2025 -- H 5550
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LC001764
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL
HYGIENISTS
Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, and Batista
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: House Corporations
(Dept. of Health)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 5-31.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-31.1 entitled "Dentists 1
and Dental Hygienists" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
5-31.1-2. Board of examiners in dentistry — Members — Compensation — Funds. 3
(a) There is created within the department of health the Rhode Island board of examiners 4
in dentistry composed of the following members: 5
(1) Eight (8) licensed dentists, no more than three (3) shall be dental specialists as 6
recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA) and at least one of the three (3) dental 7
specialists shall be an oral and maxillofacial surgeon; 8
(2) Four (4) public members not associated with the dental field; 9
(3) Two (2) licensed dental hygienists; 10
(4) The chief of the office of dental public health, who shall serve as an ex-officio member 11
of the board; and 12
(5) One certified dental assistant. 13
(b) The governor shall appoint the members of the board, except that prior to appointing 14
the eight (8) dentist members, the governor may submit a list of all candidates to the appropriate 15
dental societies for comments as to their qualifications. No member shall be appointed for more 16
than two (2) consecutive full terms. A member appointed for less than a full term (originally or to 17
fill a vacancy) may serve two (2) full terms in addition to that part of a full term, and a. Upon 18
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expiration of the term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and 1
qualified. A former member is again eligible for appointment after a lapse of one or more years. 2
All subsequent appointments to the board shall be for a term of three (3) years. Any member of the 3
board may be removed by the governor for neglect of duty, misconduct, malfeasance, or 4
misfeasance in office after being given a written statement of the charges against him or her and 5
sufficient opportunity to be heard on the charges. The director of the department of health shall 6
appoint from the members a chairperson who shall be a dentist duly licensed under the laws of the 7
state of Rhode Island, and a vice-chairperson who shall in the absence of the chairperson exercise 8
all powers of the chairperson, and secretary, who serve for one year or until their successors are 9
appointed and qualified. A majority of seats filled shall constitute a quorum. The board shall meet 10
at least once a month or more often upon the call of the chairperson, director of health, or dental 11
administrator, at any times and places that the chairperson designates. 12
(c) Members of the board shall not be paid for the discharge of official duties. 13
(d) The director has the authority to suspend or revoke the license of any dentist or dental 14
hygienist who does not pay the annual fee. Monies shall be received by the department and 15
deposited in the general fund as general revenues. 16
SECTION 2. Section 5-34-40 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-34 entitled "Nurses" is 17
hereby amended to read as follows: 18
5-34-40. Advanced practice nurse advisory committee. 19
(a) The seven-member (7) committee consists of two (2) certified nurse practitioners, two 20
(2) certified registered nurse anesthetists, two (2) certified clinical nurse specialists, and one 21
consumer. The director of health shall appoint the committee. In making appointments to the 22
committee, the director shall consider persons recommended by professional nurse organizations 23
and professional medical associations. The professional members of the committee shall be 24
currently engaged in practice. The consumer members shall be: (1) Knowledgeable in consumer 25
health concerns; (2) A resident of the state; (3) Not licensed as a healthcare practitioner; (4) Not a 26
parent, spouse, sibling, or child of a person licensed as a healthcare practitioner and not a student 27
in a professional program; (5) Not having a direct financial interest in healthcare services; and (6) 28
Not a member or an employee of any board of control of any public or private healthcare service. 29
(b) Each member appointment shall be for three (3) years, with no. No member serving 30
shall be appointed to more than two (2) consecutive, three-year (3) terms, except that in making the 31
initial appointments, the director designates: four (4) members for a term of two (2) years; three (3) 32
members for a term of three (3) years; and the consumer members for three-year (3) terms. Upon 33
expiration of the term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and 34
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qualified. 1
(c) This committee must meet not fewer than two (2) times per year. The committee has 2
the following functions: 3
(1) To assess advanced nursing practice for the purpose of improving patient care. 4
(2)(i) To review all complaints regarding advanced practice nurses and recommend any 5
and all disciplinary or corrective action that it deems appropriate, including revocation and 6
suspension of license upon proof that an advanced practice nurse has: 7
(A) Aided or abetted an uncertified person to practice as an advanced practice nurse; 8
(B) Become addicted to the use of liquor or controlled substances; 9
(C) Negligently, willfully, or intentionally acted in a manner inconsistent with the health 10
and safety of persons entrusted to his or her care; 11
(D) Had his or her authorization to practice as an advanced practice nurse denied, revoked, 12
or suspended in another state; 13
