House Bill No. introduced by J. Etchart aims to revise laws concerning mental and physical evaluations for professional licensees in Montana. The bill establishes a standard review process for evaluation requests made by various boards and the Department of Labor and Industry when there is a reasonable belief that a licensee or applicant poses a significant risk to public health and safety. The evaluations will assess the impact of any mental or physical impairments or substance use on the individual's professional performance. Additionally, the bill allows for the suspension of licenses or applications if an individual refuses to undergo the required evaluations.

The bill also amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) related to the investigation of licensees in the fields of medicine, podiatry, and chiropractic. Key amendments include the removal of language that previously required board orders for evaluations and the introduction of new provisions that specify the examination must be conducted by a physician approved by the board. The amendments emphasize the importance of medical records in investigations and streamline the process for determining the fitness of licensees to practice safely. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance public safety by ensuring that professionals are adequately evaluated for their ability to perform their duties without posing risks to the public.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_1(1): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_1(2): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_1(3): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_1(4): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_1(5): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_1(6): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_1(7): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_1: 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_2(1): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_2(2): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_2(3): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_2(4): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_2(5): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_2(6): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_2(7): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_2(8): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_2: 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322