HB 478 - This act modifies provisions relating to professional licensing.SUSPENSION OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES FOR FAILURE TO PAY STATE TAXES (SECTIONS 324.001 & 337.647 AND THE REPEAL OF SECTIONS 324.010 & 339.845)
This act repeals the provisions regarding suspension of certain professional licenses for delinquency on any state taxes or failure to file state income tax returns in the last three years.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the perfected HCS/HB 268 (2025), HB 766 (2025), in SCS/HB 2280 (2025), and HB 2699 (2024).
TEMPORARY LICENSES (SECTION 324.004)
Under this act, any person who has at least 3 years of work experience in an occupation or profession in another state or the District of Columbia that does not use a license to regulate that occupation or profession may submit an application for a license in Missouri, with proof of experience and U.S. citizenship, to the relevant oversight body. Within 45 days of receiving the application, the oversight body shall make a determination of qualification. The oversight body shall require an applicant to take and pass a profession-specific examination and may require an examination specific to Missouri laws.
A license issued under this act shall be a one-time, non-renewable, two-year temporary license. If the applicant is not residing in Missouri, the oversight body shall conditionally approve the application. If an applicant fails to provide proof of domicile in Missouri within 90 days of receipt of temporary license, the oversight board may terminate the temporary license and the applicant may reapply for the temporary license.
Upon expiration of the temporary license, individuals shall be required to apply for a permanent license, consistent with the licensure and application requirements of that license as set forth in statute and rule. A license issued under this act shall not be qualified for reciprocity with another state or as part of an interstate compact. The provisions of this act shall not apply to certain specified professions.
This provision is substantially similar to a provision in SS/SB 61 (2025) and is similar to a provision in SB 817 (2024), in HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 88 (2023) and HB 1900 (2022).
LICENSE WAIVERS FOR SPOUSES OF MISSOURI LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS (SECTION 324.009)
Current law requires an oversight body for professional licenses to waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements within 30 days for a resident military spouse or a nonresident military spouse and shall issue such applicant a license if the applicant meets all other requirements. This act provides such waiver to resident and nonresident spouses of Missouri law enforcement officers, as such term is defined in the act. Additionally, this act repeals provisions relating to application to oversight bodies that have entered into licensing compacts.
This provision is identical to a provision in the perfected HCS/HB 268 (2025) and in HCS/HB 946 (2025), is substantially similar to a provision in SS/SB 61 (2025), and is similar to SB 283 (2025).
EMERGENCY SUSPENSION AND RESTRICTIONS ON MASSAGE THERAPISTS AND CHIROPRACTORS (SECTIONS 324.263 & 331.084)
This act provides that the Board of Therapeutic Massage and the Board of Chiropractic Examiners can apply to the Administrative Hearing Commission ("AHC") for an emergency suspension or restriction of a license if the licensee is the subject of a pending criminal indictment, information, or other charge related to the duties and responsibilities of the licensed occupation, and there is reasonable cause to believe that the public health, safety, or welfare is at imminent risk of harm.
Within one business day of receiving the complaint, the AHC shall return a service packet, as described in the act, to the board, which shall then serve the licensee within twenty-four hours. Within five days of receipt of the complaint, the AHC shall conduct a review and, if the AHC determines there is reasonable cause for the board's complaint, the AHC shall enter an order of suspension or restriction. The order will be effective upon personal service or delivery of a copy at all of the licensee's addresses on file. The AHC shall then hold an evidentiary hearing on the record within forty-five days of the board's filing, or upon final adjudication of the criminal charges, to determine if the initial order entered by the AHC will continue in effect and whether a cause for discipline exists. If no cause for discipline is found, the AHC shall issue findings and terminate the order for suspension or restriction. If the AHC finds cause for discipline, the AHC shall issue findings and order the suspension or restriction to remain in effect until a disciplinary hearing before the board, which may impose discipline otherwise authorized by state law.
Furthermore, this act provides that if the AHC does not grant an initial order, the Board shall remove all reference to such emergency suspension or restriction from public records.
These provisions are identical to HB 58 (2025), provisions in the perfected HCS/HB 268 (2025), and in SCS/HB 834 (2025), and contains a provision similar to HB 1549 (2024), a provision in SCS/HB 2280 (2024), HCS/HB 175 (2023), and HB 1610 (2022).
FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS (SECTIONS 333.041 & 333.042)
This act modifies the process for obtaining a license to practice embalming and to practice funeral directing.
This act provides that a practicum embalming student registrant may assist, under the direct supervision of a licensed embalmer, in a licensed funeral establishment after approval by the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors ("Board"), but shall not assist when not under such supervision.
In addition of the current requirements for an embalmer's license, this act provides that an applicant for an initial license to practice embalming shall furnish evidence that he or she has passed the National Board Examination Sciences, the Missouri Law Examination, and upon written request to the Board and if such person has not previously passed, the person may sit for the National Board Examination Arts. Additionally, the applicant shall provide evidence of employment in a qualifying embalmer apprentice program, as defined in the act, for no less than six months and has personally embalmed at least twenty-five dead human bodies under the supervision of a licensed embalmer, with the first twelve bodies embalmed under the direct supervision of a licensed embalmer.
