HCS HB 833 -- PROFESSIONAL LICENSES

SPONSOR:  Wasson

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding the licensing of
certain professionals within the Division of Professional
Registration within the Department of Insurance, Financial
Institutions, and Professional Registration; Missouri Public
Service Commission; Department of Health and Senior Services; and
Department of Public Safety.

MANUFACTURED HOMES

Currently, every manufactured housing manufacturer or dealer who
offers for sale four or more new or used homes must register with
the Missouri Public Service Commission.  The substitute changes
the registration requirement to those who offer to sell four or
more used homes or one or more new homes within a year.  The
Manufactured Housing Consumer Recovery Fund is created to pay
claims filed by aggrieved consumers who have exhausted all other
legal remedies.  Manufactured home dealers are required to
provide purchasers with a bill of sale containing the serial
number and the names of the persons responsible for the
installation and setup.  Every manufactured home dealer must
register and pay a $200 registration or renewal fee on or before
January 15 each year with a permanent place of business for sales
and record keeping.

The commission may refuse to register an applicant or suspend or
revoke a registration which will apply to all registrations held
by the dealer if there is a consistent pattern of abuse.  The
commission, through its general counsel, may seek remedies in a
circuit court for violations.

TATTOOISTS

The substitute authorizes the Director of the Division of
Professional Registration to establish rules regarding the
educational and training requirements for applicants to receive
or renew a license to practice tattooing, branding, or body
piercing.

The division is authorized to file complaints with the
Administrative Hearing Commission for certain reasons specified
in the substitute.

MEDICAL IMAGING

The Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Quality Assurance Act
of 2007 is established.  The substitute:

(1)  Establishes the Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Board
of Examiners within the Division of Professional Registration;

(2)  Requires all persons administering medical imaging and
radiation therapy procedures to be licensed by the board;

(3)  Exempts physicians, veterinarians, dentists, chiropractors,
podiatrists, registered nurses, and certain qualified persons
currently practicing medical imaging and radiation therapy from
licensure;

(4)  Establishes certain criteria to be met by applicants for
licensure as radiographers, radiation therapists, nuclear
medicine technologists, and dental radiographers;

(5)  Authorizes the board to certify programs for medical imaging
and radiation therapy in medical facilities, dental facilities,
educational institutions, or other public or private
institutions;

(6)  Authorizes the board to adopt rules; give examinations;
waive examination requirements; establish continuing education;
issue temporary permits; and renew, revoke, and suspend licenses;

(7)  Authorizes the board to investigate charges and allegations
brought against licensees, issue subpoenas, hold hearings, render
judgments, and hear appeals; and

(8)  Requires, beginning August 28, 2009, persons providing the
technical component of diagnostic ultrasound services (sonography
or vascular technology) to be credentialed or practice in an
accredited laboratory.

NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATORS

The substitute changes the laws regarding the licensure of
nursing home administrators.  The substitute:

(1)  Requires licensing fees to be paid to the Department of
Health and Senior Services;

(2)  Prohibits an applicant for licensure who has failed three
times the examination administered by the Missouri Board of
Nursing Home Administrators from being licensed unless he or she
has successfully completed the board-prescribed course of
instruction and passed the examination;

(3)  Allows a temporary emergency license to be issued to an
applicant whose licensing examination results have not been
received by the board;

(4)  Authorizes the board to issue probationary licenses;

(5)  Allows the board to file a complaint with the Administrative
Hearing Commission for violation of any provision of Chapter 198,
RSMo, or rule established by the board;

(6)  Requires that certain members of the board be citizens of
the United States and reside in Missouri for at least one year
prior to their appointment; and

(7)  Authorizes the board to establish an inactive license for a
licensee who requests it.

ELEVATOR SAFETY BOARD

The membership of the Elevator Safety Board is increased from 11
to 13.  One of the new members must be a licensed professional
engineer and the other a representative of an elevator company
that installs, services, and maintains elevators but is not an
elevator manufacturer.

The Director of the Department of Public Safety is authorized to
assign a designee to the board if he or she chooses not to serve.

The provision requiring that no more than six members of the
board be of the same political party is repealed.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $40,711
in FY 2008, $50,320 in FY 2009, and $54,179 in FY 2010.
Estimated Effect on Other State Funds of a cost of $202,180 in
FY 2008, an income of $589,781 in FY 2009, and a cost of $232,613
in FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill allows the Division of
Professional Registration to issue injunctions.  Currently, the
division has no authority to prohibit the practice of persons
found to be in violation of the law.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Wasson; and Division
of Professional Registration, Department of Insurance, Financial
Institutions, and Professional Registration.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am