(E) Engaged in the performance of medical functions beyond the scope of practice 14
authorized by the provisions of this chapter; 15
(F) Willfully failed to file or record medical records and reports; 16
(G) Mental incompetence; or 17
(H) Willfully failed to maintain standards established by the nursing profession. 18
(ii) The recommendation shall be submitted to the board of nursing for implementation. 19
(3) To advise periodically the board of nurse registration and nursing education regarding 20
advanced nurse practice. 21
SECTION 3. Section 5-35.2-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-35.2 entitled "Opticians" 22
is hereby amended to read as follows: 23
5-35.2-8. Advisory committee for opticianry. 24
There is created an advisory committee for opticianry, appointed by the director, to consist 25
of five (5) members, who shall be residents of the state, four (4) of whom shall be licensed as 26
opticians under the provisions of this chapter, and shall have practiced as opticians for a period of 27
at least five (5) years, and one layperson who shall be from the public. The members of the advisory 28
committee shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years; each member may serve a maximum of 29
no member shall be appointed to more than two (2) full terms. Upon expiration of the term of office, 30
a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. A majority of seats 31
filled shall constitute a quorum. The duties of the advisory committee for opticianry shall include 32
but not be limited to advising the director on all matters pertaining to the licensure and regulation 33
of opticianry in this state. 34
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SECTION 4. Sections 5-36.1-9 and 5-36.1-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-36.1 1
entitled "License of Naturopathy Act of 2017" are hereby amended to read as follows: 2
5-36.1-9. Board of licensure. 3
(a) The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, shall appoint 4
a board consisting of five (5) persons, all residents of the state, to constitute a board of licensure 5
for naturopathy with the duties, powers, and authority as stated in this chapter, and that board shall 6
be composed of the following: 7
(1) Two (2) members who shall be licensed physicians under chapter 37 of this title who 8
have been actively engaged in the practice of medicine; 9
(2) One member who is a representative of the general public not employed in any health-10
related field; and 11
(3) Two (2) members who shall be doctors of naturopathy meeting the qualifications for 12
licensure under this chapter. 13
(b) Members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years each with no. No member 14
serving shall be appointed to more than two (2) consecutive terms. Upon expiration of the term of 15
office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. 16
(c) In their initial appointment, the director shall designate the members of the board of 17
licensure as follows: three (3) members to serve for terms of three (3) years; and two (2) members 18
to serve for a term of two (2) years. 19
(d) The director of the department of health may remove any member of the board for 20
cause. 21
(e) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of any term in the same manner as 22
the original appointment. 23
5-36.1-11. Board of licensure — Organization and meetings — Compensation of 24
members. 25
The board shall elect its own chairperson annually and shall meet at the call of the 26
administrator, the chairperson, or upon the request of two (2) or more members of the board. A 27
quorum shall consist of at least three (3) members present A majority of seats filled shall constitute 28
a quorum, one of whom must be a doctor of naturopathy. The board shall approve programs for 29
continuing naturopathic education. Board members shall serve without compensation. 30
SECTION 5. Section 5-37-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-37 entitled "Board of 31
Medical Licensure and Discipline" is hereby amended to read as follows: 32
5-37-1.1. Board of medical licensure and discipline — Creation — Composition — 33
Appointment, removal, and compensation of members — Officers — Meetings — Funds. 34
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(a)(1) There is created within the department of health, the Rhode Island board of medical 1
licensure and discipline which is composed of the following members: 2
(i) Four (4) licensed physicians who possess the degree of doctor of allopathic medicine; 3
one of whom shall be a full-time medical school faculty member; 4
(ii) Two (2) licensed physicians who hold the degree of doctor of osteopathic medicine; 5
(iii) Five (5) public members, one of whom is an attorney with experience as plaintiff’s 6
counsel in the presentation or prosecution of medical malpractice matters, and one of whom is a 7
member of the general public, not associated with the medical field, who is at least sixty (60) years 8
of age; and three (3) of whom are public members not associated with the medical field; 9
(iv) One hospital administrator; and 10
(v) The director of the department of health who shall serve as chairperson of the board. 11
(2) The governor shall appoint the members of the board except that prior to appointing 12
the six (6) physician members the governor may submit a list of all candidates to the appropriate 13
medical or osteopathic societies for comments as to their qualifications. When the board is first 14
selected, six (6) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, five (5) members shall 15
be appointed for a term of two (2) years, and two (2) members shall be appointed for a term of one 16
year. No member shall be appointed for more than two (2) consecutive full terms. A member 17
appointed for less than a full term (originally or to fill a vacancy) may serve two (2) full terms in 18
