FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1958

PARTIAL VETO

                                  C 258 L 89

BYHouse Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives R. Fisher, Hankins, Anderson, R. King, McLean, Sayan and Morris)

Specifying chiropractic board membership requirements and clarifying the duties of board members.

House Committe on State Government

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

All chiropractors must be licensed to practice in the state.  The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Chiropractic Disciplinary Board administer state requirements for the regulation of chiropractors.

The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners consists of five practicing chiropractors and one consumer member, all appointed by the Governor for three-year terms.  Board members must be residents of the state for at least five years prior to appointment during their tenure.  The Board of Examiners prepares and grades examinations for licensing, approves symposiums for the continuing education requirement for license renewal, and grants accreditation to schools and colleges of chiropractic.

All licensed chiropractors must pay renewal fees by September 1 of each year.  A licensee whose license has lapsed for more than three years must be re-examined.

The Chiropractic Disciplinary Board consists of six practicing chiropractors and one member of the general public, appointed by the Governor for five-year terms.  The Governor may remove members for neglect of duty, misconduct, malfeasance, or misfeasance.  The Disciplinary Board receives and investigates complaints of alleged violations of the Uniform Disciplinary Act for health professionals, reviews the complaints and investigations to determine probable cause, and determines disciplinary action.

SUMMARY:

The structure and responsibilities of the two state boards responsible for regulation of chiropractors are modified.

State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.  Chiropractor board members must have been engaged in active, licensed practice of chiropractic in the state for at lease five years.  The term served by members is lengthened from three to five years, and members are limited to two consecutive full terms.  Board members may be removed by the Governor for neglect of duty, misconduct, or misfeasance or malfeasance.  Compensation for members is increased to $100 per day.

The examination for a chiropractic license is expanded to include a practical examination in addition to the written examination.  Required subjects for the written examination are made consistent with standards of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.  The board may make additional requirements for tests administered by the National Board.

The continuing education requirement is changed to require at least 25 hours of chiropractic symposia during the preceding 12-month period instead of three-year period.  The board no longer approves all chiropractic symposia.  Instead, the board is to set criteria for the course content of educational symposia, and the licensee must determine if the course content meets the criteria.

License renewal fees are to be paid by the licensee's birth date, rather than September 1 each year.  Re-examination of licensees whose licenses have lapsed for over three years is now at the discretion of the board.

Inactive status for chiropractic licenses is created.  Chiropractors may put their license on inactive status, and are not to practice unless the license is reactivated under rules developed by the board.

Chiropractic Disciplinary Board.  Members of the Chiropractic Disciplinary Board must now be Washington residents and licensed, practicing chiropractors in the state for at least five years prior to serving on the board and during their tenure on the board.  Board members are not to serve more than two consecutive full terms.  The board is no longer required to elect a secretary.  Compensation for members is increased to $100 per day.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 91   0

      Senate    45     0 (Senate amended)

      House 97   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989

Partial Veto Summary:  An increase in compensation from $50 per day to $100 per day for the Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the the Chiropractic Disciplinary Board is removed.  (See VETO MESSAGE)