HOUSE BILL NO. 2957 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE CASTEEL.
5908H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To repeal sections 334.870 and 334.880, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to respiratory care practitioners.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 334.870 and 334.880, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections 2 enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 334.870 and 334.880, to read as follows: 334.870. An applicant for a license to practice respiratory care may be issued a 2 license which is valid until the expiration date as determined by the board after the following 3 requirements have been met: 4 (1) The applicant submits to the board: 5 (a) A completed application for licensure; 6 (b) Written evidence of: 7 a. [Credentials from the certifying entity; or] An active credential as a registered 8 respiratory therapist through the National Board for Respiratory Care or a successor 9 credentialing organization; 10 b. Current licensure or registration [as a respiratory care practitioner] with an active 11 credential as a registered respiratory therapist that authorizes the practice of 12 respiratory care in another state, the District of Columbia or territory of the United States 13 which requires standards for licensure or registration determined by the board to be 14 equivalent to, or exceed, the requirements for licensure under sections 334.800 to 334.930; or 15 c. An active credential as a certified respiratory therapist earned before January 16 1, 2027, through the National Board for Respiratory Care; and 17 (c) Payment of any required fees;
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 2957 2
18 (2) The board requests and receives a complete background check and other 19 information as may be deemed necessary to fulfill sections 334.800 to 334.910; 20 (3) An applicant who has completed the requirements of subdivision (1) of this 21 section and has submitted the necessary information for the background check pursuant to 22 subdivision (2) of this section may obtain a conditional license to practice as a respiratory 23 care practitioner pending the outcome of the background check subject to the following 24 restrictions: 25 (a) The conditional license shall only be issued if the applicant has made a prima facie 26 showing that he or she meets all of the requirements for full licensure; 27 (b) The conditional license shall only be effective until the board has had an 28 opportunity to investigate the applicant's qualifications for licensure pursuant to subdivisions 29 (1) and (2) of this section and to notify the applicant that his or her application for licensure 30 has been granted or denied; 31 (c) If the applicant provides false or misleading information to the board, the board 32 may automatically terminate the conditional license. If the board automatically terminates a 33 conditional license, the board shall notify the holder of the board's decision by certified mail 34 or personal service; 35 (d) In no event shall such conditional license be in effect for more than twelve months 36 after the date of its issuance; 37 (e) A conditional license shall not be eligible for renewal; and 38 (f) No fee shall be charged for issuing a conditional license. 334.880. 1. A license issued pursuant to sections 334.800 to 334.930 shall be 2 renewed biennially, except as provided in sections 334.800 to 334.930. The board shall mail 3 a notice to each person licensed during the preceding licensing period at least thirty calendar 4 days prior to the expiration date of the license. The board shall not renew any license unless 5 the licensee shall provide satisfactory evidence of having complied with the board's minimum 6 requirements for continuing education. 7 2. Failure of a licensee to renew his or her license prior to the expiration of the license 8 shall result in the lapse of the license. A lapsed license may be reinstated by the board as 9 provided by rule. 10 3. Any license renewal shall be subject to a random audit to ensure the licensee 11 has an active credential through the National Board for Respiratory Care or a successor 12 credentialing organization. If a license renewal is audited, proof of an active credential 13 shall be submitted directly to the board by the National Board for Respiratory Care or 14 the successor credentialing organization. 15 4. Each licensee may, in lieu of submitting proof of the completion of the required 16 continuing education course, apply for an inactive license at the time of renewal and pay the HB 2957 3
17 required inactive fee. An inactive license shall be renewed biennially. An inactive license 18 may be reactivated by the board as provided by rule. 19 [4.] 5. Any person who practices as a respiratory care practitioner during the time his 20 or her license is inactive or lapsed shall be considered an illegal practitioner and shall be 21 subject to the penalties for violation of the respiratory care practice act. ✔
Statutes affected: