Bill Text: CT HB06389 | 2013 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning A Task Force On The Provision Of Beverages And Food In Funeral Homes, Colon Hydrotherapists, The Practice Of Podiatry And Counterfeit Controlled Substances.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-07-12 - Signed by the Governor [HB06389 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2013-HB06389-Chaptered.html
AN ACT CONCERNING A TASK FORCE ON THE PROVISION OF BEVERAGES AND FOOD IN FUNERAL HOMES, COLON HYDROTHERAPISTS, THE PRACTICE OF PODIATRY AND COUNTERFEIT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to study the provision of beverages and prepackaged food at arrangement services in funeral homes. The task force shall: (1) Review policies and procedures for serving nonalcoholic beverages and food in funeral homes in other states; and (2) analyze and make recommendations concerning the provision of beverages and catered food at funeral homes in this state.
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) Five representatives appointed from nominees of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, one each of whom shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives and the Governor;
(2) Two persons appointed from nominees of Service Corporation International, Inc. who are funeral directors licensed in this state, one each of whom shall be appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives and the majority leader of the Senate;
(3) The chairperson of the Connecticut Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors and a member of said board who is designated by the chairperson; and
(4) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee.
(c) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation.
(d) The first meeting of the task force shall be held not later than September 15, 2013. The task force shall elect a chairperson from among its members.
(e) Not later than January 1, 2014, the task force shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health. The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits its report or January 1, 2014, whichever is later.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2013) (a) For purposes of this section "colon hydrotherapist" means a person who holds and maintains certification in good standing as a colon hydrotherapist from the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy, the National Board for Colon Hydrotherapy or the Global Professional Association for Colon Therapy.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 373 of the general statutes, a person licensed to practice natureopathy may delegate the provision of colon hydrotherapy services to a colon hydrotherapist, provided: (1) The natureopathic physician has evaluated the patient to whom such services are to be provided by the colon hydrotherapist and determined that such services are appropriate for the patient to receive; (2) the natureopathic physician is satisfied as to the ability of the colon hydrotherapist to provide such services to the patient; and (3) such delegation is consistent with the health and welfare of the patient and in keeping with sound medical practice; and (4) the colon hydrotherapist provides such services under the supervision and control of the natureopathic physician. No natureopathic physician shall delegate the provision of colon hydrotherapy services to any person unless the natureopathic physician first determines that such person is a colon hydrotherapist, as defined in subsection (a) of this section. Any natureopathic physician who delegates the provision of services to a colon hydrotherapist in accordance with this section shall maintain documentation of such colon hydrotherapist's certification and make such documentation available to the Department of Public Health, upon the department's request.
(c) Any person in violation of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, for each offense. For purposes of this section, each instance of patient contact or consultation that is in violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a separate offense.
Sec. 3. Section 20-40 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
Said department may refuse to grant a license to practice natureopathy or may take any of the actions set forth in section 19a-17 for any of the following reasons: The employment of fraud or material deception in obtaining a license, habitual intemperance in the use of ardent spirits, narcotics or stimulants to such an extent as to incapacitate the user for the performance of professional duties, violations of the provisions of this chapter or regulations adopted hereunder, engaging in fraud or material deception in the course of professional services or activities, physical or mental illness, emotional disorder or loss of motor skill, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process, illegal, incompetent or negligent conduct in his practice, failure to maintain professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice as provided in subsection (a) of section 20-39a, [or] failure to provide information to the Department of Public Health required to complete a health care provider profile, as set forth in section 20-13j or failure to comply with the provisions of section 2 of this act. Any applicant for a license to practice natureopathy or any practitioner against whom any of the foregoing grounds for refusing a license or action under said section 19a-17 are presented to said board shall be furnished with a copy of the complaint and shall have a hearing before said board in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Public Health. The Commissioner of Public Health may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. Said commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to section 19a-17.
