[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6097563,"mediaKeyId","2827978-0dcb794be966c32c5385320d536c585b","parentId",2827978,"title","House committee reports out House Bill 50 on Snow Classics with no objections","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3365000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827978-0dcb794be966c32c5385320d536c585b&start=3365&end=3365","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827978-0dcb794be966c32c5385320d536c585b/thumbnail_3365000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6097563/Alaska/House-committee-reports-out-House-Bill-50-on-Snow-Classics-with-no-objections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097563-320b16784cae8b084bcd7726b5d7ddf4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004860&Signature=kBGQnf9HbTpJczi4JthUpzz1XqWcIkcehGWQZXV1vTsdLO4FGNMf0yV0nJotNC3f1uhIXcyIXpXcmGkgfkn6o3HPAB0G7gQHbFQR72M2~wLuo74qxsoWVkYVBRnZ5QYa8gFyiuGj9eW4jeAJJLqXJHXvWAzrJmAg3eYOtx~RnVyeY~aIVkZ68b-cy89FDUosCOhkHPTO0jCNmAwJo2Y8~qr1wZxl5D~BaNxMh2AKkfrVuL6fH2nYppPCg2LadjybHAj0PgK42Rqy4Vh-wpPfuunfkNS4qCo5ayUAwEpbC0uqVCqk3pNtw08NXUPmrMsTBnP5xMitB~3y5ysvbM2~Fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska State Legislature","date","2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","article","Anchorage — The House Labor and Commerce Committee reported House Bill 50 back out of committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes after a committee motion was made and there were no objections or public testimony.

Public comment: Committee chairs opened the record for public testimony on HB50 and no members of the public testified in person or by telephone.

Committee action: After closing public testimony, a committee member moved \"to report house bill 50 34-ls0288 backslash a out of committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.\" The motion was adopted by voice without objection; the committee clerk then asked members to remain to sign the committee report.

Vote and attendance: Committee members present at roll call included Representatives Kerrick, Burke, Nelson, Co-Chair Fields, and Co-Chair Hall; Representative Colom joined later. With no objections recorded at the time of the motion, the chair declared HB50 reported out of committee.

Ending: The committee adjourned at 4:09 p.m. and scheduled its next meeting for Wednesday, April 2 at 3:15 p.m. in Barnes Room 124.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/31/2025 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE","oneSentenceSummary","The House Labor and Commerce Committee reported House Bill 50 out of committee with individual recommendations and fiscal notes after receiving no public testimony; the report was approved without objection.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6097568,"Committee hears bill to license pharmacy benefit managers and TPAs for transparency and consumer protection",675,2820000,3495000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827978-0dcb794be966c32c5385320d536c585b&start=2820&end=3495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827978-0dcb794be966c32c5385320d536c585b/thumbnail_2820000.jpg","/articles/6097568/Alaska/Committee-hears-bill-to-license-pharmacy-benefit-managers-and-TPAs-for-transparency-and-consumer-protection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097568-9402c3e07ee7bb24365dced17573766c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004860&Signature=aOFOzF70HSR2AHFwWDnj6omeSKHEbyeVd-AnF4Cih8-ApN4ByTZvmZNOVSHOqL259ZOD8D63MorSVRxhSfk58jWsCWVaPf8mUljJwmtnM9~sAWhI35BsVxwhOT1FldGpchW1787mALTqBJjlvoWMnI75HhiBDnw0RypJZmRLg0t3WXOzWHOz0s5y0Hqb-pOT0mfiHDfW4YQqmkW3-rVGIZDPGFK2bkUisfL6Alsk21Q5QPZizFFq3FESVoGr5do3FKQ7EWbeRtjMsKWiVczsFAgUJRLXPF3rYz3VkhXRM-RTtAPtfpYlSgdrZIxy9JoATR5RIOiYPTUwbI6j5XjX4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anchorage — The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard an introductory presentation on House Bill 149, a bill directing the Alaska Division of Insurance to license pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and third-party administrators (TPAs) and to gain expanded regulatory authority over those entities.

Sponsor and staff said the bill is intended to implement and clarify earlier PBM-related legislation by requiring licensure rather than registration for PBMs and TPAs, enabling the Division of Insurance to conduct market-conduct examinations, collect licensing fees sufficient to sustain oversight, and remove certain exemptions that limited enforcement.

Co-chair Zach Fields and staff member Evan Anderson outlined the bill’s structure. \"House Bill 149 is a bill that is designed to ensure the division of insurance can implement some PBM legislation we passed last year,\" Fields said. Sections in the bill replace registration with licensure, require entities operating in Alaska be licensed, authorize the director to set fees and revoke licenses for noncompliance, and set an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.

