SPONSOR: Casteel
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 20 to 1.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 2957.
Currently, an applicant for a license to practice respiratory care has to present evidence of credentials from a certifying entity. This bill specifies that the credentials must be through the National Board of Respiratory Care or a successor credentialing organizations.
This bill requires respiratory care license renewal to be subject to random audits to ensure the licensee has an active credential through the National Board for Respiratory Care or a successor credentialing organization. If a license renewal is audited, proof of an active credential must be submitted directly to the Missouri Board of Respiratory Care by the National Board for Respiratory Care or the successor credentialing organization.
This bill establishes the "Respiratory Care Interstate Compact". Respiratory therapists licensed in a state that participates in the Compact can practice in other participating states without additional requirements. The bill also enhances the ability of participating states to protect the public health and safety and cooperate in regulating the practice of respiratory therapy.
The bill specifies the conditions for a state to join and continue as a participating state, such as enacting a compact that is not materially different from the model compact, implementing a criminal background check requirement, accepting certain examinations and accreditations, and paying a participation fee to the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission. The bill also defines the qualifications and obligations of a licensee who seeks to obtain and exercise a compact privilege in a remote state, such as having a qualifying license, meeting any jurisprudence requirement, reporting any adverse action, and complying with the scope of practice of the remote state.
The bill establishes the "Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission", composed of one commissioner from each participating state, to administer and enforce the Compact. The Commission will have the power to adopt rules and bylaws, maintain a data system, charge fees, conduct investigations, take disciplinary actions, issue subpoenas, and initiate legal proceedings. The bill also outlines the procedures and standards for the Commission's meetings, financial review, executive board, and annual report.
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this creates a higher standard for respiratory therapists. This bill would require the gold standard for credentialing moving forward. The educational requirements for respiratory therapists would stay the same, but applicants would be required to take a more difficult test.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Casteel; Brandon Burk, Missouri Society Respiratory Care; and Kristen Anderson, Missouri Society For Respiratory Care.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: