairbanks, Alaska. She said she used optometric
assistants on a daily basis and that they improve efficiency and
help contain costs. She offered enthusiastic support for House
Bill 309 which would grant the Alaska Board of Examiners in
Optometry the authority to draft regulation regarding the
delegation of routine optometric services.
2:02:01 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on HB 309.
2:02:07 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
2:02:10 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report HB 309, work order 33-
LS1189\A, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
2:02:27 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and HB 309 was reported from
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
2:02:45 PM
At ease
2:04:46 PM
Senator Bishop joined the meeting.
HB 254-BLOCK PORNOGRAPHY TO MINORS; SOCIAL MEDIA
2:05:19 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 254(JUD) am "An Act
relating to minors and the Internet; and relating to use of
social media by minors."
2:06:03 PM
ROBERT BALLINGER, Staff, Representative Sarah Vance, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said HB 254 was designed to
limit the access of minors to pornography. HB 254 would prohibit
any pornography provider that has a substantial portion of their
website dedicated to pornography from providing that service in
Alaska unless they have a commercially reasonable age
verification system. He said HB 254 would set up penalties if a
website didn't provide for [an age verification requirement] to
access the site, and it would enable the Attorney General to
pursue civil penalties [for non-compliance]. HB 254 would also
provide limits for minors 14 or younger from accessing social
media. He said the bill would provide credit for parents to set
up a parental control system.
2:07:22 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 254.
2:07:42 PM
DAVID EDMONSON, Senior Vice President, State Policy and
Government Relations, TechNet, Austin, Texas, testified in
support of HB 254. He said it was his understanding that there
would be a committee substitute which addressed [TechNet's]
concerns by removing section three of the engrossed version of
the bill. He expressed appreciation for the committee's
willingness to work with them and offered to answer the
committees' questions.
2:08:25 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on HB 254.
2:08:35 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced a committee substitute for HB 254 and
solicited a motion.
2:08:41 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt the Senate Committee
Substitute (SCS) for HB 254, work order 33-LS0990\R, as the
working document.
2:08:51 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of explanation.
2:09:06 PM
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said the SCS for HB 254 removes
both Section 2 and Section 3, which were added on the House
floor.
2:09:45 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
2:09:53 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection and SCS CSHB 254(L&C)
was adopted as the working document.
2:10:16 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
2:10:17 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SCS CSHB 254(L&C), work
order 33-LS0990\R, from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
2:10:35 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SCS CSHB 254(L&C) was
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
2:10:43 PM
At ease
2:12:11 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting.
2:12:31 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Bjorkman adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting at 2:12 p.m.