Bill Text: NY A02275 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Amended
Bill Title: Provides for the licensing of genetic counselors; creates the state board for genetic counseling.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-06-07 - print number 2275b [A02275 Detail]
Download: New_York-2017-A02275-Amended.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2275--B 2017-2018 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 17, 2017 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, McDONOUGH, BENEDETTO, ROZIC, GOTT- FRIED, RAIA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, SIMOTAS, STIRPE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- recommitted to the Committee on High- er Education in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to licensing of genetic counselors The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 142 2 to read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 142 4 GENETIC COUNSELING 5 Section 7050. Introduction. 6 7051. Practice of genetic counseling and use of the title 7 "genetic counselor". 8 7052. State board for genetic counseling. 9 7053. Requirements for a professional license. 10 7054. Exempt persons. 11 7055. Limited permits. 12 7056. Special provisions. 13 § 7050. Introduction. This article applies to the licensing of genetic 14 counselors. The general provisions for all professions contained in 15 article one hundred thirty of this title apply to this article. 16 § 7051. Practice of genetic counseling and use of the title "genetic 17 counselor". 1. The "practice of genetic counseling" shall mean the 18 communication to and education of clients, their families, other health 19 care professionals and the general public with regard to genetic test- EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD05260-07-8A. 2275--B 2 1 ing, individual family histories, or other genetic, personal medical 2 history, and technical information associated with the occurrence, risk 3 of occurrence or recurrence, of a genetic or hereditary condition or 4 birth defect. A practitioner of genetic counseling shall seek to 5 promote decision-making for their client which respects the client's 6 culture, language, tradition, lifestyle, religion, beliefs and values. 7 Genetic counseling shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 8 (a) obtain and evaluate personal and family medical history to deter- 9 mine genetic risk for genetic conditions and diseases in a client, his 10 or her offspring, and other family members; 11 (b) educate clients regarding the means to assess and manage risk for 12 genetic conditions and disease; 13 (c) identify and order genetic laboratory tests and coordinate other 14 diagnostic studies as appropriate for the genetic assessment; 15 (d) integrate genetic laboratory test results and other diagnostic 16 studies with personal and family medical history to assess and communi- 17 cate risk factors for genetic conditions; 18 (e) explain to a client the clinical implications of genetic laborato- 19 ry tests and other diagnostic studies and their results; and 20 (f) maintain written documentation of the genetic counseling services 21 performed for clients and health care professionals. 22 2. Nothing in this article shall be construed to authorize a licensed 23 genetic counselor to diagnose or treat any genetic disease or medical 24 condition, practice psychotherapy, or practice any other profession that 25 is licensed under this title. This includes, but may not be limited to, 26 the following: 27 (a) Prescribe or administer drugs as defined in this chapter or as a 28 treatment, therapy, or professional services in the practice of his or 29 her profession; 30 (b) Use invasive procedures as a treatment, therapy, or professional 31 service in the practice of his or her profession. For the purposes of 32 this subdivision, "invasive procedure" means any procedure in which 33 human tissue is cut, altered, or otherwise infiltrated by mechanical or 34 other means. Invasive procedures shall include surgery, lasers, ionizing 35 radiation, therapeutic ultrasound, or electroconvulsive therapy; or 36 (c) Provide psychotherapy as defined in subdivision two of section 37 eighty-four hundred one of this title. 38 3. If in the course of providing genetic counseling to any client, a 39 genetic counselor finds any indication of disease or condition that may 40 require medical assessment, the genetic counselor shall refer that 41 client to a licensed physician, or as appropriate, another health care 42 professional licensed pursuant to this title. 43 4. Only a person licensed under this article shall practice genetic 44 counseling. Only a person licensed under this article shall use the 45 title "licensed genetic counselor" and use the letters "L.G.C." after 46 his or her name or any words or letters, abbreviations or insignia indi- 47 cating or implying that a person is licensed pursuant to this article. 48 § 7052. State board for genetic counseling. 1. A state board for 49 genetic counseling shall be appointed by the board of regents upon the 50 recommendation of the commissioner, prior to the effective date of this 51 article, and shall assist on matters of professional licensing and 52 professional conduct in accordance with section sixty-five hundred eight 53 of this title. Members of the first board need not be licensed prior to 54 their appointment to such board. An executive secretary to the board 55 shall be appointed by the board of regents on recommendation of the 56 commissioner.A. 2275--B 3 1 2. The board shall consist of seven individuals, to be composed of the 2 following: 3 (a) five licensed genetic counselors, 4 (b) one licensed physician, and 5 (c) a public representative as defined in paragraph b of subdivision 6 one of section sixty-five hundred eight of this title. 7 3. Board members shall be appointed for terms of five years. The terms 8 of the first appointed members shall be staggered so that two members 9 are appointed for three years, three members are appointed for four 10 years and two members are appointed for five years. 11 § 7053. Requirements for a professional license. To qualify for a 12 license as a "licensed genetic counselor", an applicant shall fulfill 13 the following requirements: 14 1. Application: file an application with the department; 15 2. Education: have received a master's degree or higher in genetic 16 counseling or human genetics from a program registered by the depart- 17 ment, or determined by the department to be the substantial equivalent, 18 in accordance with the commissioner's regulations. Appropriate course- 19 work shall be determined in accordance with the commissioner's regu- 20 lations on recommendations of the state board for genetic counseling; 21 3. Experience: experience acceptable to the department; 22 4. Examination: pass an examination satisfactory to the department and 23 in accordance with the commissioner's regulations; 24 5. Age: be at least twenty-one years of age; 25 6. Character: be of good moral character as determined by the depart- 26 ment; 27 7. Fees: pay a fee of three hundred dollars to the department for an 28 initial license and two hundred dollars for each subsequent triennial 29 re-registration of a license. 30 § 7054. Exempt persons. So long as the person does not hold him or 31 herself out to the public as a genetic counselor, the provisions of this 32 article shall not apply to: 33 1. A licensed health care professional licensed under this title who 34 is practicing within the scope of practice as defined in this title; 35 2. A student or intern enrolled in a master's or higher program regis- 36 tered or approved by the department where the student or intern is 37 engaged in activities constituting the practice of a profession as 38 defined in this title, whose scope of practice includes genetic coun- 39 seling; provided, however, such activities shall be part of a supervised 40 training program under a licensed genetic counselor or a health care 41 professional licensed pursuant to this title in accordance with the 42 commissioner's regulations; and 43 3. An employee of the state department of health in the provision of 44 education regarding conditions included on the newborn screening panels. 45 Nothing in this article shall be construed as prohibiting counseling 46 services provided by an attorney, rape crisis counselor, or pastoral 47 counseling by a clergy member working within his or her ministerial 48 charge of obligation. 49 § 7055. Limited permits. Limited permits may be issued by the depart- 50 ment to authorize the practice of the profession under a licensed genet- 51 ic counselor or physician pursuant to the commissioner's regulations: 52 1. The department may issue a limited permit to an applicant who meets 53 all qualifications for licensure as a genetic counselor, except those 54 relating to the examination, in accordance with the commissioner's regu- 55 lations.A. 2275--B 4 1 2. Limited permits shall be for one year. Such permits may be extended 2 at the discretion of the department, for one additional year. 3 3. The fee for each limited permit and for each renewal shall be 4 seventy dollars. 5 § 7056. Special provisions. 1. (a) Any individual who meets the 6 requirements for a license established in this article, except for exam- 7 ination, experience and education, and who is certified by a national 8 certifying body having certification standards acceptable to the depart- 9 ment, may be licensed without meeting additional requirements as to 10 examination, experience, or education, provided that such individual 11 submits an application to the department within two years of the effec- 12 tive date of this article. 13 (b) Any individual who meets the requirements for a license estab- 14 lished in this article, except for examination, may be licensed without 15 examination, provided that the person completed the education require- 16 ment prior to two thousand eight, submits evidence of a minimum of ten 17 years employment as a genetic counselor, submits experience acceptable 18 to the department and submits an application to the department within 19 two years of the effective date of this article. 20 2. This article shall not prohibit the practice of genetic counseling 21 by a lawfully organized business entity meeting the requirements author- 22 ized by this article or by an employee or agent of such a business enti- 23 ty provided that such practice is provided by a licensed genetic counse- 24 lor or persons exempt under this article. Violation of this provision 25 shall be subject to the provisions of section sixty-five hundred twelve 26 of this title. For the purposes of this subdivision, "business entity" 27 means any lawfully established business entity, other than a profes- 28 sional service corporation (PC), a professional service limited liabil- 29 ity company (PLLC) or a registered limited liability partnership (LLP) 30 that is authorized to practice genetic counseling under New York law. 31 Provided further, that any such business entity must: 32 (a) have registered and been approved by the department before provid- 33 ing any such services to patients who reside in this state by providing 34 their name and address for service of process. 35 (b) submit an application to the department which shall: 36 (i) be made in a manner and form prescribed by the department; 37 (ii) include information as may be required by the department to 38 ensure safe practice, including, but not limited to, a current list of 39 genetic counselors licensed pursuant to this article who are employees 40 or agents of the business entity and are providing such services to 41 patients who reside in the state; and 42 (iii) be accompanied by a fee of three hundred forty-five dollars. 43 (c) submit annually to the department a current list of genetic coun- 44 selors licensed pursuant to this article who are employees or agents of 45 the business entity and are providing such services to patients who 46 reside in the state. 47 (d) not compensate the licensed genetic counselor or exempt person in 48 a manner that takes into account, directly or indirectly, the volume or 49 financial values of genetic tests ordered. 50 (e) ensure the licensed genetic counselor or exempt person provides a 51 form to each client disclosing the name of the business entity and 52 informs the client of his or her right to utilize an alternative genetic 53 counselor. 54 (f) as a condition of employment, not require a licensed genetic coun- 55 selor or exempt person to order a certain test or tests, or otherwise 56 direct or influence professional conduct.A. 2275--B 5 1 3. All business entity registrations shall be renewed on dates set by 2 the department. The triennial registration fee shall be two hundred 3 sixty dollars, or a prorated portion thereof as determined by the 4 department. 5 4. Such business entity registered under this section shall be under 6 the supervision of the board of regents and shall be subject to disci- 7 plinary proceedings and penalties in accordance with article one hundred 8 thirty of this title in the same manner and to the same extent as indi- 9 vidual licensees. Provided further, that failure to comply with the 10 requirements of this section shall also constitute professional miscon- 11 duct. 12 § 2. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part 13 of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to 14 be invalid and after exhaustion of all further judicial review, the 15 judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, 16 but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, para- 17 graph, section or part of this act directly involved in the controversy 18 in which the judgment shall have been rendered. 19 § 3. This act shall take effect two years after it shall have become a 20 law; provided, however, that the state education department is author- 21 ized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations and take any other 22 measure necessary to implement this act, including, but not limited to, 23 the appointment of board members pursuant to section 7052 of the educa- 24 tion law, as added by section one of this act on or before such effec- 25 tive date.
