Bill Text: NY A09546 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Amended
Bill Title: Relates to licensing the practice of polysomnographic technology; establishes requirements and procedures for professional licensure and registration; allows limited permits to be issued to eligible applicants; establishes mandatory continuing education for licensed polysomnographic technologists.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-06-09 - print number 9546a [A09546 Detail]
Download: New_York-2009-A09546-Amended.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 9546--A I N A S S E M B L Y January 14, 2010 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. HOYT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to licensing the practice of polysomnographic technology 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 167 to 2 read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 167 4 POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY PRACTICE 5 SECTION 8800. INTRODUCTION. 6 8801. DEFINITIONS. 7 8802. PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. 8 8803. USE OF THE TITLE "POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST". 9 8804. STATE COMMITTEE FOR POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. 10 8805. REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE AND 11 REGISTRATION. 12 8806. LIMITED PERMITS. 13 8807. EXEMPTIONS. 14 8808. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. 15 8809. MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION. 16 S 8800. INTRODUCTION. THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO THE PROFESSION OF 17 LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. THE GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR ALL 18 PROFESSIONS CONTAINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THIS TITLE APPLY 19 TO THIS ARTICLE. 20 S 8801. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE: 21 1. THE TERM "PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY" SHALL MEAN THE 22 PROCESS OF ANALYZING, SCORING, MONITORING AND RECORDING OF PHYSIOLOGIC 23 DATA DURING SLEEP AND WAKEFULNESS TO ASSIST IN THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT 24 AND DIAGNOSIS OF SLEEP/WAKE DISORDERS AND OTHER DISORDERS, SYNDROMES AND 25 DYSFUNCTIONS THAT EITHER ARE SLEEP RELATED, MANIFEST DURING SLEEP OR 26 DISRUPT NORMAL SLEEP/WAKE CYCLES AND ACTIVITIES. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD15409-02-0 A. 9546--A 2 1 2. THE TERM "PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLO- 2 GY" SHALL MEAN THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PRACTICED IN ANY SETTING UNDER 3 THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN INVOLVING THE 4 MONITORING, TESTING AND TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM ANY 5 SLEEP DISORDER AS LISTED IN AN AUTHORITATIVE CLASSIFICATION OF SLEEP 6 DISORDERS ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT. SUCH PROCEDURES INCLUDE BUT ARE 7 NOT LIMITED TO: 8 (A) APPLICATION OF ELECTRODES AND APPARATUS NECESSARY TO MONITOR AND 9 EVALUATE SLEEP DISTURBANCES, INCLUDING APPLICATION OF DEVICES THAT ALLOW 10 A PHYSICIAN TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT SLEEP DISORDERS, WHICH DISORDERS 11 INCLUDE BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO INSOMNIA, SLEEP BREATHING DISORDERS, 12 MOVEMENT DISORDERS, DISORDERS OF EXCESSIVE SOMNOLENCE, AND PARASOMNIAS; 13 (B) INSTITUTION OF ANY TYPE OF PHYSIOLOGIC MONITORING APPLICABLE TO 14 POLYSOMNOGRAPHY INCLUDING THE THERAPEUTIC AND DIAGNOSTIC USE OF OXYGEN, 15 CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (CPAP) AND BI-LEVEL POSITIVE AIRWAY 16 PRESSURE (BIPAP) OF NON-VENTILATED PATIENTS; 17 (C) INITIATION OF CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION, MAINTENANCE OF 18 PATIENT'S AIRWAY (WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION), TRAN- 19 SCRIPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PHYSICIAN ORDERS PERTAINING TO THE PRAC- 20 TICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY; 21 (D) INITIATION OF TREATMENT CHANGES AND TESTING TECHNIQUES REQUIRED 22 FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC PROTOCOLS UNDER THE DIRECTION 23 AND SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN WHO SPECIALIZES IN THE PRACTICE 24 OF SLEEP MEDICINE; AND 25 (E) EDUCATION OF PATIENTS, FAMILY AND PUBLIC ON THE PROCEDURES AND 26 TREATMENTS USED DURING POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY OR ANY EQUIPMENT OR 27 PROCEDURE USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANY SLEEP DISORDER. 28 S 8802. PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. ONLY A PERSON 29 LICENSED AND REGISTERED OR EXEMPT UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE 30 POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. 31 S 8803. USE OF THE TITLE "POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST". ONLY A 32 PERSON LICENSED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL USE THE TITLE "LICENSED POLY- 33 SOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST," "POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST," OR 34 "LICENSED SLEEP TECH". 35 S 8804. STATE COMMITTEE FOR POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. 1. A STATE 36 COMMITTEE FOR POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE 37 BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER AND SHALL 38 ASSIST ON MATTERS OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, PRACTICE AND CONDUCT IN 39 ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS TITLE. 40 2. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT 41 OF THIS TITLE, THE COMMITTEE SHALL ASSIST THE STATE BOARD FOR MEDICINE 42 SOLELY IN POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY MATTERS, WHICH BOARD SHALL ALSO 43 FUNCTION AS THE STATE BOARD FOR POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. ANY MEMBER 44 OF THE FIRST BOARD APPOINTED WHO IS A POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST NEED 45 NOT BE LICENSED PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT ON THE BOARD; PROVIDED HOWEVER, 46 THAT ANY FIRST APPOINTED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST SHALL BE REGIS- 47 TERED BY A NATIONAL CERTIFYING OR ACCREDITING BOARD ACCEPTABLE TO THE 48 DEPARTMENT. 