HLS 24RS-3307 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 972 (Substitute for House Bill No. 959 by Representative
Deshotel)
BY REPRESENTATIVE DESHOTEL
LICENSING: Allows the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to grant certain
temporary permits and licenses
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 37:1275.2, relative to licenses authorized by certain departments, boards,
3 commissions, and offices; to allow the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
4 to grant certain temporary permits and licenses; to provide for requirements for
5 international medical graduates; to limit certain practices; to provide for licensure of
6 certain physicians; to require rule promulgation; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 37:1275.2 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง1275.2. International physicians; temporary permit; licensure
10 A. The board may grant a temporary permit to practice medicine in this state
11 to an international medical graduate who satisfies all of the following criteria:
12 (1) Has been granted a medical doctorate or substantially similar degree by
13 an international medical program of good standing. For the purposes of this Section,
14 "international medical program" means a medical school, residency program,
15 medical internship program, or entity that provides physicians with a medical
16 education or training outside of the United States that is substantially similar to the
17 medical education or training required to practice as a physician in this state. The
18 international medical graduate shall submit documentation or a certification from a
19 medical school whose curriculum is judged to be acceptable by the board.
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-3307 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 972
1 (2) Is in good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution
2 of the individual's licensing country.
3 (3) Has completed a residency or substantially similar post-graduate medical
4 training in the individual's licensing country or practiced as a medical professional
5 performing the duties of a physician in the individual's licensing country for no less
6 than five years.
7 (4) Is a citizen of the United States or Canada or legally entitled to live or
8 work in the United States and possesses basic fluency in the English language.
9 (5) Has submitted sufficient evidence to the board that the applicant has an
10 offer for employment as a physician at a facility owned or operated by a hospital
11 licensed in this state.
12 B. An international medical graduate who is granted a temporary permit
13 pursuant to this Section shall only provide medical services at a facility owned or
14 operated by a hospital licensed by this state.
15 C. The board may revoke a temporary permit issued pursuant to this Section
16 based upon a finding that clear and convincing evidence exists that a temporary
17 permit holder's medical services violated medical safety, competency, or conduct
18 standards established by the board.
19 D. The board shall grant a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine
20 to the holder of a temporary permit issued pursuant to this Section who is in good
21 standing two years after the date of the issuance of the temporary permit. A holder
22 of a temporary permit who obtains a full and unrestricted license is not subject to the
23 limitation of practicing at a licensed hospital.
24 E. The board shall promulgate any rules and regulations pursuant to the
25 Administrative Procedure Act that may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of
26 this Section.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-3307 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 972
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 972 Original 2024 Regular Session Deshotel
Abstract: Permits the La. State Board of Medical Examiners to grant temporary permits
and licenses to certain international medical graduates.
Proposed law permits the La. State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME) to grant an
international medical graduate a temporary permit to practice medicine in the state if the
graduate satisfies all of following criteria:
(1)Has been granted a medical doctorate or substantially similar degree by an
international medical program of good standing.
(2)Is in good standing with the medical licensing or regulatory institution of the
individual's licensing country.
(3)Has completed a residency or substantially similar post-graduate medical training or
practiced as a medical professional performing the duties of a physician.
(4)Is a citizen of the United States or Canada or legally entitled to live or work in the
United States and possesses basic fluency in the English language.
(5)Has submitted sufficient evidence to the LSBME that the applicant has an offer for
employment as a physician.
Proposed law provides that an international medical graduate who is granted a temporary
permit pursuant to proposed law shall only provide medical services at a facility owned or
operated by a hospital licensed by the state.
Proposed law permits the LSBME to revoke a temporary permit issued pursuant to proposed
law based upon certain findings.
Proposed law requires the LSBME to grant a full and unrestricted license to practice
medicine to the holder of a temporary permit who is in good standing two years after the
date of the issuance of the temporary permit.
Proposed law provides that the LSBME shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary
to effectuate proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 37:1275.2)
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.