SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 2792

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

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Smith, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Johnson, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Scott Plack (786-7409)

                  February 26, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE, FEBRUARY 22, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Podiatry Practice Act (Chapter 18.22 RCW) licenses podiatrists.  The Washington State Podiatry Board establishes requirements for the licensure of podiatrists and serves as the disciplinary authority.

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

The current statutes specify that the board shall elect a chairperson but provide for no other board officers.  There is no definition of a quorum for board meetings.  The board has no specific authority to approve podiatric schools.  There is no reference to the duty of the board to establish the date and location of the examinations.

Applicants for licensure must be over 18 years of age and of good moral character, completed high school and two years of college, and an approved course in podiatry.  They must take an examination administered by the board and the board may recognize experience as a credit toward the examination grade.  Applicants for licensure who are licensed in other states which grant reciprocity to Washington licensed podiatrists or who have passed the national examination may be licensed here if they pass an additional examination administered by the board.

There are no provisions for placing a license on inactive status.  No exemptions from licensure are provided for the administration of family remedies or treatment by prayer.

Statutes do not authorize the secretary to set fees, establish forms, and maintain records.  The secretary, board members, and their agents are not exempt from civil or criminal liability in the course of performing their duties.

SUMMARY:

Practitioners of podiatry are titled as 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 are replaced through out the act generally with the term podiatric.  The officers of the board include a vice-chairperson and secretary, and a simple majority of the board currently serving constitutes a quorum.  The powers of the board are clarified to include the approval of podiatric schools.

Applicants for licensure must submit proof that he or she has not engaged in unprofessional conduct, and has completed an approved course of instruction.  The minimum requirement of a high school diploma with two years of college prior to a course in podiatry is deleted, as well as the age requirement.  The board must establish the date, location, and application deadline for examinations.

Applicants who are licensed in other states may receive a license without examination if the standards of the other state are substantially equivalent.  They must pass the national Board of Podiatry examination, as well as the state examination, but the board may approve an examination prepared by a private testing agency or licensing authority.  Experience may no longer count as credit toward the examination grade.

The board must establish by rule the requirements for license renewal.  Provisions are specified for placing a license on inactive status.  The Secretary of Health is authorized to set fees, establish forms and maintain records.  The administration of family remedies or treatment by prayer is exempt from the requirement for licensure.  The secretary, members of the board and their agents are exempt from civil or criminal liability.  The act is up-dated to reflect current terminology, and statutes are repealed that are redundant with these changes.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Frank Morrison, Washington Podiatric Medical Association (pro); Melanie Stewart, Washington Podiatric Medical Association (pro)