Bill > H0588

This bill makes several changes to the regulation of professions and occupations overseen by the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), including explicitly granting the OPR the authority to rescind licenses and take action against those who fraudulently obtain or use a license, and requiring all members of professional regulation boards to be adults. It also modifies the process for verifying foreign credentials and denying licenses, and establishes a new "limited academic dentist license" for dentists teaching at accredited programs, which will be free of charge. The bill revises regulations for massage therapist establishments, eliminates the advisory committee on midwifery, and shifts the requirement for midwives to submit individual practice data to a discretionary decision by the Director for license renewal. Additionally, it adjusts requirements for pharmacists prescribing vaccinations for individuals aged 18 and older and for pharmacy technicians administering immunizations, and broadens the definition of "practice of funeral service" to include new methods of body disposition like cremation and alkaline hydrolysis. Finally, it creates a temporary, expedited process for establishing educational requirements for psychologist licensure.