Committee adopts minor wording fix to occupational therapy bill and hears public support

The House Labor and Commerce Committee on March 20 adopted amendment G.1 to HB347, a committee bill updating Alaska's occupational therapy statute. The amendment corrects two identical wording errors on page 3 (lines 16 and 18) where the bill mistakenly used "occupational therapist assistance" instead of the correct term "occupational therapy assistants," Cochair Hall said when moving the amendment.

Joan Wilkerson, staff, told the committee HB347 modernizes the occupational therapy statute to reflect established clinical, educational and national standards and to emphasize restorative and rehabilitative goals. "Without the update, Alaskans are at risk to receive a narrower level of care defined by outdated wording," Wilkerson said.

Public testimony in support came from Audra Yu Chin, who identified herself as a private-practice occupational therapist in Anchorage who serves rural regions and focuses on neurorehabilitation and return-to-work programs. "I support HB347 because it updates the language... to reflect the true impact and work of the profession," she said. Katie Johnson (Nanilchik), who provides assistive-technology services and has served as an outgoing vice president of the state OT association, also urged the committee to adopt language that allows practitioners to "practice OT the way we were originally designed to with the schooling that we receive."

After testimony and brief committee discussion, the amendment was adopted by voice when Cochair Fields withdrew an objection. The committee then opened and closed public testimony for HB347 and announced it will hold the bill for further discussion at a later meeting.