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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session |
Senate: HHS DPA 7-0-0-0 I 3rd Read 28-0-2-0
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SB 1218: naturopathic physicians medical board
Sponsor: Senator Shope, LD 16
Caucus & COW
Overview
Repeals the requirement for a naturopathic medical student wishing to engage in a naturopathic medicine clinical training program to apply for a clinical training program certificate. Eliminates certain powers of the Executive Director of the Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board (Board) relating to clinical training program certificates.
History
The Board was created in 1935 to protect the public through regulation of the practice of naturopathic medicine. Board responsibilities include: 1) issuing licenses and certificates to qualified applicants; 2) investigating and resolving complaints; 3) adopting rules relating to naturopathic training and education programs; 4) regulating naturopathic medical students and naturopathic medical assistants; and 5) providing information to the public about licensees and certificate holders (A.R.S. §§ 32-1504, 32-1524, 32-1551, 32-1555 and 32-1559).
Currently a naturopathic medical student who wishes to engage in a clinical training program in naturopathic medicine must apply for a certificate and if issued a certificate by the Board to engage in a clinical training program, the student must be under direct supervision of a licensed physician. A person cannot use the title naturopathic medical student or a related title or abbreviation while engaged in a clinical training program unless that person holds a certificate issued by the Board and it is considered an unlawful act to do so (A.R.S. §§ 32-1555 and 32-1560).
A naturopathic medical student who holds a certificate to engage in a clinical training program must renew the certificate for each year of the student's clinical training by supplying the Executive Director with information the Board deems necessary and paying the annual renewal fee. The initial annual renewal date is one year after the board approved the application for the clinical training program (A.R.S. § 32-1526).
The Executive Director can issue a temporary certificate to engage in a clinical training program to an applicant whose application is complete except for the completion of a fingerprint and criminal background check. If it is found that the applicant has not been convicted of any felony or any misdemeanor involving a crime of moral turpitude, the Executive Director must convert the temporary certificate into a certificate to engage in a clinical training program without any further action by the applicant. The board cannot charge a fee for a temporary certificate (A.R.S. § 32-1524).
Additionally, the Arizona Auditor General (OAG) recommended that the Board work with the Legislature to pursue a statutory change to eliminate the clinical training certification requirement (OAG Report 22-104).
Provisions
1.
Adds in the definition of an approved
school of naturopathic medicine or school of naturopathic medicine a
university determined by the Board to have an educational program that
meets standards prescribed by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education or
its successor agency. (Sec. 1)
2. Removes the act of conducting or engaging in a clinical training program in naturopathic medicine without being approved and registered by the Board from the definition of unprofessional conduct. (Sec. 1)
3. Removes the ability of the Executive Director of the Board to conduct periodic inspections of the dispensing and prescribing practices of naturopathic medicine doctors. (Sec. 2)
4. Specifies that a naturopathic medicine license applicant must be active, rather than continuously active, for at least three years immediately preceding an application in one or more of the specified practices, internships, trainings or residency areas. (Sec. 4)
5. Rescinds the Executive Director's ability to issue temporary certificates to applicants to engage in a clinical training program if their application is complete except for the completion of a fingerprint check and criminal background analysis. (Sec. 5)
6. Removes the Executive Director's ability to convert temporary certificates into a certificate to engage in a clinical training program without any further action from the applicant if the criminal background analysis shows that the applicant has not been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor involving a crime of moral turpitude. (Sec. 5)
7. Removes the prohibition of the Board to charge a fee for a temporary certificate. (Sec. 5)
8. Eliminates the requirement for a naturopathic medical student to renew their certificate to engage in a clinical training program for each year of the student's clinical training by supplying the Board's Executive Director with necessary information as determined by the Board and by paying the annual renewal fee. (Sec. 6)
9. Removes the requirement that the initial renewal date for the certificate must be one year after the Board approves the application for the clinical training program. (Sec. 6)
10. Repeals the $100 application fee for initial application to conduct or engage in a clinical training program. (Sec. 7)
11. Repeals the $100 application fee for examination without a licensure application by a naturopathic medical student. (Sec. 7)
12. Removes the use of the title naturopathic medical student or a related title while engaged in a clinical training program, unless the person is approved and registered by the Board for the clinical training program, as an unlawful act. (Sec. 8, 9)
13. Deletes the requirement of a naturopathic medical student to apply for a certificate to engage in a clinical training program in naturopathic medicine. (Sec. 9)
14. Eliminates the requirement that a certified naturopathic medical student engaged in an approved clinical training program must be under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. (Sec. 9)
15. Removes the automatic cancellation of the certificate to engage in a clinical training program for naturopathic medicine if a naturopathic medical student ceases to be enrolled in an approved school of naturopathic medicine. (Sec. 9)
16. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-9)
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20. SB 1218
21. Initials AG/KM Page 0 Caucus & COW
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