S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 7047 I N S E N A T E March 9, 2010 ___________ Introduced by Sen. FOLEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education 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. 27 2. THE TERM "PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLO- 28 GY" SHALL MEAN THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PRACTICED IN ANY SETTING UNDER EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD15409-01-0 S. 7047 2 1 THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN INVOLVING THE 2 MONITORING, TESTING AND TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM ANY 3 SLEEP DISORDER AS LISTED IN AN AUTHORITATIVE CLASSIFICATION OF SLEEP 4 DISORDERS ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT. SUCH PROCEDURES INCLUDE BUT ARE 5 NOT LIMITED TO: 6 (A) APPLICATION OF ELECTRODES AND APPARATUS NECESSARY TO MONITOR AND 7 EVALUATE SLEEP DISTURBANCES, INCLUDING APPLICATION OF DEVICES THAT ALLOW 8 A PHYSICIAN TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT SLEEP DISORDERS, WHICH DISORDERS 9 INCLUDE BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO INSOMNIA, SLEEP BREATHING DISORDERS, 10 MOVEMENT DISORDERS, DISORDERS OF EXCESSIVE SOMNOLENCE, AND PARASOMNIAS; 11 (B) INSTITUTION OF ANY TYPE OF PHYSIOLOGIC MONITORING APPLICABLE TO 12 POLYSOMNOGRAPHY INCLUDING THE THERAPEUTIC AND DIAGNOSTIC USE OF OXYGEN, 13 CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (CPAP) AND BI-LEVEL POSITIVE AIRWAY 14 PRESSURE (BIPAP) OF NON-VENTILATED PATIENTS; 15 (C) INITIATION OF CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION, MAINTENANCE OF 16 PATIENT'S AIRWAY (WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION), TRAN- 17 SCRIPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PHYSICIAN ORDERS PERTAINING TO THE PRAC- 18 TICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY; 19 (D) INITIATION OF TREATMENT CHANGES AND TESTING TECHNIQUES REQUIRED 20 FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC PROTOCOLS UNDER THE DIRECTION 21 AND SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN WHO SPECIALIZES IN THE PRACTICE 22 OF SLEEP MEDICINE; AND 23 (E) EDUCATION OF PATIENTS, FAMILY AND PUBLIC ON THE PROCEDURES AND 24 TREATMENTS USED DURING POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY OR ANY EQUIPMENT OR 25 PROCEDURE USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANY SLEEP DISORDER. 26 S 8802. PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. ONLY A PERSON 27 LICENSED AND REGISTERED OR EXEMPT UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL PRACTICE 28 POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. 29 S 8803. USE OF THE TITLE "POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST". ONLY A 30 PERSON LICENSED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL USE THE TITLE "LICENSED POLY- 31 SOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST," "POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST," OR 32 "LICENSED SLEEP TECH". 33 S 8804. STATE COMMITTEE FOR POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. 1. A STATE 34 COMMITTEE FOR POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE 35 BOARD OF REGENTS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSIONER AND SHALL 36 ASSIST ON MATTERS OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, PRACTICE AND CONDUCT IN 37 ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS TITLE. 38 2. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT 39 OF THIS TITLE, THE COMMITTEE SHALL ASSIST THE STATE BOARD FOR MEDICINE 40 SOLELY IN POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY MATTERS, WHICH BOARD SHALL ALSO 41 FUNCTION AS THE STATE BOARD FOR POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. ANY MEMBER 42 OF THE FIRST BOARD APPOINTED WHO IS A POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST NEED 43 NOT BE LICENSED PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT ON THE BOARD; PROVIDED HOWEVER, 44 THAT ANY FIRST APPOINTED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST SHALL BE REGIS- 45 TERED BY A NATIONAL CERTIFYING OR ACCREDITING BOARD ACCEPTABLE TO THE 46 DEPARTMENT. 47 3. THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF NINE INDIVIDUALS, TO BE COMPOSED OF 48 THE FOLLOWING: 49 (A) FIVE LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGISTS, WHO ARE NOT LICENSED 50 TO PRACTICE ANY OTHER PROFESSION REGULATED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE; 51 (B) TWO LICENSED RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS WHO HAVE TRAINING AND/OR EXPE- 52 RIENCE IN THE DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT OF SLEEP DISORDERS; 53 (C) ONE LICENSED PHYSICIAN WHO PRACTICES IN THE FIELD OF SLEEP MEDI- 54 CINE; AND 55 (D) A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. S. 7047 3 1 S 8805. REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE AND 2 REGISTRATION. 1. TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE AS A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC 3 TECHNOLOGIST, AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: 4 (A) APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; 5 (B) EDUCATION: (I) RECEIVED AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC 6 TECHNOLOGY FROM A PROGRAM REGISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT, OR ANOTHER ASSO- 7 CIATE DEGREE PROGRAM DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY 8 EQUIVALENT, FROM AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH 9 THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THIS EDUCATION 10 REQUIREMENT SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THERE ARE AT 11 LEAST FOUR LICENSURE QUALIFYING ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS ACCEPTABLE TO 12 THE DEPARTMENT IN POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY OPERATED BY ACCREDITED 13 COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE; OR 14 (II) COMPLETED A COURSE OF STUDY SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO AN ASSO- 15 CIATE DEGREE PROGRAM DETERMINED TO BE ACCEPTABLE PURSUANT TO SUBPARA- 16 GRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, AND WHICH IS SATISFACTORY TO THE COMMIS- 17 SIONER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS FOR THE 18 PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY; 19 (C) EXPERIENCE: HAVE EXPERIENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN 20 ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; 21 (D) EXAMINATION: PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN 22 ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS; 23 (E) AGE: BE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE; 24 (F) CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART- 25 MENT; AND 26 (G) FEE: PAY A ONE-TIME FEE OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR LICENSURE. 27 2. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION EIGHTY-EIGHT HUNDRED SEVEN OF THIS 28 ARTICLE, EACH LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST SHALL BE REQUIRED 29 TO REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE, 30 AND SHALL PAY A FEE OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL REGIS- 31 TRATION PERIOD. 32 S 8806. LIMITED PERMITS. LIMITED PERMITS MAY BE ISSUED BY THE DEPART- 33 MENT TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, AS FOLLOWS: 34 1. ELIGIBILITY: A PERSON WHO FULFILLS ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE 35 AS A POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST EXCEPT THOSE RELATING TO EXAMINATION 36 SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LIMITED PERMIT; 37 2. LIMIT OF PRACTICE: ALL PRACTICE UNDER A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE 38 UNDER THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN AND ONLY 39 WHILE UNDER THE DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE SUPERVISION OF A HEALTH CARE 40 PROVIDER REGULATED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 41 A PHYSICIAN, POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST, REGISTERED NURSE, RESPIR- 42 ATORY THERAPIST, AND NURSE PRACTITIONER; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THE 43 TASKS OR RESPONSIBILITIES SUPERVISED BY THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ARE 44 WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE; 45 3. DURATION: A LIMITED PERMIT SHALL BE VALID FOR ONE YEAR AND MAY BE 46 RENEWED FOR ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR; AND 47 4. FEE: THE FEE FOR EACH LIMITED PERMIT AND FOR EACH RENEWAL SHALL BE 48 FIFTY DOLLARS. 49 S 8807. EXEMPTIONS. THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT PROHIBIT: 50 1. THE PRACTICE OF LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY AS AN INTEGRAL 51 PART OF A PROGRAM OF STUDY BY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN REGISTERED POLYSOMNO- 52 GRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR REGISTERED RESPIRATORY CARE 53 PROGRAMS; 54 2. THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE FUNCTIONS INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION 55 OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY BY ANY OTHER DULY LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR S. 7047 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 23 3. HAS PRACTICED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY UNDER THE DIRECTION AND 24 SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN WHO SPECIALIZES IN THE PRACTICE OF 25 SLEEP MEDICINE FOR NOT LESS THAN EIGHTEEN MONTHS WITHIN THE LAST THREE 26 YEARS; PROVIDED HOWEVER, SUCH EXPERIENCE SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE AFTER 27 DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE. 28 S 8809. MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION. 1. A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC 29 TECHNOLOGIST REQUIRED UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO REGISTER TRIENNIALLY WITH 30 THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY CONTIN- 31 UING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS 32 SECTION EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISIONS TWO AND THREE OF THIS 33 SECTION. A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST WHO DOES NOT SATISFY 34 THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT PRACTICE UNTIL 35 HE OR SHE HAS MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS, AND HE OR SHE HAS BEEN ISSUED A 36 REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECH- 37 NOLOGIST MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING MET SUCH REQUIREMENTS IF HE OR SHE 38 IS ISSUED A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION 39 FIVE OF THIS SECTION. 40 2. A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE 41 MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRA- 42 TION PERIOD DURING WHICH HE OR SHE IS FIRST LICENSED. IN ACCORD WITH THE 43 INTENT OF THIS SECTION, ADJUSTMENT TO THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION 44 REQUIREMENT MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH 45 CERTIFIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOR EXTENDED 46 ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR FOR OTHER 47 GOOD CAUSE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH MAY PREVENT COMPLIANCE. 