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H.B. 477

             1     

LICENSING OF ANESTHESIOLOGIST

             2     
ASSISTANTS

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen D. Clark

             6     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill creates a new licensing chapter in the Division of Occupational and
             11      Professional Licensing for Anesthesiologist Assistants.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines terms;
             15          .    creates a board;
             16          .    requires licensure;
             17          .    establishes qualifications for licensure;
             18          .    establishes terms for the license;
             19          .    establishes exemptions from licensure; and
             20          .    defines unlawful and unprofessional conduct.
             21      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             22          None
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             26      ENACTS:
             27          58-78-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             28          58-78-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29          58-78-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             30          58-78-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31          58-78-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32          58-78-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33          58-78-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34          58-78-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35          58-78-501, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36          58-78-502, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37     
             38      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             39          Section 1. Section 58-78-101 is enacted to read:
             40     
CHAPTER 78. ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT LICENSING ACT

             41     
Part 1. General Provisions

             42          58-78-101. Title.
             43          This chapter is known as the "Anesthesiologist Assistant Licensing Act."
             44          Section 2. Section 58-78-102 is enacted to read:
             45          58-78-102. Definitions.
             46          In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
             47          (1) "Anesthesiologist Assistant" means a person licensed under this chapter to engage
             48      in the practice of anesthesiologist assistant.
             49          (2) "Board" means the Anesthesiologist Assistant Licensing Board created in Section
             50      58-78-201 .
             51          (3) "Practice of anesthesiologist assistant" means:
             52          (a) the provisions of anesthesiology services as defined by the division by
             53      administrative rule;
             54          (b) under the supervision of a physician:
             55          (i) licensed under Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act; and
             56          (ii) specializing in anesthesia; and
             57          (c) when the physician described under Subsection (3)(b) is:
             58          (i) actively engaged in clinical practice; and


             59          (ii) immediately available on-site to provide supervision of the anesthesiologist
             60      assistant.
             61          (4) "Unlawful conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-78-501 .
             62          (5) "Unprofessional conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-78-502 and as
             63      may be further defined by administrative rule adopted by the division in accordance with Title
             64      63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
             65          Section 3. Section 58-78-201 is enacted to read:
             66     
Part 2. Board

             67          58-78-201. Board.
             68          (1) There is created the Anesthesiologist Assistant Licensing Board consisting of four
             69      persons licensed in accordance with this chapter and one member of the general public.
             70          (2) The board shall be appointed and serve in accordance with Section 58-1-201 .
             71          (3) The duties and responsibilities of the board shall be in accordance with Sections
             72      58-1-202 and 58-1-203 . In addition, the board may designate one of its members on a
             73      permanent or rotating basis to:
             74          (a) assist the division in reviewing complaints concerning the unlawful or
             75      unprofessional conduct of a licensee; and
             76          (b) advise the division in its investigation of these complaints.
             77          (4) A board member who has, under Subsection (3), reviewed a complaint or advised
             78      in its investigation may be disqualified from participating with the board when the board
             79      member serves as a presiding officer of an administrative proceeding concerning the complaint.
             80          Section 4. Section 58-78-301 is enacted to read:
             81     
Part 3. Licensing

             82          58-78-301. Licensure required -- Issuance of licenses -- Effect on insurers.
             83          (1) Beginning January 1, 2009, and except as provided in Sections 58-1-307 and
             84      58-78-304 , a license is required to engage in the practice of anesthesiologist assistant.
             85          (2) The division shall issue to any person who qualifies under this chapter a license to
             86      practice as an anesthesiologist assistant.
             87          (3) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require payment from insurers for
             88      anesthesiologist assistant services.
             89          Section 5. Section 58-78-302 is enacted to read:


             90          58-78-302. Qualifications for licensure -- Temporary license.
             91          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), each applicant for licensure as an
             92      anesthesiologist assistant under this chapter shall:
             93          (a) submit an application in a form prescribed by the division;
             94          (b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63-38-3.2 ;
             95          (c) be of good moral character;
             96          (d) provide satisfactory documentation of having earned certification from the National
             97      Commission of Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) or its successor organization;
             98          (e) within 12 months of completing the training under Subsection (1)(d), pass the
             99      certification exam offered by the NCCAA; and
             100          (f) complete other requirements as specified by the division by administrative rule.
             101          (2) The division may issue a temporary license, in accordance with Section 58-1-303
             102      and any other conditions established by rule, to an applicant who meets all of the requirements
             103      for licensure except the examination requirement of Subsection (1)(e).
             104          Section 6. Section 58-78-303 is enacted to read:
             105          58-78-303. Term of license -- Expiration -- Renewal.
             106          (1) The division shall issue each license under this chapter in accordance with a
             107      two-year renewal cycle established by rule. The division may by rule extend or shorten a
             108      renewal cycle by as much as one year to stagger the renewal cycles it administers.
             109          (2) Each licensee shall, at the time of applying for renewal, demonstrate compliance
             110      with continuing education requirements established by rule by the division in collaboration
             111      with the board.
             112          (3) Each license automatically expires on the expiration date shown on the license
             113      unless the licensee renews it in accordance with Section 58-1-308 .
             114          Section 7. Section 58-78-304 is enacted to read:
             115          58-78-304. Exemptions from licensure.
             116          In addition to the exemptions from licensure set forth in Section 58-1-307 , the
             117      following persons may engage in the practice of anesthesiologist assistant subject to the stated
             118      circumstances and limitations without being licensed under this chapter:
             119          (1) an individual licensed as a physician and surgeon or osteopathic physician and
             120      surgeon under Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act, and Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic


             121      Medical Practice Act; and
             122          (2) a commissioned physician or surgeon serving in the armed forces of the United
             123      States or other federal agency.
             124          Section 8. Section 58-78-401 is enacted to read:
             125     
Part 4. License Denial and Discipline

             126          58-78-401. Grounds for denial of license -- Disciplinary proceedings.
             127          Grounds for refusing to issue a license to an applicant, for refusing to renew the license
             128      of a licensee, for revoking, suspending, restricting, or placing on probation the license of a
             129      licensee, for issuing a public or private reprimand to a licensee, and for issuing a cease and
             130      desist order shall be in accordance with Section 58-1-401 .
             131          Section 9. Section 58-78-501 is enacted to read:
             132     
Part 5. Unlawful and Unprofessional Conduct

             133          58-78-501. Unlawful conduct.
             134          "Unlawful conduct" includes, in addition to the definition in Section 58-1-501 , using
             135      the title "anesthesiologist assistant" or any other title or designation tending to indicate that the
             136      person is an anesthesiologist assistant unless that person has a current license as an
             137      anesthesiologist assistant issued under this chapter.
             138          Section 10. Section 58-78-502 is enacted to read:
             139          58-78-502. Unprofessional conduct.
             140          "Unprofessional conduct" includes, in addition to the definition in Section 58-1-501 and
             141      as may be further defined by rule:
             142          (1) engaging in any act or practice in a professional capacity which the licensee is not
             143      competent to perform through training or experience;
             144          (2) failing to refer a client to other competent professionals when the licensee is unable
             145      or unwilling to adequately support or serve the client;
             146          (3) failing to maintain the confidentiality of any information received from a client,
             147      unless released by the client or otherwise authorized or required by law; and
             148          (4) exploiting a client for personal advantage, profit, or interest.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-18-08 10:33 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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