This bill amends several sections of the Nebraska Regulation of Health Professions Act to enhance the regulation of unregulated health professions and to clarify the criteria for changes in the scope of practice. Key changes include the insertion of language that specifies regulation is warranted when unregulated practice is harming or endangering public health, safety, or welfare. Additionally, the bill introduces new criteria for determining the necessity of regulation, such as ensuring adequate education and training requirements for practitioners and the adequacy of the proposed level of regulation to protect public welfare.

The bill also modifies the application process for regulating health professions, requiring a detailed explanation of the potential risks and benefits associated with regulation or changes in scope of practice. It establishes a more structured review process by appointing technical committees to evaluate applications and requiring them to consult with both applicant groups and opponents. Furthermore, the director is tasked with preparing a report for the Legislature that includes recommendations based on the findings of these committees, with a new timeline for submission set at six months after the application is deemed complete. The original sections of the law being amended are repealed to incorporate these changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-6221, 71-6223, 71-6224, 71-6226