addition to that part of a full term, and a former member is again eligible for appointment after a 19
lapse of one or more years. All subsequent appointments to the board shall be for a term of three 20
(3) years. Upon expiration of the term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor 21
is appointed and qualified. Any member of the board may be removed by the governor for neglect 22
of duty, misconduct, malfeasance, and misfeasance in office after being given a written statement 23
of the charges against him or her and sufficient opportunity to be heard. The board shall elect from 24
its members a vice-chairperson who, in the absence of the chairperson, shall exercise all powers of 25
the chairperson, and a secretary. These officers shall serve for one year or until their successors are 26
appointed and qualified. The board shall meet at least once a month or more often upon the call of 27
the chairperson, director of the department of health, or chief administrative officer, at the times 28
and places that the chairperson designates. 29
(3) A majority of seats filled shall constitute a quorum. 30
(b) Members of the board shall not be paid for the discharge of official duties. 31
(c) The administration of the board shall be funded from annual fees. The director, as stated 32
in § 5-37-10, in consultation with the board, shall determine the amount of the annual fee to be 33
charged to each licensed physician and to hospitals, the payment of which is a condition to 34
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practicing medicine or rendering hospital services in the state. The director or chief administrative 1
officer has the authority to suspend or revoke the license of any physician who does not pay the 2
annual fee. Monies shall be received by the department and credited to a restricted receipt account. 3
All monies in that fund shall be utilized only for the purposes of maintaining, managing, operating, 4
and administering the board of medical licensure and discipline in carrying out its functions. The 5
fees and date of collection of all funds to be collected for the initial registrations and licenses issued 6
pursuant to this title shall be as the director by regulation shall establish. 7
SECTION 6. Section 5-37.2-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-37.2 entitled "The 8
Practice of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine" is hereby amended to read as follows: 9
5-37.2-1.1. Board of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. 10
(a) The director of the department shall appoint a board of acupuncture and Chinese 11
medicine. The board shall consist of five (5) members, all of whom shall be residents of the state, 12
four (4) of whom shall be doctors of acupuncture and Chinese medicine licensed by the department 13
and engaged in the practice of acupuncture and Chinese medicine in the state for at least five (5) 14
years prior to their appointment, and there shall be one public member. The members shall be 15
appointed for terms of three (3) years; each member may serve a maximum of shall not be appointed 16
to more than two (2) consecutive, full terms. Upon expiration of the term of office, a member shall 17
continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. A majority of seats filled shall 18
constitute a quorum. No member of the board of acupuncture and Chinese medicine shall receive 19
compensation for his or her attendance at meetings of the board. 20
(b) The director of health may remove any member from the board for neglect of any duty 21
required by law or for any incompetency, unprofessional, or dishonorable conduct. Vacancies 22
created by voluntary resignation or removal by the director of health shall be filled in the same 23
manner as the original appointment was made for the remainder of the term. 24
SECTION 7. Section 5-39.1-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-39.1 entitled "License 25
Procedure for Social Workers" is hereby amended to read as follows: 26
5-39.1-6. Board of social work examiners. 27
(a) Within the department, there is established a board of social work examiners. 28
(b) The governor shall appoint a board consisting of seven (7) members. Two (2) shall be 29
social workers; two (2) shall be licensed clinical social workers; and two (2) shall be licensed 30
independent clinical social workers (for the purposes of initial appointments, certified social 31
workers represent licensed clinical social workers and certified independent social workers 32
represent licensed independent social workers). One member shall be a public member. At least 33
one member shall be a NASW member. 34
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(c) All board members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. No member shall 1
serve be appointed to more than nine (9) three (3) consecutive years terms. Upon expiration of the 2
term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. In the 3
event a member cannot complete his or her term, a successor shall be appointed to serve the 4
unexpired term. A majority of seats filled shall constitute a quorum. 5
(d) Terms of initial members shall be staggered with two (2) members appointed for a one 6
year term, two (2) for two (2) years, and three (3) for three-year (3) terms. 7
(e) The governor may remove any member of the board for cause. 8
SECTION 8. Section 5-49-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-49 entitled "Hearing Aid 9
Dealers and Fitters" is hereby amended to read as follows: 10
5-49-15. Board — Creation — Composition — Appointment and terms. 11
(a) There is established a board of hearing aid dealers and fitters that guides, advises, and 12
makes recommendations to the department. 13
(b)(1) Members of the board shall be residents of the state. 14
(2) The board shall consist of three (3) hearing aid dealers and fitters; one otolaryngologist; 15