Additionally, this act repeals provisions regarding failure to complete the requirements for an embalmer's license in a five-year period, passage of a state examination administered by the Board for an embalmer's license, issuance of an embalmer's or funeral director's license by the Board, and waiver of any licensure requirements to certain individuals of a licensed funeral director because of sickness, mental incapacity, or injury.
This act also provides licensure requirements for an initial license to practice funeral directing. An applicant for such license shall furnish evidence that he or she is eighteen years of age, possesses a high school diploma or equivalent thereof, and has either:
(1) Completed a funeral service education program and received a passing score on the National Board Examination Arts and the Missouri Law Examination; or
(2) Applied for a funeral director provisional license, completed a qualifying funeral director apprentice program, and:
(a) Within twenty-four months, completes a twelve-month apprentice program under the personal supervision of a licensed funeral director in a licensed Missouri funeral establishment, which includes arranging and conducting ten funeral services, and receives a passing score on the National Board Examination Arts and the Missouri Law Examination; or
(b) Within thirty-six months, completes an eighteen-month apprentice program under the personal supervision of a licensed funeral director in a licensed Missouri funeral establishment, which includes arranging and conducting twenty-five funeral services, and receives a passing score on the Missouri Law Examination.
Additionally, this act repeals provisions regarding hours devoted as an apprentice for applicants of a funeral director license, passage of a state examination administered by the Board for a funeral director's license, failure to complete the requirements for an embalmer's license in a two-year period, and waiver of certain requirements for licensed embalmers seeking a funeral director license.
A person seeking to obtain a funeral director limited license for work only in a cremation funeral establishment shall meet the qualifications as specified in the act. Additionally, such person shall be exempt from an apprenticeship program.
Finally, this act provides that the Board may, at its discretion and upon written request, waive the funeral director licensure requirements for up to six months if there is an absence of a funeral director in charge due to the death or disability and there is no licensed funeral director available to fulfill the duties. The waiver may allow for a spouse, next of kin, personal representative, or conservator to conduct business until such time as a licensed funeral director can be obtained or arrangements for closure or sale of the funeral establishment, but the waiver shall not allow any services to be provided for which a formal funeral service education program is required.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the perfected HCS/HB 268 (2025), in the perfected HB 765 (2025), and in SCS/HB 834 (2025) and are similar to provisions in SB 351 (2025), SB 1052 (2024), in SCS/HB 2280 (2024), in HCS/HBs 2322 & 1774 (2024), SB 348 (2023), HB 629 (2023), HB 1491 (2022), in HCS/SB 9 (2021), in HCS/SB 330 (2021), in SCS/HB 585 (2021), in HCS/HB 724 (2021), HB 1349 (2021), and HB 2432 (2020).
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE AS CERTAIN SOCIAL WORKERS (SECTIONS 337.600 TO 337.645)
Currently, the educational requirements for licensure of certain social workers include receiving a baccalaureate or master's degree in social work from an accredited program approved by the Council on Social Work Education or receiving a doctorate or Ph.D. in social work. This act provides that such applicants may receive a master degree in social work from a social work program either accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or recognized and approved by the State Committee for Social Workers as set forth in the act.
These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/HB 268 (2025), in the perfected HB 765 (2025), and in SCS/HB 834 (2025) and is substantially similar to HB 216 (2025), HCS/HB 1533 (2024) and provisions in SCS/HB 2280 (2024).
ADMINISTRATION OF CERTAIN VACCINES (SECTION 338.010)
This act provides that the practice of pharmacy shall include the ordering and administering of vaccines, except for the vaccine for chikungunya and those vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after January 1, 2025, instead those after January 1, 2023.
This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), in SCS/SB 317 (2025), SB 548 (2025), in the perfected HCS/HB 943 (2025), SB 1455 (2024), in SCS/HB 2280 (2024), and HB 2879 (2024).
RX CARES FOR MISSOURI PROGRAM (SECTION 338.710)
This act removes the expiration date of August 28, 2026, from the RX Cares for Missouri Program, which provides funds to private and public entities for programs or education to promote medication safety or to prevent prescription drug abuse in Missouri.
This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), in the perfected HCS/HB 943 (2025), HB 1445 (2025).
CLINICAL FELLOWSHIPS FOR SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS (SECTION 345.050)
This act modifies the requirements for licensure as a speech pathologist or audiologist by providing for completion of a clinical fellowship under the direct supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist in good standing, rather than under the direct supervision of a person licensed by the state of Missouri in the profession in which the applicant seeks to be licensed.
This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), in the perfected SS/SB 61 (2025), in the perfected HCS/HB 268 (2025), SB 431 (2025), in HB 765 (2025), and in SCS/HB 834 (2025).
PAYROLL PROCESSING SERVICES (SECTION 361.1200)
This act provides that a person appointed as an agent of a payor for the purposes of providing payroll processing services for which the agent would otherwise need to be licensed, provided that the following apply:(1) There is a written agreement between the payor and the agent directing the agent to provide payroll processing services on the payor's behalf;
(2) The payor holds the agent out to employees and other payees as providing payroll processing services on the payer's behalf; and
(3) The payor's obligation to a payee will not be extinguished if the agent fails to remit the funds to the payee.
This provision is similar to a provision in SS/SB 61 (2025), in perfected HB 707 (2025), and in SCS/HB 754 (2025).
KATIE O'BRIEN