SCS/SB 69, 313 & 247 - This act makes changes to the organization of various regulatory boards and the licensing regulations of specific professions.

PODIATRY - The name of the current State Board of Chiropody or Podiatry would be changed to the State Board of Podiatric Medicine. All members on the current Board will automatically become members on the new board. The State Board of Podiatry Fund is renamed the State Board of Podiatric Medicine Fund and will retain all funds currently in the State Board of Podiatry Fund.

All reference to "chiropody" is removed from statutory language. The definition of the word "podiatrist" will not apply to the administration of general anesthetics, amputation of the foot or bone surgery on children under one year old. The term "human foot" is expanded to include the ankle and the tendons which insert into the foot as well as the foot.

For surgery of the ankle, the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) must be board certified in foot and ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery or shall complete a 24 month residency in podiatric surgery. Any DPM licensed after 1/1/2005 shall be required to complete a 24 month residency in podiatric surgery. Surgical treatment of the ankle by a DPM shall be performed only in a licensed acute care hospital or a licensed ambulatory surgical clinic after the Doctor has obtained approval of the Physician's Credentialing Committee of a licensed acute care or a licensed ambulatory surgical clinic.

A person retiring from the practice of podiatry would be required to file an affidavit which states the date the person retired from practice and other information relevant to such retirement. The person would need to re-register with the State Board of Podiatric Medicine, if that person decides to reenter the practice of Podiatry. (AMENDED VERSION OF SENATE BILL 111).

PRACTICE OF CHIROPRACTIC - The definition of the "practice of chiropractic" which is currently defined as "the science and art or examination, diagnosis, adjustment, manipulation and treatment of malpositioned articulations and structures of the body" is expanded to include such actions "both in inpatient and outpatient settings." (SENATE BILL 474).

PSYCHOLOGY - Applicants for licensure shall be required to pass the examination for professional practice in psychology or any other examination adopted by the State Committee of Psychologist and that applicants may be required to pass an oral examination.

A psychologist licensed in another state must pass a written examination on Missouri laws and regulations in order to be licensed in Missouri and may be required to pass an oral examination. Currently such applicants are automatically licensed in Missouri if they are in good standing in the state of licensure. (SENATE BILL 348).

LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS - The act would allow the Division of Professional Registration to create and issue a new license to be known as "Provisional Licensed Clinical Social Worker". This license would be issued to a person who is a graduate of an accredited school of Social Work and who meets all the requirements of a licensed Clinical Social Worker except for the 24 months of supervised clinical experience. Upon completion of the supervised clinical experience, a Provisional Licensed Clinical Social Worker may apply for licensure as a Clinical Social Worker. (SB 69)

MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPIST LICENSE - This act will also require state licensure of any person who uses the title of Marital and Family Therapist and engages in the practice of Marital and Family Therapy in Missouri and creates the Committee on Marital and Family Therapists within the Division of Professional Registration. The Committee will consist of four Family and Marital Therapists and two public members. The members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advise and consent of the Senate and will serve for five year terms.

The four Marital and Family Therapist committee members must meet all licensing requirements, be residents of Missouri for at least one year and be U.S. citizens. The two public members shall be U.S. citizens, residents of the State for at least one year, registered voters, who have not been members or married to members of the profession licensed by the Committee, nor have a financial interest in any organization providing the professional services regulated by the Committee.

The marital and family therapist licensing regulations shall not apply to: (1) any person registered, certified or licensed by this state or another state or any recognized national certification agent acceptable to the Division to practice any other occupation or profession while rendering services similar in nature to marital and family therapy in the occupation or profession in which that person is registered, certified or licensed; (2) any marital and family therapist who is employed by any agency or department of the State of Missouri while discharging his duties in that capacity; and (3) any person who is a duly ordained minister or clergy, religious workers and volunteers or Christian Science Practitioners.

Licensure will be through the Division of Professional Registration with a fee to be set by the Division. The Division may refuse to issue or renew licenses for specific conditions. An applicant for a Marital and Family Therapist License must have a Master's or Doctoral Degree in Marital and Family Therapy, have two years of postgraduate clinical experience, pass an examination, be at least 18 years old, be of good moral character, be a U.S. citizen or legal alien, and have no felony convictions within ten years of applying.

From 9/1/95 to 3/1/96 a person may apply for licensure without examination if that person has been a resident of Missouri for at least six months, and holds a license as a Marital and Family Therapist from another state. (SENATE BILL 313)

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND CLINICAL AUDIOLOGISTS - This act also substantially revises the statutes regulating and licensing the practice of Speech-Language Pathologists, Clinical Audiologists (The Licensure Act for Speech-Language Pathologists and Clinical Audiologists) and Hearing Instrument Specialists (The Hearing Specialists Act). The Missouri Consumer Protection Fund is created in the State Treasury. This fund will be available to cover the costs incurred by the Missouri Board of Examiners for Hearing Instrument Specialists which is established by this act.

The major changes to the Licensure Act for Speech-Language Pathologists and Clinical Audiologists include provisional licensing authority, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules review, continuing education, renewal fee standards, expanding and clarifying disciplinary standards, authority to obtain injunctive relief, unauthorized practice standards, and standards for the Advisory Commission for Speech-Language Pathologists and Clinical Audiologists. (Senate Bill 247).

HEARING SPECIALISTS ACT - The major changes to the Hearing Specialists Act include license display requirements, consumer protection standards, discretion to enact fees, coordination between the Advisory Commission for Speech-Language Pathologists and Clinical Audiologists and the Missouri Board of Examiners for Hearing Instrument Specialists, discipline procedures, disclosure requirements, rulemaking authority and technical changes. (SENATE BILL 247)

The Hearing Instrument Specialist Fund to be created from all fees received by the Division of Professional Registration from the registration of hearing aid dealers and fitters. (Senate Bill 58).

No provision of SCS/SBs 69, 314 and 247 is to be construed to allow individuals to diagnose and treat medical conditions pursuant to Chapter 334 regarding the licensing of physicians and surgeons, therapists, athletic trainers and health care providers.
CHERYL GRAZIER