one audiologist; and one lay member who shall be a user of hearing aids and not employed in the 16
practice of fitting and dealing in hearing aids. 17
(3) Each hearing aid dealer and fitter on the board shall have no less than five (5) years’ 18
experience and hold a valid license as a hearing aid dealer and fitter, as provided under this chapter. 19
(4) Excepted shall be the hearing aid dealers and fitters of the first board appointed, who 20
have no less than five (5) years of experience and fulfill all qualifications under § 5-49-7 as 21
provided under this chapter. 22
(c) All members of the board shall be appointed by the governor. 23
(d) The term of office of each member shall be three (3) years; except that of the members 24
of the first board appointed under this chapter, two (2) shall be appointed for two (2) years; two (2) 25
shall be appointed for three (3) years; and two (2) shall be appointed for four (4) years. 26
(e) Before a member’s term expires, the governor shall appoint a successor to assume his 27
or her duties on the expiration of his or her predecessor’s term. Upon expiration of the term of 28
office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. 29
(f) A vacancy in the office of a member shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired 30
term. 31
(g) A majority of seats filled shall constitute a quorum. 32
(g)(h) The members of the board shall annually designate one member to serve as chair 33
and another to serve as secretary-treasurer. 34
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(h)(i) No member of the board who has served two (2) or more full terms may be 1
reappointed to the board until at least one year after the expiration of his or her most recent full 2
term of office. 3
(i)(j) Members of the board shall not be compensated for their services on the board. 4
SECTION 9. Sections 5-54-5 and 5-54-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-54 entitled 5
"Physician Assistants" are hereby amended to read as follows: 6
5-54-5. Board of licensure. 7
(a) The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, shall appoint 8
a board consisting of seven (7) persons, residents of the state, to constitute a board of licensure for 9
physician assistants with the duties, powers, and authority as stated in this chapter, and that board 10
shall be composed of the following: 11
(1) Two (2) members shall be licensed physicians under the provisions of chapter 37 of 12
this title who have been actively engaged in the practice of medicine; 13
(2) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 197, § 1 and P.L. 2019, ch. 230, § 1]. 14
(3) Two (2) members who are representatives of the general public not employed in any 15
health-related field; and 16
(4) Three (3) members shall be physician assistants. 17
(b) Members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years each with no member serving. 18
No member shall be appointed to more than two (2) consecutive terms. Upon expiration of the term 19
of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. 20
(c) In his or her initial appointment, the director shall designate the members of the board 21
of licensure for physician assistants as follows: two (2) members to serve for terms of three (3) 22
years; two (2) members to serve for a term of two (2) years; and three (3) members to serve for a 23
term of one year. Any additional appointments shall serve for one year. 24
(d) The director of the department of health may remove any member of the board for 25
cause. 26
(e) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of any term in the same manner as 27
the original appointment. 28
5-54-6. Board of licensure — Organization and meetings — Compensation of 29
members. 30
The board shall elect its own chairperson annually and shall meet at the call of the 31
administrator, the chairperson, or upon the request of two (2) or more members of the board. A 32
quorum shall consist of at least four (4) members present. A majority of seats filled shall constitute 33
a quorum. The board shall approve programs for continuing medical education. Board members 34
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shall serve without compensation. 1
SECTION 10. Section 5-60-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-60 entitled "Athletic 2
Trainers" is hereby amended to read as follows: 3
5-60-4. Board — Composition — Appointment, terms, oaths, and removal of 4
members — Officers — Meetings. 5
(a) The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, shall appoint 6
the members of the Rhode Island board of athletic trainers, which shall be composed of three (3) 7
licensed athletic trainers and one public member and one physician licensed to practice medicine 8
and with an interest in sports medicine. In making appointments to the board, the director shall give 9
consideration to recommendations made by professional organizations of athletic trainers and 10
physicians. Each appointee shall be licensed and practicing in the state, except that the director, in 11
appointing the athletic trainer members of the first board, may appoint any practicing athletic trainer 12
who possesses the qualification required by § 5-60-10. To qualify as a member, a person must be 13
a citizen of the United States and a resident of the state for five (5) years immediately preceding 14
appointment. 15
(b) The members of the board shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years, which expire 16
on August 1 of even-numbered years, except that in making the initial appointments, the director 17
shall designate one member to serve one year; two (2) members to serve two (2) years; and two (2) 18
members to serve three (3) years. In the event of death, resignation, or removal of any member, the 19
vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original 20