Division perspective: Heather Carpenter, deputy director of the Division of Insurance, told the committee there is often no functional difference between PBMs and TPAs, which prompted the effort to treat them the same for transparency and oversight. She explained a PBM typically handles pharmacy claims and network management for insurers, while TPAs can administer a broader set of benefits (dental, vision, health). Carpenter said the division has encountered entities claiming exemptions, which limited enforcement during provider payment disruptions and a TPA bankruptcy; licensing would give the division broader authority to protect consumers and providers.

Clarifying details: Staff said the change from registration to licensure would give the division statutory authority similar to other licensed entities, including the ability to require disclosures, deny or revoke licenses for failure to meet standards, and set self-supporting fees to cover oversight costs.

Next steps: Committee members asked clarifying questions about exemptions and the scope of the repealed statutory language. The committee set the bill aside for further consideration and consultation with division staff and other stakeholders.","House Bill 149 would change pharmacy benefit managers and third-party administrators from registered entities to licensed entities under the Division of Insurance, closing exemptions and allowing market-conduct examinations; committee set the bill aside for future consideration.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6097571,"Committee reviews audits, hears Senate Bill 80 to extend sunset dates for four boards",858,1935000,2793000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827978-0dcb794be966c32c5385320d536c585b&start=1935&end=2793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827978-0dcb794be966c32c5385320d536c585b/thumbnail_1935000.jpg","/articles/6097571/Alaska/Committee-reviews-audits-hears-Senate-Bill-80-to-extend-sunset-dates-for-four-boards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097571-5c6fd0d9dcfbad9c27fb714feac3f4e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004860&Signature=iIfSMNqcoScPfmN8O6uzr5etzvkFMZn~kvG0xybJW-qfT4H32LIN5gWOj5SoXbYWW29Y57vfu3ruVPcnD3G0Egx1musjgVNfEmaHym9N-nQh9IZ0XGju3s53GJhrtLRWrh4mQmeVrd1Ii0Ulv9LQKMvemZuQOqegcVhGbIXqc7GhBKoz8EwctOxVqryUq7Lew6Fj95hpM3aeBKDEED7wMeIi4CQ-d96wlNOA6-KmQ0mxAw8~FjV0vkW0Ke9kYTnsWMazUsBWTOdReeqQVXmLq4~SPEWFY6bzRx3Tt7qveFJhT77dDOo1tVZ9sPqMBcAIDZb84HZ~RaTHAOIA0k2HzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anchorage — The House Labor and Commerce Committee held an initial hearing on Senate Bill 80, which backdates and extends sunset dates for four state boards: the Marijuana Control Board, the Board of Massage Therapy, the Alaska Commission on Aging, and the Big Game Commercial Services Board.

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, sponsor of SB80, said the bill is a cleanup measure that backdates extensions to June 2024 and extends the boards’ sunsets under amended terms. \"This bill extends the sunset dates of 4 boards,\" Bjorkman said, listing the boards and describing their core duties.

Legislative audit findings: Chris Curtis, the state legislative auditor, summarized sunset audits for each board and recommended different extension lengths based on audit findings. Curtis said the Marijuana Control Board is serving the public interest but recommended a three-year extension to allow timely review in light of a governor’s advisory task force report and new licensing information systems. The massage therapy board and the Big Game Commercial Services Board received recommended six-year extensions, while the Alaska Commission on Aging received an eight-year recommended extension.

Curtis also presented targeted recommendations: better documentation of marijuana handler permit records, implementation of a new license and enforcement database, and consideration that marijuana board regulations require majority approval by board members. For the massage board and big game board, auditors recommended improvements in recruitment and retention of investigative and licensing staff and consideration of fee adjustments to support operations.

Board perspectives: Chairs of affected boards testified in support of continued oversight. Aneta Atwell, chair of the Board of Massage Therapy, described the board’s role in regulation, discipline, and enforcement and said the board is financially stable but anticipates a fee increase to cover investigative duties. Bailey Stewart, chair of the Marijuana Control Board, told the committee that the regulated industry faces significant illicit and gray-market competition and that the board needs time to address systemic issues.

