Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to remove provisions regarding a chiropractic peer review committee.

The Idaho Board of Chiropractic Physicians is proposing legislation to remove the Board's obligation to provide a peer review process intended to review the appropriateness, quality, utilization and costs of chiropractic services. The Board has determined that this process is unnecessary and wishes to eliminate this regulation.

Amends existing law to define “licensed bachelor social worker” and to update terminology accordingly.

Amends existing law to clarify the age requirement for nursing home administrator licensure and to provide a time limit for administrator-in-training programs.

The Idaho Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators is proposing legislation to specify the timeframe of nursing home administrators-in-training programs, and to reduce the age requirement for licensure from twenty-one (21) to eighteen (18) years of age. These changes will clarify the requirements of the nursing home administrators-in-training program and reduce a barrier to employment.

Amends existing law to authorize the reappointment of an interim committee to study occupational licensing and certification laws and rules in Idaho.

This resolution, recommended by the Regulatory Reform Interim Committee, would authorize the LegislativeCounciltore-appointtheinterimcommitteeto: (1)studyoccupationallicensingandcertification laws and rules in Idaho, and (2) evaluate existing laws and rules and propose changes or new legislation to promote competition, remove barriers to entry and appropriately reduce legislation. The purpose of the committee's study would be to ensure that Idaho's occupational licensing and certification laws and rules are in the public interest and are not anti-competitive in intent or effect.

Amends existing law to establish the Occupational Licensing Reform Act and to establish provisions regarding recognition of military training, expedited applications for military members and their spouses, and licensure by endorsement for military members and their spouses.

This legislation, relating to occupational licensing reform, will improve access, mobility, and portability to licensed occupations for military families and veterans by recognizing applicable military experience, expediting applications, and endorsement of current licenses held in other states, districts, or territories.

Amends existing law to revise training and practice requirements and fees for licensure for counselors and therapists.

The Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists is proposing legislation to move educational program and practicum requirements for licensed professional counselors andlicensedprofessionalclinicalcounselorsfromstatuteandallowtheBoardtoestablishtheserequirements in rule. This would allow the Board to approve educational programs based on accreditation standards, regardless of the specific number of semester hours required, and create more flexibility for practicum requirements. These changes were identified by the Board as a way to reduce barriers to licensure and provide more flexibility to applicants. The Board is also proposing to increase the statutory fee caps for the original license, application, endorsement, and renewal fees from $100 to $175; to remove confusing language regarding the payment of fees; and to enable the Board to refund an original license fee to an applicant when a license is not issued.

Amends and adds to existing law to allow online examinations; to provide a new type of examination for certified shorthand reporters; and to provide for certification by endorsement.

The Idaho Certified Shorthand Reporters Board is proposing legislation to add the Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) Exam to the list of Board-approved exams, to allow online exam testing, and to provide a pathway to licensure by endorsement for applicants that have passed a national exam and have been working for three of the past five years in another state. This legislation will provide more flexibility to applicants and licensees, provide additional pathways to licensure for out-of-state applicants, and enhance portability between Idaho and other states.

Amends existing law regarding the Speech and Hearing Services Practice Act to provide that a licensee may show proof of licensure electronically and to remove the requirement that a sign language interpreter attain a minimum age to qualify for licensure.

TheIdahoSpeech,HearingandCommunicationServicesLicensureBoardisproposinglegislationtoremove the minimum age requirement for licensure for sign language interpreters and allow licensees to show proof oflicensureelectronically. Thesechangeswilleliminatebarrierstoemploymentandprovidemoreflexibility to licensees and applicants.