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2021 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Education and Health
Subcommittee Health Professions

Barker (Chair), Saslaw, Newman, Edwards, Lewis, Dunnavant, Suetterlein

Clerk: Michael Jackson
Staff: Julia Carlton, Anna Moir
Date of Meeting: January 15, 2021
Time and Place: 8:30 AM/Senate Chamber/Register to speak @ GA Website
Updated: SB1218 added to the docket

S.B. 1167

Patron: Kiggans

Board of Nursing; licensure or certification by endorsement for members of the United States military. Permits the Board of Nursing to issue licenses and certifications by endorsement for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse aides who hold a similar or equivalent license or certification from the medical corps of a branch of the United States military.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-3018, 54.1-3021, and 54.1-3024 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Nursing; licensure or certification by endorsement for members of the United States military.

21101018D

S.B. 1178

Patron: Ebbin

Genetic counseling; conscience clause. Repeals the conscience clause for genetic counselors who forgo participating in counseling that conflicts with their deeply held moral or religious beliefs, provided that they inform the patient and offer to direct the patient to the online directory of licensed genetic counselors maintained by the Board of Medicine. The law being repealed also prohibits the licensing of any genetic counselor from being contingent upon participating in such counseling.

A BILL to repeal § 54.1-2957.21 of the Code of Virginia, relating to genetic counseling; conscience clause.

21101267D

S.B. 1187

Patron: Hashmi

Department of Health Professions; practice of physical therapy. Extends from 30 days to 60 days the time allowed for a physical therapist who has completed a doctor of physical therapy program approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education or who has obtained a certificate of authorization to evaluate and treat patients after an initial evaluation without a referral under certain circumstances. The bill also provides that after discharging a patient a physical therapist shall not perform an initial evaluation of a patient without a referral if the physical therapist has performed an initial evaluation of the patient for the same condition within the immediately preceding 60 days.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-3482 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Department of Health Professions; practice of physical therapy.

21101168D

S.B. 1189

Patron: Hashmi

Licensure of occupational therapists; Occupational Therapy Interjurisdictional Licensure Compact. Authorizes Virginia to become a signatory to the Occupational Therapy Interjurisdictional Licensure Compact. The Compact permits eligible licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to practice in Compact member states provided they are licensed in at least one member state. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2022, and directs the Board of Medicine to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The Compact takes effect when it is enacted by a tenth member state.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-2956.7:1, relating to Occupational Therapy Interjurisdictional Licensure Compact.

21101278D

S.B. 1192

Patron: Kiggans

Department of Health Professions; naturopathic doctors. Directs the Department of Health Professions to amend its regulations to require that a person complete a four-year accredited doctoral program in naturopathy and pass the naturopathy examination administered by the Virginia Naturopathic Doctors Association in order to use the title "Naturopathic Doctor" or "ND." The bill requires the Department to collaborate with the Virginia Naturopathic Doctors Association to draft and implement regulations related to the scope of practice of naturopathic doctors in the Commonwealth.

A BILL to direct the Department of Health Professions to amend its regulations related to naturopathic doctors.

21102474D

S.B. 1205

Patron: Barker

Programs to address career fatigue and wellness in certain health care providers; civil immunity. Expands civil immunity for health care professionals serving as members of or consultants to entities that function primarily to review, evaluate, or make recommendations related to health care services to include health care professionals serving as members of or consultants to entities that function primarily to address issues related to career fatigue and wellness in health care professionals licensed, registered, or certified by the Boards of Medicine, Nursing, or Pharmacy, or in students enrolled in a school of medicine, osteopathic medicine, nursing, or pharmacy located in the Commonwealth. The bill contains an emergency clause.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-581.16, 54.1-2400.6, and 54.1-2909 of the Code of Virginia, relating to programs to address career fatigue and wellness in certain health care providers; civil immunity.

21101126D

EMERGENCY

S.B. 1218

Patron: Petersen

Naturopathic doctors; license required. Requires the Board of Medicine to license and regulate naturopathic doctors. The practice of naturopathic medicine is defined in the bill as (i) a system of primary health care for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human health conditions, injury, and disease and (ii) the use of both naturopathic and traditional medical therapies to promote or restore whole patient health. The bill also establishes the Advisory Board on Naturopathic Medicine to assist the Board of Medicine in formulating regulations related to the practice of naturopathic medicine.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-2900, 54.1-2901, 54.1-2914, 54.1-2973.1, and 54.1-3401 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 54.1-2956.15 through 54.1-2956.18, relating to licensure of naturopathic doctors.

21102625D