An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 49 By: Floyd of the Senate
and
Osburn of the House
An Act relating to chiropractic; amending 59 O.S.
2011, Section 161.7, as last amended by Section 8,
Chapter 363, O.S.L. 2019 (59 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section
161.7), which relates to application for original
license by examination ; modifying application fee;
eliminating examination fee; amending 59 O.S. 2011,
Section 161.9, as last amended by S ection 5, Chapter
213, O.S.L. 2019 (59 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 161.9),
which relates to application for original license by
relocation of practice; modifying application fee;
broadening entities who may administer examination;
and providing an effective d ate.
SUBJECT: Chiropractic
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAH OMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2011, Section 161.7, as
last amended by Section 8, Chapter 363, O.S.L. 2019 (59 O.S. Supp.
2020, Section 161.7), is amended to re ad as follows:
Section 161.7. A. 1. Applications for an origi nal license by
examination to practice chiropractic in this state shall be made to
the Board of Chiropractic Examiners in writing on a form and in a
manner prescribed by the Board.
2. The application shall be accompanied by a fee of One Hundred
Seventy-five Dollars ($175.00) Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00),
which shall not be refund able under any circumstances.
ENR. S. B. NO. 49 Page 2
3. If the application is disapproved by the Board, the
applicant shall be so notified by the Executive Director, with the
reason for such disapp roval fully stated in writing.
4. If the application is approved, the applicant , upon payment
of an examination fee of One Hundred Seventy -five Dollars ($175.00),
may take an examination administered by the Board for the purpose of
securing an original l icense. The Board may accept a passing score
on an examination administered by th e National Board of Chiropractic
Examiners taken by the applicant , or may require the applicant to
take an examination administered by the Board or both.
5. Prior to approval of an application, the Board may authorize
the Executive Director to issue a tem porary license to an applicant
who has submitted a completed application and who, upon payment of
the examination fee, has passed the required examination with a
score acceptable to the Board. A temporary license shall authorize
the applicant to practice chiropractic in Oklahoma between the
submission of the application and the applicant 's approval for
licensure by the Board. A temporary license shall exp ire upon the
Board's approval of a permanent license or ten (10) calendar days
following the Board's denial of an application for a permanent
license.
B. Applicants for an original license to practice chiropractic
in this state shall submit to the Board o f Chiropractic Examiners
documentary evidence of completion of:
1. A course of resident study of not less than four (4) years
of nine (9) months each in an accredited chiropractic college. A
senior student at an accredited chiropractic college may make
application for an original license by examination prior to
graduation, but such a license shall not be issued until documentary
evidence of the graduation of the student from the college has been
submitted to the Board;
2. Parts I, II, III, IV and physiot herapy as administered by
the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners with a passing score;
and
ENR. S. B. NO. 49 Page 3
3. Passing a jurisprudence examination approved by the Board
with a score of seventy -five percent (75%) or better.
C. Each applicant shall be a graduate of a n accredited
chiropractic college. For those graduating from a chiropractic
program outside the Unite d States, the applicants must have
completed an educational program leading to a degree in chiroprac tic
from an institution authorized to operate by the g overnment having
jurisdiction in which it is domiciled.
D. All credentials, diplomas, and other requi red documentation
in a foreign language submitted to the Board by such applicants
shall be accompanied by notarized English translations.
E. International applicants shall provide satisfactory evidence
of meeting the requirements for permanent residence o r temporary
nonimmigrant status as set forth by the United States Citizenship
and Immigration Servic es.
F. Effective January 1, 2006, out -of-state licensed applicants
shall submit to the Board documentary evidence that the applicant
has malpractice insura nce. New applicants shall submit to the Board
documentary evidence that the applicant has malpracti ce insurance
within six (6) months of obtaining their Oklahoma license.
G. An applicant for an original license shall:
1. Inform the Board as to whether t he person has previously
been licensed in Oklahoma and whether the license was revoked or
surrendered;
2. Inform the Board as to whether the applicant ha s ever been
licensed in another jurisdiction and whether any disciplinary action
was taken against the applicant;
3. Provide full disclosure to the Board of any criminal
proceeding taken against the ap plicant including, but not limited
to, pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, receivi ng a deferred
sentence for, or being convicted of a felony crime that
substantially relates to the practice of chiropractic and poses a
reasonable threat to public safety; and
ENR. S. B. NO. 49 Page 4
4. If requested, appear before the Board for a p ersonal
interview.
H. No later than one (1) year after receiving a license to
practice in Oklahoma, c hiropractic physicians shall complete an
orientation course of training approved by the Board. The
orientation course hours shall count as continuing edu cation credits
for the year in which they were earned. An association may provide
the orientation course of training.
I. The Board may issue an original license to those applicants
who have passed the required examination with a score acceptable to
the Board and who meet all other req uirements set forth by the
Board. No license fee shall be charged by t he Board for the balance
of the calendar year in which such a license is issued.
