SB 44 HEALTH CARE LICENSING CHANGES

Sen Jerry Ortiz y Pino

Actions: [1] SCC/SHPAC/SFC-SCC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 (SB44) This bill allows the Regulations and Licensing Department to compensate board members of various licensing boards for their time and to also waive certain licensing fees for health professionals seeking initial or renewal of thier licenses.  

 Synopsis: (SB44) This proposed legislation relates to professional licensing and allows the Regulation and Licensing Department to compensate members of health care licensing boards that are administratively attached to the Department. Temporary waivers of application licensure and renewal fees for new applicants and newly licensed and renewal fees for new applicants and newly licensed health care professionals in certain health care professions are also provided in this bill. 
Analysis: (SB44) The proposed legislation would now include compensation for members of professional licensing boards and waiver of licensure fees for certain health professionals. The listing of Boards and professions subject to licensure are provided below. 
All Boards listed below will be compensated by the Regulation and Licensing Department for time spent carrying out the duties of a Board member. Compensation under the Mileage and Per Diem Act remains in effect, as well. 
Also, until July 1, 2034, a first-time applicant under those Boards listed below,for licensure shall not be charged an application fee or licensure fee.
The same waiver applies to the first two renewals for licensure until July 1, 2034. 
The same language will now apply to Board of Optometry, the Board of Chiropractic, as well at the Board of Dental Health Care, the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Board, and the state Board of Psychologist Examiners, and, Counseling and Therapy Board, regarding time spent carrying out duties of a Board member. In addition, the licensing fees for first-time and for two renewals for all listed above and for those listed below are included in this bill. 
In addition, the following Boards and health professionals seeking licensure are provided for, under the terms listed above.
Those also, included in the bill are, the Pharmacy Board, the Board of Occupational Therapist, Advisory Board of Respiratory Care Practitioners, Massage Therapy Board, Physical Therapy Board, the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Board, Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Board, and the Athletic Practice Training Board.
The effective date of the provisions of Sections 1, 4, 7 and 14 of this Act is July 1, 2029