NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing proposes adopting new regulations relating to the licensing and practice of respiratory care practitioners to implement new statutes enacted in Chapter 28, SLA 2026 (HB 110). Summary of proposed changes: The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development ("department") proposes adopting new regulations in Title 12 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with all aspects of the licensing and practice of respiratory care practitioners under the authority of the department, including the following: (1) Article I through proposed 12 AAC 80.100 addresses the requirements and processes for initial application and licensure. (2) Article II will address the license renewal process and competency requirements. The proposed 12 AAC 80.200 addresses license renewal and reinstatements. Proposed 12 AAC 80.210 addresses continuing education requirements to maintain a license. Proposed 12 AAC 80.220 requires a licensee to maintain certification with the National Board of Respiratory Care unless exempted. And 12 AAC 80.230 as proposed would relate to the department’s audits of continuing education compliance. (3) Article III will require licensees under AS 08.90 to comply with a standard of ethics adopted by reference, through the proposed 12 AAC 80.900. And 12 AAC 80.990 is proposed for amendment to identify the relevant department referenced in the chapter. Written comments: You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Stefanie Davis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806. Additionally, the department will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-2794 and by electronic mail at RegulationsAndPublicComment@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system at http://notice.alaska.gov/225522, and using the comment link. Written comment deadline: The written comments must be received not later than 4:30 p.m. on November 23, 2026. Questions: You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Stefanie Davis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806 or by e-mail at RegulationsAndPublicComment@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The department will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and on the department's website at https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/RespiratoryCarePractitioners. Public nature of comments and questions: Public comments and questions, once submitted, are public records and subject to disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act. See AS 40.25.100 - 40.25.295. Do NOT include in your comments or questions any information that you do not want made public. Accommodations: If you are a person with a disability who needs reasonable accommodations to participate in this process, please contact Stefanie Davis at (907) 465-2537 or RegulationsAndPublicComment@alaska.gov not later than November 16, 2026 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided. Obtaining copies of proposed regulations: A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Stefanie Davis at (907) 465-2537 or at RegulationsAndPublicComment@alaska.gov, or at https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/Regulations/RCP-0826.pdf. A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is also available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System, or at https://www.aarc.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/aarc-statement-of-ethics-and-professional-conduct.pdf. Final version of regulations: After the public comment period ends, the department will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Statutory authority: AS 08.90.020; AS 08.90.040; AS 08.90.050; AS 08.90.100 Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 08.90.010; AS 08.90.020; AS 08.90.030; AS 08.90.040; AS 08.90.050; AS 08.90.100 Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation. How to receive further notices: For each occupation regulated under the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, the Division keeps a list of individuals or organizations who are interested in the regulations of that occupation. The Division automatically sends a Notice of Proposed Regulations to the parties on the appropriate list each time there is a proposed change in an occupation's regulations in Title 12 of the Alaska Administrative Code. If you would like your address added to or removed from such a list, send your request to the Division at the address above, giving your name, either your e-mail address or mailing address (as you prefer for receiving notices), and the occupational area in which you are interested. Individuals can also sign up to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx. Date: 10/18/2026 Stefanie Davis, Regulations Specialist Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing ADDITIONAL REGULATION NOTICE INFORMATION (AS 44.62.190(d)) • Adopting agency: Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing • General subject of regulation: Implementation of respiratory care practitioner program and licensing • Citation of regulation (may be grouped): 12 AAC 80.100 – 80.990 • Department of Law file number, if any: 2026200357 • Reason for the proposed action: ( ) Compliance with federal law or action (identify): (X) Compliance with new or changed state statute ( ) Compliance with federal or state court decision (identify): ( ) Development of program standards ( ) Other (identify): • Appropriation/Allocation: Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing - #2360 • Estimated annual cost to comply with the proposed action to: A private person: $150 respiratory care practitioner nonrefundable initial application fee; $200 respiratory care practitioner initial fee; $200 respiratory care practitioner renewal fee Another state agency: None known A municipality: None known A school district: None known • Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars): No costs are expected in FY 2027 or in subsequent years. • The name of the contact person for the regulation: Name: Glenn Saviers Title: Deputy Director, DCCED, CBPL Address: PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806 Telephone: (907) 465-2550 E-mail address: glenn.saviers@alaska.gov • The origin of the proposed action: __X__ Staff of state agency _____ Federal government _____ General public _____ Petition for regulation change _____ Other (identify): • Date: 10/18/2026 Prepared by: Stefanie Davis, Regulations Specialist (907) 465-2537