Sec. 4. Section 20-54 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) No person other than those described in section 20-57 and those to whom a license has been reissued as provided by section 20-59 shall engage in the practice of podiatry in this state until such person has presented to the department satisfactory evidence that such person has received a diploma or other certificate of graduation from an accredited school or college of chiropody or podiatry approved by the Board of Examiners in Podiatry with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, nor shall any person so practice until such person has obtained a license from the Department of Public Health after meeting the requirements of this chapter. A graduate of an approved school of chiropody or podiatry subsequent to July 1, 1947, shall present satisfactory evidence that he or she has been a resident student through not less than four graded courses of not less than thirty-two weeks each in such approved school and has received the degree of D. S. C. , Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, or Pod. D. , Doctor of Podiatry, or other equivalent degree; and, if a graduate of an approved chiropody or podiatry school subsequent to July 1, 1951, that he or she has completed, before beginning the study of podiatry, a course of study of an academic year of not less than thirty-two weeks' duration in a college or scientific school approved by said board with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, which course included the study of chemistry and physics or biology; and if a graduate of an approved college of podiatry or podiatric medicine subsequent to July 1, 1971, that he or she has completed a course of study of two such prepodiatry college years, including the study of chemistry, physics or mathematics and biology, and that he or she received the degree of D. P. M. , Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. No provision of this section shall be construed to prevent graduates of a podiatric college, approved by the Board of Examiners in Podiatry with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, from receiving practical training in podiatry in a residency program in an accredited hospital facility which program is accredited by the Council on Podiatric Education.
(b) A licensed podiatrist who is board qualified or certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery or the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine may engage in the medical and nonsurgical treatment of the ankle and the anatomical structures of the ankle, as well as the administration and prescription of drugs incidental thereto, and the nonsurgical treatment of manifestations of systemic diseases as they appear on the ankle. Such licensed podiatrist shall restrict treatment of displaced ankle fractures to the initial diagnosis and the initial attempt at closed reduction at the time of presentation and shall not treat tibial pilon fractures. For purposes of this section, "ankle" means the distal metaphysis and epiphysis of the tibia and fibula, the articular cartilage of the distal tibia and distal fibula, the ligaments that connect the distal metaphysis and epiphysis of the tibia and fibula and the talus, and the portions of skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, muscles, tendons and nerves at or below the level of the myotendinous junction of the triceps surae.
(c) No licensed podiatrist may independently engage in the surgical treatment of the ankle, including the surgical treatment of the anatomical structures of the ankle, as well as the administration and prescription of drugs incidental thereto, and the surgical treatment of manifestations of systemic diseases as they appear on the ankle, until such licensed podiatrist has obtained a permit from the Department of Public Health after meeting the requirements set forth in subsection (d) or (e) of this section, as appropriate. No licensed podiatrist who applies for a permit to independently engage in the surgical treatment of the ankle shall be issued such permit unless (1) the commissioner is satisfied that the applicant is in compliance with all requirements set forth in subsection (d) or (e) of this section, as appropriate, and (2) the application includes payment of a fee in the amount of one hundred dollars. For purposes of this section, "surgical treatment of the ankle" does not include the performance of total ankle replacements or the treatment of tibial pilon fractures.
(d) The Department of Public Health may issue a permit to independently engage in standard ankle surgery procedures to any licensed podiatrist who: (1) (A) Graduated on or after June 1, 2006, from a three-year residency program in podiatric medicine and surgery that was accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, or its successor organization, at the time of graduation, and (B) holds and maintains current board certification in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, or its successor organization; (2) (A) graduated on or after June 1, 2006, from a three-year residency program in podiatric medicine and surgery that was accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, or its successor organization, at the time of graduation, (B) is board qualified, but not board certified, in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, or its successor organization, and (C) provides documentation satisfactory to the department that such licensed podiatrist has completed acceptable training and experience in standard or advanced midfoot, rearfoot and ankle procedures; or (3) (A) graduated before June 1, 2006, from a residency program in podiatric medicine and surgery that was at least two years in length and was accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education at the time of graduation, (B) holds and maintains current board certification in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, or its successor organization, and (C) provides documentation satisfactory to the department that such licensed podiatrist has completed acceptable training and experience in standard or advanced midfoot, rearfoot and ankle procedures. [; except that a licensed podiatrist who meets the qualifications of subdivision (2) of this subsection may not perform tibial and fibular osteotomies until such licensed podiatrist holds and maintains current board certification in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, or its successor organization. ] For purposes of this subsection, "standard ankle surgery procedures" includes soft tissue and osseous procedures.