49 3. THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF NINE INDIVIDUALS, TO BE COMPOSED OF 50 THE FOLLOWING: 51 (A) FIVE LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGISTS, WHO ARE NOT LICENSED 52 TO PRACTICE ANY OTHER PROFESSION REGULATED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE; 53 (B) TWO LICENSED RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS WHO HAVE TRAINING AND/OR EXPE- 54 RIENCE IN THE DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT OF SLEEP DISORDERS; 55 (C) ONE LICENSED PHYSICIAN WHO PRACTICES IN THE FIELD OF SLEEP MEDI- 56 CINE; AND A. 9546--A 3 1 (D) A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. 2 S 8805. REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE AND 3 REGISTRATION. 1. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC 4 TECHNOLOGIST, AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: 5 (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; 6 (B) EDUCATION: (I) RECEIVED AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC 7 TECHNOLOGY FROM A PROGRAM REGISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT, OR ANOTHER ASSO- 8 CIATE DEGREE PROGRAM DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY 9 EQUIVALENT, FROM AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH 10 THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THIS EDUCATION 11 REQUIREMENT SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THERE ARE AT 12 LEAST FOUR LICENSURE QUALIFYING ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS ACCEPTABLE TO 13 THE DEPARTMENT IN POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY OPERATED BY ACCREDITED 14 COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE; OR 15 (II) COMPLETED A COURSE OF STUDY SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO AN ASSO- 16 CIATE DEGREE PROGRAM DETERMINED TO BE ACCEPTABLE PURSUANT TO SUBPARA- 17 GRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, AND WHICH IS SATISFACTORY TO THE COMMIS- 18 SIONER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS FOR THE 19 PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY; 20 (C) EXPERIENCE: HAVE EXPERIENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN 21 ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; 22 (D) EXAMINATION: PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN 23 ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; 24 (E) AGE: BE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE; 25 (F) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- 26 MENT; AND 27 (G) FEE: PAY A ONE-TIME FEE OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR LICENSURE. 28 2. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION EIGHTY-EIGHT HUNDRED SEVEN OF THIS 29 ARTICLE, EACH LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST SHALL BE REQUIRED 30 TO REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE, 31 AND SHALL PAY A FEE OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGIS- 32 TRATION PERIOD. 33 S 8806. LIMITED PERMITS. LIMITED PERMITS MAY BE ISSUED BY THE DEPART- 34 MENT TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, AS FOLLOWS: 35 1. ELIGIBILITY: A PERSON WHO FULFILLS ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE 36 AS A POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST EXCEPT THOSE RELATING TO EXAMINATION 37 SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LIMITED PERMIT; 38 2. LIMIT OF PRACTICE: ALL PRACTICE UNDER A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE 39 UNDER THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN AND ONLY 40 WHILE UNDER THE DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE SUPERVISION OF A HEALTH CARE 41 PROVIDER REGULATED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 42 A PHYSICIAN, POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST, REGISTERED NURSE, RESPIR- 43 ATORY THERAPIST, AND NURSE PRACTITIONER; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THE 44 TASKS OR RESPONSIBILITIES SUPERVISED BY THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ARE 45 WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE; 46 3. DURATION: A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE VALID FOR ONE YEAR AND MAY BE 47 RENEWED FOR ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR; AND 48 4. FEE: THE FEE FOR EACH LIMITED PERMIT AND FOR EACH RENEWAL SHALL BE 49 FIFTY DOLLARS. 50 S 8807. EXEMPTIONS. THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT PROHIBIT: 51 1. THE PRACTICE OF LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY AS AN INTEGRAL 52 PART OF A PROGRAM OF STUDY BY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN REGISTERED POLYSOMNO- 53 GRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR REGISTERED RESPIRATORY CARE 54 PROGRAMS; 55 2. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE FUNCTIONS INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION 56 OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR A. 9546--A 4 1 REGISTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH FUNCTIONS ARE WITHIN 2 THE SCOPE OF HER OR HIS PRACTICE; 3 3. THE PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY BY ANY LEGALLY AUTHOR- 4 IZED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC PRACTITIONER OF ANY OTHER STATE OR TERRITORY WHO 5 IS SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OF THE 6 UNITED STATES OR WHO IS EMPLOYED BY THE VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION, WHILE 7 ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH DUTIES; 8 4. THE PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY BY A LICENSED RESPIR- 9 ATORY THERAPIST OR A RESPIRATORY THERAPY TECHNICIAN; AND 10 5. THE PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PURPOSES OF 11 CLINICAL RESEARCH, PROVIDED THAT THE RESEARCH HAS BEEN APPROVED BY A 12 DULY AUTHORIZED INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD AND SUCH PRACTICE IS UNDER 13 THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN. 14 S 8808. SPECIAL PROVISIONS. A PERSON SHALL BE LICENSED WITHOUT EXAM- 15 INATION OR SATISFYING THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT, PROVIDED THAT WITHIN 16 ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THE 17 PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE, THE INDIVIDUAL MEETS THE FOLLOWING REQUIRE- 18 MENTS: 19 1. FILES AN APPLICATION AND PAYS THE APPROPRIATE FEES TO THE DEPART- 20 MENT; 21 2. IS CERTIFIED BY A NATIONAL CERTIFYING OR ACCREDITING BOARD FOR 22 POLYSOMNOGRAPHY ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND HAS PRACTICED POLYSOM- 23 NOGRAPHY UNDER THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN WHO 24 SPECIALIZES IN THE PRACTICE OF SLEEP MEDICINE FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS OR 25 MORE IN THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS; PROVIDED THAT SUCH EXPERIENCE SHALL 26 NOT BE ACCEPTABLE FOR LICENSURE