H*4101(Rat #0616, Act #0541 of 1988)  General Bill, By 
 House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
 A Bill to amend Sections 40-47-140, 40-47-600, and 40-47-655, Code of Laws of
 South Carolina, 1976, relating to physicians, surgeons, and osteopaths, so as
 to change certification and licensing requirements of physicians and
 certification requirements of respiratory care practitioners; and to amend the
 1976 Code by adding Section 40-47-625 so as to allow the issuance of a
 temporary certificate to a respiratory care practitioner.-amended title

   04/06/88  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-2501
   04/14/88  House  Read second time HJ-2959
   04/14/88  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-2963
   04/15/88  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-3003
   04/19/88  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-25
   04/19/88  Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-25
   04/27/88  Senate Committee report: Favorable Medical Affairs SJ-17
   04/28/88  Senate Amended SJ-47
   04/28/88  Senate Read second time SJ-48
   05/03/88  Senate Amended SJ-39
   05/03/88  Senate  Read third time SJ-40
   05/03/88  Senate Returned SJ-40
   05/05/88  House  Senate amendment amended HJ-3613
   05/05/88  House  Returned HJ-3614
   05/05/88  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-10
   05/12/88         Ratified R 616
   05/18/88         Became law without Governor's signature
   05/18/88         Effective date 05/19/88
   05/18/88         Act No. 541
   08/01/88         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-47-140, 40-47-600, AND 40-47-655, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PHYSICIANS, SURGEONS, AND OSTEOPATHS, SO AS TO CHANGE CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS OF PHYSICIANS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OF RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS; AND TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-625 SO AS TO ALLOW THE ISSUANCE OF A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE TO A RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONER.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Examination of respiratory care practitioners

SECTION 1. Section 40-47-600(b) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(b) successful passage of the entry-level examination given by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc., or other examination or requirement as the committee may administer or approve."

Temporary certificates

SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 40-47-625. The board may issue a temporary certificate if all certification requirements have been met."

Limited certificates

SECTION 3. Section 40-47-655(A) added to the 1976 Code by Act 337 of 1988 is amended to read:

"(A) Upon payment of a fee prescribed by the committee and approved by the board, the board may issue a limited certificate to practice respiratory care, under the direct supervision of a certified respiratory care practitioner, to an applicant who presents written documentation, verified by oath, that he is a graduate of or student of a Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education approved respiratory care program. If a student, the applicant must be scheduled to graduate from this program within forty-five days of the date on which the limited certificate is to be issued."

Licensing requirement regulations

SECTION 4. Section 40-47-140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 40-47-140. The board by regulation shall establish minimum standards of performance to be attained on examinations for an applicant to qualify for a license.

For FLEX examinations taken before June 1, 1985, the applicant qualifies for a license if, in one sitting, he attained a score of at least seventy-five percent each day or a FLEX weighted average of seventy-five percent or better if no score on any individual part is lower than seventy-four."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.