SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5817
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Amended by House, April 4, 2019
Title: An act relating to senior students in accredited schools of chiropractic.
Brief Description: Concerning senior students in accredited schools of chiropractic.
Sponsors: Senators Rivers, Cleveland, Walsh, Randall, Schoesler and Short.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 2/18/19, 2/19/19 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed Senate: 3/05/19, 45-0.Passed House: 4/04/19, 93-0.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Randall, Vice Chair; O'Ban, Ranking Member; Bailey, Becker, Conway, Dhingra, Frockt, Keiser, Rivers and Van De Wege.
Staff: Greg Attanasio (786-7410)
Background: Chiropractic practice is governed by the Washington State Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission (commission). An individual must be licensed as a chiropractor to practice chiropractic adjustment in Washington. Certain individuals are permitted to practice chiropractic without a license:
individuals may temporarily practice chiropractic in Washington if they hold a license in another state, territory, or country; and
individuals serving a period of postgraduate chiropractic training under the direct supervision and control of a chiropractor may practice as part of their duties as a postgraduate trainee.
Senior students in accredited schools of chiropractic approved by the commission may practice chiropractic, except for the administration of a chiropractic adjustment, if the practice is part of a regular course of instruction and the student is under the direct supervision and control of a licensed chiropractor.
Summary of Bill: Senior chiropractic students are permitted to administer chiropractic adjustments as part of a regular course of instruction and under the direct supervision and control of a licensed chiropractor. A senior student practicing chiropractic must pass an open book written jurisprudence examination approved by the commission prior to administering a chiropractic adjustment.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Clinical training for chiropractic students is unnecessarily restricted by the current statute. Washington is the only state in the region that does not allow chiropractic adjustments by senior students. Allowing students to provide chiropractic adjustments under direct supervision of a licensed chiropractor is safe and creates a better prepared professional.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Ann Rivers, Prime Sponsor; Lori Grassi, Washington State Chiropractic Association; Dr. Joe Pfeifer, University of Western States; Dr. Mark Sutton, citizen; Dr. Ben Greenwade, citizen.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.
EFFECT OF HOUSE AMENDMENT(S): Allows the Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission (CQAC) to adopt rules requiring a senior chiropractic student practicing chiropractic without a license and their supervising chiropractor to file information with the CQAC, including the name and contact information of the student, the name and contact information of the supervising chiropractor, and the location where the student will be practicing.