AFTER DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOU- 27 SAND ELEVEN; OR 28 3. HAS PRACTICED POLYSOMNOGRAPHY UNDER THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION 29 OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN WHO SPECIALIZES IN THE PRACTICE OF SLEEP MEDI- 30 CINE FOR NOT LESS THAN THREE YEARS WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS PRIOR TO 31 THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE. 32 S 8809. MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION. 1. A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC 33 TECHNOLOGIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH 34 THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTIN- 35 UING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS 36 SECTION EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISIONS TWO AND THREE OF THIS 37 SECTION. A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST WHO DOES NOT SATISFY 38 THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNTIL 39 HE OR SHE HAS MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS, AND HE OR SHE HAS BEEN ISSUED A 40 REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECH- 41 NOLOGIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE 42 IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION 43 FIVE OF THIS SECTION. 44 2. A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE 45 MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- 46 TION PERIOD DURING WHICH HE OR SHE IS FIRST LICENSED. IN ACCORD WITH THE 47 INTENT OF THIS SECTION, ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION 48 REQUIREMENT MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH 49 CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED 50 ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER 51 GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. 52 3. A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST NOT ENGAGED IN THE PRAC- 53 TICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, 54 SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT UPON 55 THE FILING OF A STATEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. A 56 LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO THE PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY A. 9546--A 5 1 DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT 2 PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY EDUCA- 3 TION REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS. 4 4. DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- 5 TRATION AS A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST SHALL COMPLETE A 6 MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE FORMAL CONTINUING EDUCATION, 7 AS SPECIFIED IN SUBDIVISION SIX OF THIS SECTION. A LICENSEE WHO HAS NOT 8 SATISFIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE 9 ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL 10 NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS 11 ISSUED, AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION. CONTINUING 12 EDUCATION HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A 13 SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. 14 5. THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGIS- 15 TRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCA- 16 TION REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION BUT WHO 17 AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL EDUCATION 18 WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDITIONAL REGIS- 19 TRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIEN- 20 NIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL 21 BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY 22 LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO 23 SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF MANDATORY CONTINUING 24 EDUCATION AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO 25 DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF 26 THIS TITLE. 27 6. AS USED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION, "ACCEPTABLE FORMAL 28 CONTINUING EDUCATION" SHALL MEAN FORMAL COURSES OF LEARNING WHICH 29 CONTRIBUTE TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY AND 30 WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. 31 SUCH FORMAL COURSES OF LEARNING SHALL INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED 32 TO, COLLEGIATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, PROFESSIONAL DEVEL- 33 OPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS OFFERED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND 34 LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ACCEPTABLE TO 35 THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL 36 PROGRAMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS 37 DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE 38 PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES IN 39 SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIRE- 40 MENT. COURSES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPONSOR APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, 41 PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. 42 7. A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE 43 DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE FORMAL CONTINUING EDUCATION 44 AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT. 45 FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT 46 SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSU- 47 ANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. 48 S 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a 49 law; provided further, that subdivision 2 of section 8805 of the educa- 50 tion law as added by section one of this act shall not take effect until 51 such time as there are at least four licensure qualifying associate 52 degree programs, acceptable to the department of education, in polysom- 53 nographic technology operated by accredited colleges or universities in 54 the state; provided further, however, that the department of education 55 shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the creation 56 of four acceptable qualifying associate degree programs in order that A. 9546--A 6 1 the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base 2 of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance 3 of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and 4 section 70-b of the public officers law. Effective immediately the addi- 5 tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for 6 the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be 7 made on or before such effective date.