J. In addition to a n applicant's failure to meet any other
requirements imposed by this section or othe r applicable law, the
Board may deny a license or impose probationary c onditions if an
applicant has:
1. Pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, received a deferred
sentence for, or been convicted of a felony crime that substa ntially
relates to the practice of chiropractic and poses a reasonable
threat to public safety;
2. Been the subject of disciplinary action by the Board; or
3. Been the subject of disciplinary action in another
jurisdiction.
K. As used in this section:
1. "Substantially relates " means the nature of criminal conduct
for which the person was convicted has a direct bearing on the
fitness or ability to perform one or more of the duties or
responsibilities necessarily related to the occupation; and
2. "Poses a reasonable threat" means the nature of criminal
conduct for which the person was convicted involved an act or threat
of harm against another and has a bearing on the fitness or ability
to serve the public or work with others in the occupation.
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SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2011, Section 161.9, as
last amended by Section 5, Chapter 213, O.S.L. 2019 (59 O.S. Supp.
2020, Section 161.9), is amended to read as follows:
Section 161.9. A. Applications for an original license by
relocation of practice to practice c hiropractic in this state shall
be made to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners in writing on a form
and in a manner prescribed by the Board. The application shall be
accompanied by a fee of Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ( $350.00) Three
Hundred Dollars ($300.00), which shall not be refundable under any
circumstances. If the application is disapproved by the Board, it
shall be returned to the applicant with the reason for its
disapproval fully stated in writing.
B. The Board may, in its discretion, issue an original license
by relocation to practice to an applicant who is currently licensed
to practice chiropractic in another s tate, country, territory or
province, upon the following condi tions:
1. That the applicant is o f good moral character;
2. That the requirements for licensure in the state, country,
territory or province in which the applicant is licensed are deemed
by the Board to be equivalent to the requirements for obtaining an
original license by examination i n force in this state at the date
of such license;
3. That the applicant has no disciplinary matters pending
against him or her in any state, country, territory or province;
4. That the license of the applicant was obtain ed by
examination in the state, country, territory or province wherein i t
was issued, or was obtained by examination of the National Board of
Chiropractic Examiners;
5. That the applicant passe s a jurisprudence examination given
by the Board or the National Board of Chiropractic Exam iners with a
minimum score of seventy -five percent (75%) or better; and
6. That the applicant meets all other requirements of the
Oklahoma Chiropractic Practice Act .
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C. Any applicant requesting a license by relocation of pra ctice
into Oklahoma shall:
1. Submit to the Board documentary evidence t hat the applicant
has been in active practice as a chiropractic physician three (3)
years immediately preceding the date o f the application;
2. Provide full disclosure to the Board o f any disciplinary
action taken against the applicant pursuant to licensu re as a
chiropractic physician in any state pursuant to licensure and/or
criminal proceedings;
3. Provide full disclosure to the Board of any criminal
proceeding taken against the ap plicant in any jurisdictio n
including, but not limited to:
a. pleading guilty, pleading nolo contendere, receiving a
deferred sentence or being convicted of a felony,
b. pleading guilty, pleading nolo contendere, receiving a
deferred sentence or being conv icted of a misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude, or
c. pleading guilty, pleading nolo contendere, receiving a
deferred sentence or being convicted of a violation of
federal or state controlled d angerous substance laws;
4. If requested, appear before the Board for a personal
interview; and
5. Pay an application fee to be set by rule of the Board.
D. The Board may authorize the Executive Director to issue a
temporary license to an applicant who has submitted a completed
application and has passed the requ ired examination with a score
acceptable to the Board. A temporary licen se shall authorize the
applicant to practice chiropractic in Oklahoma between the
submission of the application and the ap plicant's approval for
licensure by the Board. A temporary l icense shall expire upon the
Board's approval of a permanent license or t en (10) calendar days
ENR. S. B. NO. 49 Page 7
following the Board's denial of an application for a permanent
license.
E. No license fee shall be charged by the Board for the balance
of the calendar year in which such a license is issued.
F. In addition to an applicant 's failure to meet any other
requirements imposed by this section or other applicable law, the
Board may deny a license or impose pr obationary conditions if an
applicant has:
1. Pleaded guilty, pleaded nolo contendere, received a defe rred
sentence or been convicted of a felony;
2. Pleaded guilty, pleaded nolo contendere, received a deferred
sentence or been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral
turpitude;
3. Pleaded guilty, pleaded nolo contendere, received a deferred
sentence or been convicted of a violation of federal or state
controlled dangerous substance laws;
4. Been the subject of disciplinary action by the Board; or
5. Been the subject of disciplinary action in another
jurisdiction.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
ENR. S. B. NO. 49 Page 8
Passed the Senate the 1st day of March, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 15th day of April, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _______________________________ __
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _______________________________ __