HOUSE BILL No. 5571

December 13, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Horn, Garfield, Polidori, Stahl, Knollenberg, Green and Dean and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.

 

     A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled

 

"Public health code,"

 

by amending section 18709 (MCL 333.18709), as added by 2004 PA 3.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 18709. (1) The department shall promulgate rules under

 

section 16145 as necessary or appropriate to fulfill its functions

 

under this article. In promulgating rules to establish requirements

 

for licensure under section 16145, the department shall adopt all

 

of the following requirements:

 

     (a) Successful completion of an accredited respiratory

 

therapist training program approved by the department.

 

     (b) Having at least a 2-year associate's degree from an

 

accredited college or university approved by the department or


 

equivalent training through the United States military as

 

determined by the department.

 

     (c) Having the credential conferred by the national board for

 

respiratory care or its successor organization as a respiratory

 

therapist or its successor credential, as approved by the

 

department.

 

     (2) The department shall issue a license as a respiratory

 

therapist to an individual who had either of the credentials as a

 

registered respiratory therapist or certified respiratory

 

therapist, or their predecessor credentials, conferred by the

 

national board for respiratory care, or its predecessor

 

organization, on or before the effective date of this part July 1,

 

2004, and who applies for licensure as a respiratory therapist

 

within 1 year after the effective date of this part July 1, 2004.

 

     (3) The department shall issue a license as a respiratory

 

therapist to an individual who is a holder of a temporary license

 

as a respiratory therapist if a holder of a temporary license meets

 

all of the following requirements:

 

     (a) Applies for licensure as a respiratory therapist prior to

 

the expiration of his or her temporary license as prescribed in

 

section 18711(2).

 

     (b) Provides proof to the department that he or she has

 

successfully completed the national credentialing exam by the

 

national board for respiratory care or its successor organization,

 

as approved by the department.

 

     (4) The department may utilize the standards contained in the

 

clinical practice guidelines issued by the American association of


 

respiratory care that are in effect on the effective date of this

 

part July 1, 2004, as interim standards, which are adopted by

 

reference, until rules are promulgated under subsection (1).