48 3. A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST NOT ENGAGED IN THE PRAC- 49 TICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, 50 SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT UPON 51 THE FILING OF A STATEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DECLARING SUCH STATUS. A 52 LICENSEE WHO RETURNS TO THE PRACTICE OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY 53 DURING THE TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT 54 PRIOR TO REENTERING THE PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET SUCH MANDATORY EDUCA- 55 TION REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS. S. 7047 5 1 4. DURING EACH TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD AN APPLICANT FOR REGIS- 2 TRATION AS A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST SHALL COMPLETE A 3 MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF ACCEPTABLE FORMAL CONTINUING EDUCATION, 4 AS SPECIFIED IN SUBDIVISION SIX OF THIS SECTION. A LICENSEE WHO HAS NOT 5 SATISFIED THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT BE 6 ISSUED A TRIENNIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL 7 NOT PRACTICE UNLESS AND UNTIL A CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS 8 ISSUED, AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION. CONTINUING 9 EDUCATION HOURS TAKEN DURING ONE TRIENNIUM MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO A 10 SUBSEQUENT TRIENNIUM. 11 5. THE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS DISCRETION, MAY ISSUE A CONDITIONAL REGIS- 12 TRATION TO A LICENSEE WHO FAILS TO MEET THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCA- 13 TION REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION BUT WHO 14 AGREES TO MAKE UP ANY DEFICIENCIES AND COMPLETE ANY ADDITIONAL EDUCATION 15 WHICH THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE. THE FEE FOR SUCH A CONDITIONAL REGIS- 16 TRATION SHALL BE THE SAME AS, AND IN ADDITION TO, THE FEE FOR THE TRIEN- 17 NIAL REGISTRATION. THE DURATION OF SUCH CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION SHALL 18 BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR. ANY 19 LICENSEE WHO IS NOTIFIED OF THE DENIAL OF REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO 20 SUBMIT EVIDENCE, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT, OF MANDATORY CONTINUING 21 EDUCATION AND WHO PRACTICES WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO 22 DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF 23 THIS TITLE. 24 6. AS USED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION, "ACCEPTABLE FORMAL 25 CONTINUING EDUCATION" SHALL MEAN FORMAL COURSES OF LEARNING WHICH 26 CONTRIBUTE TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY AND 27 WHICH MEET THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED BY REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. 28 SUCH FORMAL COURSES OF LEARNING SHALL INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED 29 TO, COLLEGIATE LEVEL CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT COURSES, PROFESSIONAL DEVEL- 30 OPMENT PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS OFFERED BY NATIONAL, STATE AND 31 LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ACCEPTABLE TO 32 THE DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL 33 PROGRAMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ITS 34 DISCRETION AND AS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE 35 PUBLIC, REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES IN 36 SPECIFIC SUBJECTS TO FULFILL THE MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIRE- 37 MENT. COURSES MUST BE TAKEN FROM A SPONSOR APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, 38 PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER. 39 7. A LICENSED POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST SHALL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE 40 DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLETION OF ACCEPTABLE FORMAL CONTINUING EDUCATION 41 AND SHALL PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT. 42 FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTATION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT 43 SHALL BE AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PURSU- 44 ANT TO SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS TITLE. 45 S 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a 46 law; provided further, that subdivision 2 of section 8805 of the educa- 47 tion law as added by section one of this act shall not take effect until 48 such time as there are at least four licensure qualifying associate 49 degree programs, acceptable to the department of education, in polysom- 50 nographic technology operated by accredited colleges or universities in 51 the state; provided further, however, that the department of education 52 shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the creation 53 of four acceptable qualifying associate degree programs in order that 54 the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base 55 of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance 56 of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and S. 7047 6 1 section 70-b of the public officers law. Effective immediately the addi- 2 tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for 3 the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be 4 made on or before such effective date.