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1995 SESSION

LD1990114
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 617
House Amendments in [ ] -- February 4, 1995
Continuing the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Public Health Implications of Licensing Radiological Technology Practitioners.
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Patron--Armstrong
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, X-rays are a source of ionizing radiation which is potentially dangerous as a possible cause of cancer and genetic damage; and

WHEREAS, the long-term effects of the application of ionizing radiation is difficult to determine, given the nature of the potential damage, because medical experts continue to be able to link damage with events that happened tens of years prior; and

WHEREAS, the delivery of quality health care services is dependent upon the expertise of varied health care professionals, technicians and assistants; and

WHEREAS, the technician who takes an X-ray plays a crucial role not only in preventing retakes of films and thus preventing additional exposure but also in the accurate diagnosis of health problems which can be accomplished with a well-taken X-ray; and

WHEREAS, current state law allows for the certification of radiologic technologists but the program has been underutilized and is provided merely for title protection; and

WHEREAS, all Virginia hospitals either train their own personnel to be radiologic technologists or require certification by the passage of a national competency exam; and

WHEREAS, there are a number of radiologic technologist training programs in the Commonwealth at various hospitals, community colleges, and other institutions; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Public Health Implications of Licensing Radiologic Technology Practitioners has endorsed the concept of licensure for radiologic technologists based upon the belief that all Virginians deserve a minimum standard of health care; and

WHEREAS, the 1994 General Assembly approved legislation to require licensure for radiologic technologists based on a two-tier licensing process whereby (i) licensed radiologic technologists may perform diagnostic and treatment procedures with equipment which emits ionizing radiation; and (ii) radiologic technologists, limited, may perform such procedures on limited areas of the human body; and

WHEREAS, the legislation, Chapter 803 of the 1994 Acts of Assembly, requires the Board of Medicine to develop regulations for the implementation of the licensure of radiologic technologists and to report to the joint subcommittee before the submission of such regulations for public comment under the Administrative Process Act; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Public Health Implications of Licensing Radiologic Technology Practitioners be continued for the purpose of receiving reports from the Board of Medicine of the proposed regulations governing the licensure of radiologic technologists.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $1,050.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

[ The joint subcommittee shall be continued for one year only and shall submit its final findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1996 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents. ]

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.