FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2792

PARTIAL VETO

                                  C 147 L 90

BYHouse Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Day, D. Sommers, R. King, Vekich, Dellwo, Wolfe and Rector)

Regulating podiatric physicians and surgeons.

House Committe on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

A podiatrist is a podiatric physician and surgeon of the foot.

The Podiatry Practice Act, first enacted in 1917, provides for the regulation of podiatrists through licensure by the Department of Health and the Washington State Podiatry Board.  The practice act does not reflect current development in the field of podiatry nor modern standards with respect to terminology, educational qualifications, and other issues.

The Washington State Podiatry Board examines applicants for licensure as podiatrists and regulates the practices of podiatry. The only board office specified by statute is a chairperson.  A quorum of the board is not defined.  The board has no specific authority to approve podiatric schools.

Applicants for licensure must be over 18 years of age and of good moral character, must have completed high school, two years of college and an approved course in podiatry.

Applicants must take an examination administered by the board.  The board may recognize experience as a credit toward the examination grade.  There is no reference to the duty of the board to establish the date and location of the examinations.

Applicants for licensure who are licensed in other states must take the state podiatry examination as well as the national examination to be licensed in Washington.

The requirements for license renewal are specified in law. However, there are no provisions for placing a license on inactive status and no exemption from the licensure requirement for the administration of family remedies or treatment by prayer.

The podiatry practice act does not contain exemptions from civil or criminal liability for the secretary, board members, and their agents in the course of their duties.

SUMMARY:

References in the podiatry licensure act to practitioners of podiatry are changed from "podiatrists" to "podiatric physicians and surgeons."  The name of the Washington State Podiatry Board is changed to the Washington State Podiatric Medical Board, and references to podiatry throughout the act are changed to podiatric.

The officers of the board include a vice-chairperson and secretary. A simple majority of the board currently serving constitutes a quorum.  The board's powers are clarified to include the approval of podiatric schools.

Only a licensed person may engage in practice and represent himself or herself as a podiatric physician and surgeon.  Applicants for licensure must submit proof that the applicant has not engaged in unprofessional conduct and has completed an approved course of instruction.  The minimum age requirement and the requirement of a high school diploma with two years of college prior to a course in podiatry is deleted.

The board must establish the date, location, and application deadline for examinations.  Applicants must pass both the national Board of Podiatry examination and the state examination, but the board may approve an examination prepared by a private testing agency or licensing authority.  The applicant's experience may no longer count as credit toward the examination grade.

Applicants who are licensed in other states may receive a license without examination if the standards of the other state are substantially equivalent to Washington standards.

The board must establish by rule the requirements for license renewal.  Provisions are added for placing a license on inactive status.  Licensure is not required for the administration of family remedies or treatment by prayer.

The secretary of health is authorized to set fees, establish forms and maintain records.  The secretary, members of the board, and their agents are exempted from civil or criminal liability for acts performed in the course of their duties.

The act is updated to reflect current terminology, and statutes are repealed that conflict with these changes.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 98   0

      Senate    46     0

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990

Partial Veto Summary:  The veto removed a section of the bill duplicating existing law that provided immunity from legal liability for members of the state Podiatric Medical Board for acts performed in the course of their duties.  This immunity is already granted in state law for members of professional health-related regulatory boards.  (See VETO MESSAGE)