appointment. The director may remove any member for cause at any time prior to the expiration of 21
his or her term. No member shall serve be appointed for more than two (2) consecutive three-year 22
(3) terms. Upon expiration of the term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor 23
is appointed and qualified. 24
(c) Each appointee to the board shall qualify by taking the constitutional oath of office 25
within thirty (30) days from the date of his or her appointment. On presentation of the oath, the 26
director shall issue commissions to appointees as evidence of their authority to act as members of 27
the board. 28
(d) The board shall elect from its members for a term of one year, a chairperson, vice-29
chairperson, and secretary-treasurer, and may appoint committees that it considers necessary to 30
carry out its duties. The board shall meet at least two (2) times a year. Additional meetings may be 31
held on the call of the chairperson or at the written request of any three (3) members of the board. 32
The quorum required for any meeting of the board shall be three (3) members a majority of the 33
seats filled. No action by the board or its members has any effect unless a quorum of the board is 34
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present. 1
SECTION 11. Sections 5-63.2-4 and 5-63.2-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-63.2 2
entitled "Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists" are hereby amended to 3
read as follows: 4
5-63.2-4. Composition of board — Appointment and terms of members. 5
The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, shall appoint 6
nine (9) electors as members of the board. Three (3) shall be clinical mental health counselors, at 7
least two (2) of whom shall meet the qualifications of § 5-63.2-9(b) and have at least five (5) years 8
of private practice experience in mental health counseling; three (3) shall be marriage and family 9
therapists, who shall be clinical marriage and family therapists who meet the qualifications of § 5-10
63.2-10(b) and have at least five (5) years of private practice experience in marriage and family 11
therapy; three (3) shall be members of the public. Commencing September 1996, the director of 12
the department of health shall appoint one clinical mental health counselor for one year; one clinical 13
mental health counselor for two (2) years; one clinical mental health counselor for three (3) years; 14
one marriage and family therapist for one year; one marriage and family therapist for two (2) years; 15
one marriage and family therapist for three (3) years; one public member for two (2) years; and two 16
(2) public members for three (3) years. After this, all terms of appointments shall be for three (3) 17
years. In no instance shall a person serve more than six (6) consecutive years on the board. No 18
member shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms. Upon expiration of the term of office, 19
a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. 20
5-63.2-5. Organization and meetings of board. 21
The board shall organize immediately after the appointment and qualification of its 22
members. The board shall annually elect a chairperson and secretary. Meetings may be called by 23
the chairperson or the director of the department of health or by written request of four (4) members 24
of the board. Five (5) members of the board shall constitute a quorum A majority of seats filled 25
shall constitute a quorum; provided, that a clinical mental health counselor and a marriage and 26
family therapist must be present. The board shall meet as often as necessary. 27
SECTION 12. Section 5-64-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-64 entitled 28
"Dietitian/Nutritionist Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 29
5-64-5. Rhode Island state board of dietetics practice. 30
(a) Within the division of professional regulation in the Rhode Island department of health 31
there is a board of dietetics practice. 32
(1) The board shall consist of nine (9) members appointed for terms of three (3) years each 33
with no member serving shall be appointed for more than two (2) consecutive terms. Upon 34
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expiration of the term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and 1
qualified. One shall be the director of the department of health or designee. Five (5) shall be 2
licensed dietitians/nutritionists appointed by the director of the department of health, with the 3
approval of the governor, except that the appointments made initially need not be licensed under 4
this chapter. (In his or her initial appointment, the director shall designate the licensed 5
dietitian/nutritionist members of the board as follows: one member to serve for a term of one year; 6
two (2) members to serve for a term of two (2) years; and two (2) members to serve for a term of 7
three (3) years). One member shall be a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state 8
appointed by the governor. Two (2) shall be consumers appointed by the governor. A majority of 9
seats filled shall constitute a quorum. 10
(2) The director of the department of health may remove any member of the board for 11
cause. 12
(3) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of any term in the same manner as 13
the original appointment. 14
(b) The duties of the board shall be to: 15
(1) Recommend to the director rules and regulations necessary to implement this chapter; 16
(2) Determine the qualification and fitness of applicants and to issue and/or reinstate 17
licenses; and 18
(3) Recommend to the director revocation, suspension, and/or denial of a license. 19
SECTION 13. Section 5-68.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-68.1 entitled "Radiologic 20
Technologists" is hereby amended to read as follows: 21
