An Act To Implement Recommendations for Review of the Licensing Laws for Certain Licensed Health Professionals Pursuant to the State Government Evaluation Act

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the State Government Evaluation Act requires the Legislature to periodically review agencies, independent agencies and boards of State Government in order to evaluate their efficacy and performance; and

Whereas,  the Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services has reviewed the efficacy and performance of the Board of Licensure in Medicine, the Board of Osteopathic Licensure, the State Board of Nursing, the State Board of Optometry and the Board of Dental Practice; and

Whereas,  this legislation implements the recommendation of the joint standing committee that each board, in consultation with interested parties, review its licensing laws and rules and recommend changes to update those laws and rules no later than February 15, 2021; and

Whereas,  immediate enactment of this legislation is necessary so that each licensing board has adequate time to complete the review; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §2153-A, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §123, is amended to read:

Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §2417, sub-§5,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 195, §5, is further amended to read:

Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §2562, first ¶,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 50, §2, is further amended to read:

The board shall meet in June of each year at a time and place the chair may designate. The board shall elect one of its members as chair annually and one of its members as secretary-treasurer, to hold office at the pleasure of the board. The secretary-treasurer shall ensure proper management of the board's finances. Special meetings may be called at the pleasure of the chair and in case of the death or inability of the chair, the secretary-treasurer may call special meetings. The board shall cause a seal of suitable inscription to be procured and affixed to papers that may require the seal, shall keep a correct record of its proceedings and has power to make rules, not inconsistent with this chapter, it considers necessary for the successful enforcement of its authority and the performance of its duties. The board may recommend changes to update the laws and rules related to the practice of osteopathic medicine. As part of the biennial relicensure process, the board shall prepare and distribute to each licensed osteopathic physician practicing in the State a copy of its code of ethics and current rules relative to continuing medical education. The chair and the secretary-treasurer may administer oaths in matters connected with the duties of the board. The records of the board must include a report of all money received and disbursed by the board and a list of all applicants for licenses, including the name and location of the school or college of osteopathic medicine approved by the American Osteopathic Association that granted the degree to each applicant and whether the applicant was granted or denied a license. These records, or duplicates, must always be open to inspection in the office of the Secretary of State during regular office hours. Four members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A license to practice osteopathic medicine may not be granted, except on an affirmative vote of a majority of the board.

Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §3269, sub-§7,  as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §202, is further amended to read:

Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §18324,  as enacted by PL 2015, c. 429, §21, is amended to read:

§ 18324. Rules

The board shall adopt rules that are necessary for the implementation of this chapter. The rules may include, but need not be limited to, requirements for licensure, license renewal and license reinstatement as well as practice setting standards that apply to individuals licensed under this chapter relating to recordkeeping, infection control, supervision and administering sedation and anesthesia. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. The board may make recommendations for changes to the laws and rules related to dental practice.

Sec. 6. Board of Licensure in Medicine to review licensing laws and recommend changes. The Board of Licensure in Medicine established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 24, in consultation with interested parties, shall review Title 32, chapter 48 and any rules adopted by the board and recommend changes to update the licensing chapter and any rules. The board shall submit its report and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage, insurance and financial services matters no later than February 15, 2021. The joint standing committee may report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based on the board's recommendations.

Sec. 7. Board of Osteopathic Licensure to review licensing laws and recommend changes. The Board of Osteopathic Licensure established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 29, in consultation with interested parties, shall review Title 32, chapter 36 and any rules adopted by the board and recommend changes to update the licensing chapter and any rules. The board shall submit its report and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage, insurance and financial services matters no later than February 15, 2021. The joint standing committee may report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based on the board's recommendations.

Sec. 8. State Board of Nursing to review licensing laws and recommend changes. The State Board of Nursing established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 25, in consultation with interested parties, shall review Title 32, chapter 31 and any rules adopted by the board and recommend changes to update the licensing chapter and any rules. The board shall submit its report and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage, insurance and financial services matters no later than February 15, 2021. The joint standing committee may report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based on the board's recommendations.

Sec. 9. State Board of Optometry to review licensing laws and recommend changes. The State Board of Optometry established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 28, in consultation with interested parties, shall review Title 32, chapter 34-A and any rules adopted by the board and recommend changes to update the licensing chapter and any rules. The board shall submit its report and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage, insurance and financial services matters no later than February 15, 2021. The joint standing committee may report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based on the board's recommendations.

Sec. 10. Board of Dental Practice to review licensing laws and recommend changes. The Board of Dental Practice established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 10, in consultation with interested parties, shall review Title 32, chapter 143 and any rules adopted by the board and recommend changes to update the licensing chapter and any rules. The board shall submit its report and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage, insurance and financial services matters no later than February 15, 2021. The joint standing committee may report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based on the board's recommendations.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This bill is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 955, subsection 4. The bill implements recommendations related to the committee’s review of the Board of Licensure in Medicine, the Board of Osteopathic Licensure, the State Board of Nursing, the State Board of Optometry and the Board of Dental Practice.

The bill directs each board, in consultation with interested parties, to review the licensing laws and rules for the board and to recommend changes to update those laws and rules no later than February 15, 2021. The bill authorizes the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage, insurance and financial services matters to report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based on the board's recommendations.

The committee is reporting the bill out for the sole purpose of turning the recommendations into a printed bill that can be referred to the committee for an appropriate public hearing and subsequent processing in the normal course. The committee is taking this action to ensure clarity and transparency in the legislative review of this bill.