Next steps: Committee members had no substantive questions for the auditor or board chairs at the hearing and set SB80 aside for consideration at a later date.","Senate Bill 80 would extend sunset dates for four boards — Marijuana Control Board, Board of Massage Therapy, Alaska Commission on Aging, and Big Game Commercial Services Board. Legislative audit recommended staggered extensions and offered specific recommendations; committee set the bill aside for future consideration.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6097576,"Committee hears 'Rico’s Law' to let EMTs provide emergency care, transport for operational K-9s",1112,581000,1693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827978-0dcb794be966c32c5385320d536c585b&start=581&end=1693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827978-0dcb794be966c32c5385320d536c585b/thumbnail_581000.jpg","/articles/6097576/Alaska/Committee-hears-Ricos-Law-to-let-EMTs-provide-emergency-care-transport-for-operational-K-9s","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097576-fcb98ae5846bfee174d0858f81c6934e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004860&Signature=KRPkkvWbarcSxCSn9CUngzogY3UtfDrPVRrKKCllXydTVY52Q2bQ~dX5lMT38214YJhkxZSNtASfXI1GLoDAlPUNfagv0Qr2kF6~LGe1anJXev0iifo2wKuODLdn~JDOfhZOhhHWM6Oaduju~V73NHiibaPtNjFwBzpoodgj7qDyNCmD2ZrV~TlBAMfI35ftK28nG~ZVvkOqwOqVSnumrCXNyb-uzuCXBNvg0SyMlTOTFiCuKO1jnEI4~3mqIJBt862ljqMoRL58QYXmHHdSji5tOzuS7V4AolrCjzkhnIq-y82rcDz9vjxxyajdxCB0lMrm5XriQaXAq7zLddQrAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anchorage — The Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee held an initial hearing on House Bill 70, commonly called “Rico’s Law,” a measure that would authorize trained emergency medical technicians and paramedics to provide limited emergency medical treatment and transport to operational canines used in law enforcement and search-and-rescue operations.

The bill’s authorizing staff, Jeremy Houston, told the committee that current Alaska law exposes EMS providers to misdemeanor charges for practicing veterinary medicine and that HB70 would create statutory authority allowing EMS to render “point of injury” stabilization to injured operational canines and transport them to veterinary care. \"So today I'll be presenting house bill 70, which is, colloquially named, Rico's Law,\" Houston said during his presentation.

Why it matters: Witnesses argued the change would address a real-world gap in remote areas where long transport times can make the difference between life and death. Paramedic Brian Webb, who described himself as having 46 years of paramedic experience including deploying with military working dogs, said EMS are often the closest clinicians to an injured K‑9 and that current law prevented legally sanctioned intervention in past incidents. \"HB 70 ensures this never happens again by allowing trained EMS clinicians to provide emergency trauma stabilization and transport just as we do for humans,\" Webb said, citing the 2017 shooting death of Trooper K9 Rico as part of the bill’s backstory.

What the bill would do: Committee staff summarized the bill’s sections. Key provisions would:
- Allow EMTs and paramedics authorized under procedures in statute (listed in the bill text) to provide emergency care and transport to operational canines without criminal prosecution;
- Permit EMS to enter private property to render care when there is a report of serious injury or illness to an operational canine;
- Direct the Department of Health to set training and protocol requirements developed by EMS medical directors in consultation with veterinarians;
- Extend limited civil liability protection when EMS provide care to an operational canine in immediate danger, and require transport to a licensed veterinarian at the earliest practical opportunity; and
- Include a telehealth section that limits remote consults to the EMS scope of practice and set definitions for \"operational canine.\" The bill sets an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.

Veterinarian testimony: Dr. Janice Baker, owner of the Veterinary Tactical Group and a veterinarian with military experience, told the committee medics in combat and tactical settings have successfully adapted human emergency procedures to dogs after limited, targeted training. She described procedures such as needle thoracostomy being adapted with small anatomical adjustments and cited peer-reviewed journals and military medical practice as supporting evidence.

Scope and safeguards: Testimony stressed HB70 is intended to be limited: authorization would be opt-in for EMS units that support law enforcement or search-and-rescue operations, subject to Department of Health protocols and veterinarian consultation. Staff emphasized training, oversight by EMS medical directors, and mandatory transfer to licensed veterinarians.

Next steps: The committee set the bill aside for further consideration. Committee staff announced public testimony would be taken on Wednesday of the same week and set an amendment deadline of Monday, April 7 at noon.

Ending: Committee members asked clarifying questions but did not vote on the bill at the hearing. Proponents asked the panel to advance the bill so implementing regulations and training requirements could be developed before the bill’s effective date if enacted.","House Labor and Commerce Committee heard invited testimony on HB70 (\"Rico’s Law\"), which would authorize trained EMTs and paramedics to provide limited emergency care and transport to operational canines; bill was set aside for further consideration and public testimony was scheduled.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House committee reports out House Bill 50 on Snow Classics with no objections

Committee hears bill to license pharmacy benefit managers and TPAs for transparency and consumer protection

Committee reviews audits, hears Senate Bill 80 to extend sunset dates for four boards

Committee hears 'Rico’s Law' to let EMTs provide emergency care, transport for operational K-9s