HOUSE BILL No. 4644


     April 16, 1997, Introduced by Reps. Law, Gire, Leland, Griffin, Bodem and Hammerstrom and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.


        A bill to amend 1846 RS 1, entitled

   "Of the statutes,"

   by amending section 3 (MCL 8.3) and by adding section 3x.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 1         Sec. 3.  In the construction of the statutes of this state,

 2    the rules OF CONSTRUCTION stated in  sections 3a to 3w  THIS ACT

 3    shall be observed, unless  such  construction UNDER THIS ACT

 4    would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the

 5    legislature.

 6         SEC. 3X.  (1) THE TERM "RESPIRATORY THERAPIST" MEANS A

 7    HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO PRACTICES RESPIRATORY CARE AND WHO MEETS

 8    ALL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

 9         (A) HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AN ACCREDITED RESPIRATORY

10    THERAPIST TRAINING PROGRAM.




   01761'97 a                                               CPD
                                                2

 1         (B) HAS BEEN AWARDED AT LEAST A 2-YEAR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE

 2    FROM AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

 3         (C) HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE REGISTERED RESPIRATORY

 4    THERAPIST EXAMINATION ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR RES-

 5    PIRATORY CARE.

 6         (2) THE LEGISLATURE FINDS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

 7         (A) THAT RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS ARE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO

 8    ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING PATIENT CARE SERVICES TO INDIVIDU-

 9    ALS WITH DISORDERS AND DISEASES OF THE CARDIOPULMONARY SYSTEM,

10    INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LIFE SUPPORT AND CARDIOPULMONARY

11    RESUSCITATION.

12         (B) RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY, AND ARE

13    SUBJECT TO, THE MICHIGAN DO-NOT-RESUSCITATE PROCEDURES ACT, 1996

14    PA 193, MCL 333.1051 TO 333.1067.

15         (C) THAT THE DUTIES OF PATIENT ASSESSMENT AND WITHHOLDING

16    MEDICAL TREATMENT IMPOSED UNDER THE MICHIGAN DO-NOT-RESUSCITATE

17    PROCEDURES ACT, 1996 PA 193, MCL 333.1051 TO 333.1067, REQUIRE

18    SUBSTANTIAL TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, AND COMPETENCE.

19         (3) BASED ON THE FINDINGS STATED IN SUBSECTION (2), IT IS

20    THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE IN ENACTING THE AMENDATORY ACT THAT

21    ADDED THIS SECTION TO PROVIDE MINIMUM STANDARDS TO SERVE AS

22    GUIDELINES FOR THE HEALTH PROFESSION OF RESPIRATORY THERAPY.













   01761'97 a          Final page.                          CPD