5-68.1-3. Board — Composition — Appointment and terms of members — Duties. 22
(a) Within the Rhode Island department of health there shall be a board of radiologic 23
technology consisting of seven (7) members as follows: 24
(1) One member shall be a member of the public who has no financial interest in radiologic 25
technology other than as a consumer or possible consumer of its services. They shall have no 26
financial interest personally or through a spouse. 27
(2) Two (2) members of the board shall be licensed practitioners, one of whom shall be a 28
radiologist who utilizes ionizing radiation in the normal course of his or her practice. Nominations 29
for the licensed practitioner board members shall be submitted by the Rhode Island Medical Society 30
and the Rhode Island Radiological Society to the director for approval. 31
(3)(i) Three (3) members of the board shall be licensed under this chapter. One shall be 32
from radiography, one shall be from nuclear medicine, and one shall be from radiation therapy. 33
(ii) The director shall appoint as radiologic technologist members of the board, individuals 34
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currently practicing as registered radiologic technologists in Rhode Island. 1
(4) One member shall be a representative of the hospital association who shall be 2
nominated by the Hospital Association of Rhode Island and submitted to the director for approval. 3
(5)(i) The director, with the approval of the governor, shall make appointments for a three-4
year (3) term, but no individual shall serve be appointed to more than two (2) consecutive terms. 5
Upon expiration of the term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is 6
appointed and qualified. Members of the board as of the effective date of this chapter, who were 7
previously appointed pursuant to § 5-68-4, shall continue to serve for the remainder of their 8
appointed term. 9
(ii) In the event of a vacancy in one of the positions, the director, with the approval of the 10
governor, may appoint an individual who shall fill the unexpired term. 11
(6) The board shall meet during the first month of each calendar year to select a chairperson 12
and for other purposes. At least one additional meeting shall be held during each calendar year. 13
Meetings may also be called at any time by the chairperson, the director, or by written request of 14
two (2) members of the board. A majority of the fully authorized board constitutes a quorum. A 15
majority of seats filled shall constitute a quorum. 16
(b) The duties of the board shall be as follows: 17
(1) To evaluate the qualifications of applicants and review the required examination results 18
administered by a testing agency approved by the board; 19
(2) To recommend to the director the issuance of licenses to applicants who meet the 20
requirements of this chapter; 21
(3) To administer, coordinate, and enforce the provisions of this chapter and investigate 22
persons engaging in practices that may violate the provisions of the chapter; 23
(4) To recommend to the director the denial or revocation of licenses to practice radiologic 24
technology as provided in this chapter; and 25
(5) To recommend to the director adoption of rules and regulations pursuant to this chapter. 26
SECTION 14. Section 23-39-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-39 entitled "Respiratory 27
Care Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 28
23-39-5. Board created. 29
(a) Within the division of professional regulation of the health department shall be a board 30
of respiratory care consisting of five (5) members as follows: 31
(1) One physician licensed in the state who is knowledgeable in respiratory care; 32
(2) Three (3) licensed respiratory care practitioners; 33
(3) One public member who is a resident of Rhode Island. The public member shall not 34
LC001764 - Page 13 of 14
have been licensed as a respiratory care practitioner nor shall he or she have any financial interest, 1
direct or indirect, in the occupation regulated. 2
(b) The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, within sixty 3
(60) days following November 1, 1986, shall appoint one board member for a term of one year; 4
two (2) for a term of two (2) years; and two (2) for a term of three (3) years. Appointments made 5
thereafter shall be for three-year terms but no person shall be appointed to serve more than two (2) 6
consecutive terms. Upon expiration of the term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a 7
successor is appointed and qualified. A majority of seats filled shall constitute a quorum. 8
(c) The director, in his or her initial appointment, shall appoint as the respiratory care 9
practitioner one of the members of the board or a person currently practicing as respiratory care 10
practitioners in Rhode Island. 11
(d) The board shall meet during the first month of each calendar year to select a chairperson 12
and for other purposes. At least one additional meeting shall be held before the end of each calendar 13
year. Other meetings may be convened at the call of the chairperson, the administrator of 14
professional regulation, or upon the written request of any two (2) board members. 15
(e) In the event of a vacancy in one of the positions, the director of the department of health, 16
with the approval of the governor, may appoint a person who shall fill the unexpired term. 17
SECTION 15. This act shall take effect upon passage. 18
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL
HYGIENISTS
***
This act would standardize successor appointment language for various boards and adds 1
language providing that a quorum would be a majority of board seats filled and the language would 2
apply across several healthcare professional boards that currently lack this language. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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