S.B. 158
128th General Assembly
(As Introduced)
Sen. R. Miller
BILL SUMMARY
· Requires certain health care professionals to obtain instruction or continuing education in cultural competency in order to receive or renew a professional license.
· Requires the pertinent licensing boards to adopt rules establishing the number of hours of cultural competency instruction to be completed and the criteria to be used in granting a waiver of the instruction requirement.
· Requires the boards, in developing the rules, to consider race and gender-based disparities in health care treatment decisions and to consult with outside professional organizations.
CONTENT AND OPERATION
(R.C. 4743.04(A)(1) and (B))
The bill requires certain health care professionals to obtain instruction or continuing education in cultural competency in order to receive or renew professional licensure, certification, or registration. The health care professionals subject to the bill's requirements are dentists, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, optometrists, pharmacists, physicians, ophthalmologists, psychologists, independent social workers, social workers, and social work assistants. Currently, no statutes require instruction in cultural competency as a prerequisite to obtaining or renewing licensure in these professions.
(R.C. 4743.04(A)(2), (C)(1) and (2), and (D))
The bill requires the state boards that oversee each of the professions subject to the bill to adopt rules regarding the number of hours of instruction or continuing education in cultural competency each applicant or professional must complete in order to receive or renew licensure, certification, or registration. This rulemaking requirement applies to the State Dental Board, the Board of Nursing, the State Board of Optometry, the State Board of Pharmacy, the State Medical Board, the State Board of Psychology, and the Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board.
In developing the rules, the boards must consider the problems of race and gender-based disparities in health care treatment decisions. The boards must consult with at least one professionally relevant and nationally recognized organization, or similar entity, that reviews the curricula offered by educational institutions in the applicable health care field. Each board must adopt the rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (R.C. Chapter 119.).
(R.C. 4743.04(E))
Not later than 90 days after the bill's effective date, each board must approve one or more continuing education courses that address cultural competency in health care treatment. Specifically, the courses must include instruction in addressing the problems of race and gender-based disparities in health care treatment decisions. The bill authorizes the boards to approve courses that are included within continuing education programs certified by professional associations or similar entities.
(R.C. 4743.04(B) and (C)(3))
The bill provides that its requirements for instruction or continuing education in cultural competency do not apply to a health care professional if the licensing board has granted the professional a waiver of those requirements. In adopting rules under the bill, each board must establish the criteria it will consider in deciding whether to grant a waiver. The criteria must include demonstration to the board's satisfaction that the person has attained experience that is substantially equivalent to the required number of hours of instruction or continuing education in cultural competency.
HISTORY
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ACTION |
DATE |
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Introduced |
08-06-09 |
S0158-I-128.docx/jc