This bill aims to revise laws concerning mental and physical evaluations for professional licensees in Montana, establishing a standardized review process for evaluation requests made by licensing boards and the Department of Labor and Industry. It allows boards, such as the alternative health care board and the board of behavioral health, to require evaluations of licensees or applicants if there is a reasonable belief that they pose a significant risk to public health and safety. The evaluations will assess how any mental or physical impairments or substance use may affect the individual's professional performance. Additionally, the bill grants boards the authority to suspend licenses or halt application processing for individuals who refuse to undergo these evaluations.

The bill also amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) related to investigations of licensees. Notably, it removes the requirement for boards to order physical or mental examinations during investigations, instead allowing for evaluations to be conducted based on the board's discretion. The language has been updated to specify that medical records must be released to the board upon request, and any examinations must be conducted by approved physicians. These changes aim to streamline the evaluation process while ensuring public safety and the integrity of professional licensing.

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
HB0238_X(1): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_X(2): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_X(3): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_X(4): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_X(5): 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322
HB0238_X: 37-3-323, 37-6-311, 37-12-322