(e) The Department of Public Health may issue a permit to independently engage in advanced ankle surgery procedures to any licensed podiatrist who has obtained a permit under subsection (d) of this section, or who meets the qualifications necessary to obtain a permit under said subsection (d), provided such licensed podiatrist: (1) (A) Graduated on or after June 1, 2006, from a three-year residency program in podiatric medicine and surgery that was accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, or its successor organization, at the time of graduation, (B) holds and maintains current board [certification] qualification in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, or its successor organization, and (C) provides documentation satisfactory to the department that such licensed podiatrist has completed acceptable training and experience in advanced midfoot, rearfoot and ankle procedures; or (2) (A) graduated before June 1, 2006, from a residency program in podiatric medicine and surgery that was at least two years in duration and was accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education at the time of graduation, (B) holds and maintains current board certification in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, or its successor organization, and (C) provides documentation satisfactory to the department that such licensed podiatrist has completed acceptable training and experience in advanced midfoot, rearfoot and ankle procedures. For purposes of this subsection, "advanced ankle surgery procedures" includes ankle fracture fixation, ankle fusion, ankle arthroscopy, insertion or removal of external fixation pins into or from the tibial diaphysis at or below the level of the myotendinous junction of the triceps surae, and insertion and removal of retrograde tibiotalocalcaneal intramedullary rods and locking screws up to the level of the myotendinous junction of the triceps surae, but does not include the surgical treatment of complications within the tibial diaphysis related to the use of such external fixation pins.
(f) A licensed podiatrist who (1) graduated from a residency program in podiatric medicine and surgery that was at least two years in duration and was accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, or its successor organization, at the time of graduation, and (2) (A) holds and maintains current board certification in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, or its successor organization, (B) is board qualified in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, or its successor organization, or (C) is board certified in foot and ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, or its successor organization, may engage in the surgical treatment of the ankle, including standard and advanced ankle surgery procedures, without a permit issued by the department in accordance with subsection (d) or (e) of this section, provided such licensed podiatrist is performing such procedures under the direct supervision of a physician or surgeon licensed under chapter 370 who maintains hospital privileges to perform such procedures or under the direct supervision of a licensed podiatrist who has been issued a permit under the provisions of subsection (d) or (e) of this section, as appropriate, to independently engage in standard or advanced ankle surgery procedures.
(g) The Commissioner of Public Health shall appoint an advisory committee to assist and advise the commissioner in evaluating applicants' training and experience in midfoot, rearfoot and ankle procedures for purposes of determining whether such applicants should be permitted to independently engage in standard or advanced ankle surgery procedures pursuant to subsection (d) or (e) of this section. The advisory committee shall consist of four members, two of whom shall be podiatrists recommended by the Connecticut Podiatric Medical Association and two of whom shall be orthopedic surgeons recommended by the Connecticut Orthopedic Society.
(h) [The] Not later than July 1, 2015, the Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of subsections (c) to (f), inclusive, of this section. Such regulations shall include, but not be limited to, the number and types of procedures required for an applicant's training or experience to be deemed acceptable for purposes of issuing a permit under subsection (d) or (e) of this section. In identifying the required number and types of procedures, the commissioner shall seek the advice and assistance of the advisory committee appointed under subsection (g) of this section and shall consider nationally recognized standards for accredited residency programs in podiatric medicine and surgery for midfoot, rearfoot and ankle procedures. The commissioner may issue permits pursuant to subsections (c) to (e), inclusive, of this section prior to the effective date of any regulations adopted pursuant to this section.
(i) The Department of Public Health's issuance of a permit to a licensed podiatrist to independently engage in the surgical treatment of the ankle shall not be construed to obligate a hospital or outpatient surgical facility to grant such licensed podiatrist privileges to perform such procedures at the hospital or outpatient surgical facility.
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2014) No person shall knowingly possess, purchase, trade, sell or transfer a counterfeit substance. For purposes of this section "counterfeit substance" means a controlled substance, as defined in section 28-32 of the general statutes, which, or the container or labeling of which, without authorization, bears the trademark, trade name or other identifying mark, imprint, number or device of a manufacturer, distributor or dispenser other than the person who in fact manufactured, distributed or dispensed the substance.