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UPDATE: 5/18/2023 - The Alaska legislature adjourned for the 2023 on 5/18/2023. Alaska has a two year legislative session, so HB 52 will carryover in the House Health & Social Services Committee until the 2024 session reconvenes.
UPDATE: 3/16/2023 - HB 52 was heard in the House Health & Social Services Committee and the House State Affairs Committee on 3/16/2023, but no action was taken.
UPDATE: 3/8/2023 - HB 52 has been scheduled for a hearing in the House Health & Social Services Committee Thursday, 3/16 at 3:00 pm in Davis 106. Agenda can be viewed here. Public testimony can be submitted now. To SUPPORT the bill, send an email to [email protected] with subject line "In Support of HB 52."
UPDATE: 3/2/2023 - HB 52 was heard in the House Health & Social Services Committee on 3/2/2023. No vote was taken.
UPDATE: 2/22/2023 - HB 52 has been scheduled for a hearing in the House Health & Social Services Committee on 3/2/2023 at 3:00 pm in Davis Room 106. Agenda: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Meeting/Detail?Meeting=HHSS%202023-03-02%2015:00:00#tab2_4e
The hearing is currently set for invited testimony only. To submit written testimony to the hearing, please contact the bill sponsor, Representative Sarah Vance.
HB 52 was introduced and referred to the House Health & Social Services Committee on 1/30/2023. It is sponsored by Representative Sarah L. Vance.
An analysis of HB 52 can be viewed here. This Act may be known as the Alaska No Patient Left Alone Act. It requires hospitals and care facilities to have written and published policies and procedures regarding a patient's right to have a support person with them during treatment or stay. Patients and support persons shall be informed of any restrictions for visitation. The Department of Health or any other state agency may not terminate or suspended these rights. NVIC supports this bill, particularly due to the restriction of proving vaccination or immunization status for a visiting support person:
A hospital, mental health facility, long-term care facility, or hospice may not require a support person to provide proof of the support person's vaccination or immunization status.
Many provisions of HB 52 are important to our supporters. However, while NVIC supports these provisions, we not take a position on the sections that do not relate to vaccines.
https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/33?Root=HB%20%2052 - text, status, and history of HB 52
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