Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S230 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2066 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 230
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Paul R. Feeney
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act enhancing the podiatric profession's registration and oversight.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2066 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 230
18	18	By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 230) of Paul R. Feeney for
19	19	legislation to enhance the podiatric profession's registration and oversight. Consumer Protection
20	20	and Professional Licensure.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE SENATE, NO. 164 OF 2023-2024.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act enhancing the podiatric profession's registration and oversight.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 13 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out sections
32	32	212A to 12C, inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following sections:-
33	33	3 Section 12A. There shall be within the board of registration in medicine a board of
34	34	4registration in podiatry, to be appointed by the governor, in this and in the following two sections
35	35	5called the podiatry board, consisting of five members, citizens of the commonwealth, three of
36	36	6whom shall have had at least seven years of practice in podiatry in this commonwealth. The
37	37	7fourth member shall be a registered physician who shall have had at least seven years of practice
38	38	8in medicine in this commonwealth. The fifth member shall be a representative of the public,
39	39	9subject to the provisions of section 9B. No member of the board shall be connected in any way
40	40	10with a school of podiatry or be financially interested in any manufacturing, wholesale or retail 2 of 3
41	41	11business, pertaining to podiatry in any form whatsoever. As the term of a member expires, his
42	42	12successor shall be appointed by the governor, to serve for five years.
43	43	13 Section 12B. The podiatry board shall annually meet in the month of October at such
44	44	14time and place as it shall determine, and shall organize by electing a chairman and secretary, who
45	45	15shall be members of the podiatry board, and who shall hold their respective offices for one year.
46	46	16The podiatry board shall hold at least six additional meetings at such times and places as it shall
47	47	17determine or upon call of the chairman. Three members of the podiatry board shall constitute a
48	48	18quorum for the transaction of business.
49	49	19 Section 12C. The members of the podiatry board shall serve without compensation but
50	50	20shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses reasonably incurred in the performances
51	51	21of their duties as members or on behalf of the podiatry board.
52	52	22 SECTION 2. Said chapter 13 is further amended by inserting after section 12C the
53	53	23following section:-
54	54	24 Section 12D. The board of registration in medicine in consultation with the commissioner
55	55	25of public health may review and approve rules and regulations proposed by the podiatry board.
56	56	26Such regulations will be deemed approved unless disapproved within ninety days of submission
57	57	27to the medicine board provided, however, that any such disapproval shall be in writing setting
58	58	28forth the reasons for such disapproval.
59	59	29 SECTION 3. Chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section
60	60	3017A and inserting in place thereof the following section:- 3 of 3
61	61	31 Section 17A. The board shall keep a full record of its proceedings and a registry of all
62	62	32persons registered by it, which shall be public records and open to inspection. Subject to the
63	63	33provisions of section 12D of chapter 13, the board shall make such rules and regulations as may
64	64	34be necessary for the proper conduct of its duties. It shall make an annual report, including a
65	65	35statement of the condition of podiatry in the commonwealth.
66	66	36 The board shall investigate all complaints of the violation of any provision of sections
67	67	37thirteen to twenty-two, inclusive, or of section sixty-five relative to podiatry, and report the same
68	68	38to the proper prosecuting officers.
69	69	39 Said chapter 112 is further amended by inserting after section 17B the following
70	70	40Section:-
71	71	41 Section 17C. The board shall promulgate regulations jointly with the board of
72	72	42registration in medicine, and in consultation with the commissioner of public health, to ensure
73	73	43that podiatrists under the board of registration in podiatry are subject to requirements
74	74	44commensurate to those that physicians are subject to under the board of registration in medicine
75	75	45pursuant to section 5 and sections 5A to 5M, inclusive, as they apply to the creation and public
76	76	46dissemination of individual profiles and licensure restrictions, disciplinary actions and reports,
77	77	47claims or reports of malpractice, communication with professional organizations, physical and
78	78	48mental examinations, investigation of complaints and other aspects of professional conduct and
79	79	49discipline.