Summary

Summary of House Bill 4799
Sponsor: Rep. Hale
Topic: Licensing Lab Technicians
Committee: Health Policy

     The first part of this bill deals with the Board of Laboratory Testing and it's members. A term for a member would consist of four years, except for those who were appointed to fill vacancies. In addition, each member's term would expire on December 31st of the corresponding year. The board would consist of seven members including a clinical laboratory assistant, a clinical laboratory technician or a medical technician and a laboratory scientist or a medical technologist. The Board would also have to consist of two public members. Between all members, there would have to be both anatomical and clinical pathological testing experience.
     Any person wishing to become a licensed laboratory assistant, lab technician/medical technician, or lab scientist/medical technologist would be subject a $20 application processing fee along with the actual license fee for their corresponding profession. The license fee for an assistant would be $10 but lab technicians, medical technicians, lab scientists and medical technologists would all be subject to a $20 fee. A temporary license would cost the applicant $10. A limited license may be obtained at the cost of $20 a year.
     The board may grant limited licenses at the laboratory scientist/medical technologist level, along with limited laboratory technician and laboratory assistant licenses. Any individual holding a limited license would only be able to perform laboratory test services under the supervision of individual fully licensed under this act. The board must review the supervision of a limited licensed individual annually, and it may suspend or revoke the license if it determines the individual lacks adequate supervision.
     The bill also stipulates a large number of individuals to whom this part does not apply including those in an accredited educational program, those engaged in teaching or research, individuals performing point-of-care testing under the direction of a clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist, respiratory care practitioners who engage in lab testing and perfusionists who have been properly educated and certified by the American Medical Association and are performing lab tests as part of their function.
     To become a certified laboratory assistant, an individual would have to have completed high school or its equivalent and either have attended an accredited lab assistant program or have one year of full-time laboratory experience within the three year period immediately preceding the date of application. To become board certified at the laboratory technician/medical technician level, a person would have to have completed an accredited educational program or posses an associate's degree and have two years of full time lab experience. Lastly, any person seeking certification at the laboratory scientist/medical technologist level would have to have either completed an accredited educational program or posses a baccalaureate degree and two years of lab experience in the four years preceding the date of application. The board can only accept a person's certification by a national organization if it requires successful passage of a competency based examination.
     In applying for license renewal, a laboratory scientist/medical technologist or a laboratory technician would have to provide evidence of at least thirty hours of board approved continuing education programs, courses, clinics or lectures and proof of re-certification by a national certification agency. A lab assistant seeking license renewal would have to supply proof of at least ten hours of continuing education and evidence of re-certification by a national certification agency.
     A license issued under this act is effective for three years. An individual must not perform acts for which he or she is not trained. Communication between a licensee and a client in regards to test results are confidential and cannot be disclosed to a third party without consent of the client, except as otherwise provided by law.

August 12, 1999