Alaska committee hears second reading of bill to license genetic counselors; holds HB 293 over

The Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee held a second hearing on HB 293 on Feb. 13, a bill that would create a licensing framework for genetic counselors in Alaska and place regulatory authority with the State Medical Board while creating an advisory council to assist with licensure administration.

Pam Venchen, executive director of the Alaska State Medical Association, testified in support of the bill, saying licensing would ensure credentials and enable genetic counselors to bill insurers. "This is a critical service that needs to be provided by people with credentials and licensing is the best way to establish that," Venchen said. She told the committee genetic counselors typically practice in cancer care centers and provide neonatal and perinatal counseling.

The testimony and committee questioning focused on three practical issues: scope of practice, administrative oversight, and the bill's fiscal note. Representative Colom asked whether HB 293 raises scope-of-practice concerns similar to past debates over other professions; Venchen replied the association "doesn't have any concerns about scope of practice" and said the profession's standards are well defined.

Sylvan Robb, director of the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, explained how the bill would operate administratively. Robb said the division currently oversees 21 regulatory boards and that HB 293 is structured to create an advisory council rather than a new regulatory board. "The regulatory authority would rest with the medical board, as the bill is currently structured," Robb said, and he noted an advisory structure should avoid some conflict-of-interest issues that affect very small regulatory boards.

Evan Anderson, staff to Cochair Fields, added that the advisory council would "help essentially sort through" applications and that the State Medical Board would still issue licenses. Anderson said there could be "dozens and potentially hundreds" of people from out of state who might seek Alaska licensure.

Committee members pressed on the fiscal note, asking who would pay for licensure and why the travel line item appeared large. Robb said fee revenue from licensees would fund the program through receipt-supported services (DGF) and that the fiscal note includes authority to spend receipts if in-person board meetings resume under Administrative Order 358. Representative Colom specifically asked about a $37,000 travel line; Robb said the fiscal note requests authority to spend up to that amount but actual expenditures would depend on whether boards meet in person.

No members of the public offered testimony. The committee held HB 293 over for further discussion and set an amendment deadline of Monday, Feb. 16, at 5:00 p.m. The committee is scheduled to reconvene on Monday, Feb. 16, at 3:15 p.m.

The bill remains under consideration; the committee did not vote to advance or defeat HB 293 during this session.