S.B. 700: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: LICENSURE

Senate Bill 700 (as introduced 9-24-97)

Sponsor: Senator Joe Conroy

Committee: Health Policy and Senior Citizens

Date Completed: 3-9-98

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to revise certain qualifications that a health professional must meet to be licensed or registered under the Code; and expand the powers of the Department of Consumer and Industry Services to sanction a licensee regarding adverse action by a regulatory body outside the State.

Currently, the Code lists a number of requirements that an applicant must meet for licensure or registration as a health professional, including establishing that he or she has no disciplinary proceedings pending before, or sanctions imposed by, a similar licensure, registration, or certification board in Michigan or another state or country. Under the bill, an applicant also would have to establish that there were no disciplinary proceedings pending before, or sanctions imposed by, a similar board of the U.S. military or Federal government. In addition, the applicant would have to file with his or her health occupation board or task force a written, signed consent to the release of information regarding a disciplinary investigation involving the applicant conducted by a similar board of Michigan, another state, the U.S. military, the Federal government, or another country.

Under the Code, if a board, a task force, or the Department determines, after issuing a license, registration, or certificate, that sanctions have been imposed against a licensee or registrant by a similar board elsewhere, the health professional's disciplinary subcommittee may impose sanctions on the person, if the sanctions are still in force. The bill would remove the requirement that the sanctions still be in force.

Currently, the Department may investigate activities related to the practice of a health professional by a licensee, registrant, or applicant for licensure or registration. The appropriate disciplinary subcommittee may impose specified sanctions against the person if it finds certain violations, including final adverse administrative action by a board in another state or U.S. territory. The bill also would refer to final adverse administrative action by a board of the U.S. military, Federal government, or another country.

MCL 333.16174 & 333.16221 - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

- Fiscal Analyst: M. Tyszkiewicz

S9798\S700SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.