Bill > H1992

This bill establishes a Board of Registration in Naturopathy within the Department of Public Health, composed of five members including naturopathic doctors, a physician, a clinical pharmacologist, and a public member, to oversee the practice of naturopathic health care, which is defined as a system of health practices for prevention, evaluation, and treatment using education, nutrition, natural medicines, and therapies to support the body's self-healing processes. The bill outlines the scope of naturopathic health care, which includes practices like dietary advice, ordering diagnostic tests, dispensing natural medicines, and using naturopathic physical medicine and manipulative therapy, but explicitly excludes surgery, invasive procedures, abortions, the use of radiation or anesthesia, and the prescription of controlled substances or drugs classified under chapter 94C. It also details the powers and duties of the board, such as establishing licensing requirements, approving naturopathic medical colleges, creating a code of ethics, and investigating complaints, while also setting penalties for unlicensed practice and allowing for reciprocity with other jurisdictions. Furthermore, the bill addresses the licensing of individuals who graduated before 1987 and specifies the terms for the initial board members, with the penalties for unlicensed practice taking effect six months after the board begins issuing licenses, and the entire act becoming effective 180 days after passage.