2016 -- H 8241 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC006017/SUB A/3

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Marshall, Shekarchi, Ucci, and O'Brien

     Date Introduced: May 20, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 5-68.1-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-68.1 entitled

"Radiologic Technologists" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-68.1-8. Other licensing provisions. -- (a) Each radiologic technologist license issued

by the director shall only specify one category of radiologic technology. An individual qualified

to practice more than one category of radiologic technology shall submit a separate application

for each category to be licensed. Each radiologic technologist license issued by the director shall

indicate, as appropriate, that the individual is a licensed radiographer, a licensed nuclear medicine

technologist, a licensed radiation therapist, or other category of radiologic technology license

established by the director pursuant to subsection 5-68.1-5(c).

      (b) Unless licensed as a radiologic technologist pursuant to this chapter, no individual

shall use any title or abbreviation to indicate that the individual is a licensed radiologic

technologist.

      (1) An individual holding a license as a radiographer may use the title "Licensed

Radiologic Technologist-Radiographer" or the letters "LRT-R" after his or her name.

      (2) An individual holding a license as a radiation therapy technologist may use the title

"Licensed Radiologic Technologist-Therapy" or the letters "LRT-T" after his or her name.

      (3) An individual holding a license as a nuclear medicine technologist may use the title

"Licensed Radiologic Technologist-Nuclear Medicine" or the letters "LRT-N" after his or her

name.

      (4) [Deleted by P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 20, § 12].

      (c) A valid license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be carried on the person of the

radiologic technologist while performing the duties for which the license is required.

      (d) Licenses, with the exception of initial licenses, shall be issued for a period of two (2)

years.

      (e) The director shall promulgate rules and regulations which specify a renewal date for

all licenses issued pursuant to this chapter.

      (f) The director shall promulgate rules and regulations which specify the minimum

continuing education credits required for renewal of a radiologic technologist license. Failure to

attest to completion of the minimum continuing education credits shall constitute grounds for

revocation, suspension or refusal to renew the license.

     (g) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (f) of this section, an individual who

was initially licensed as a radiologic technologist (radiographer) prior to December 10, 2012, and

who did not use a national certification to document the required education and experience to

renew the license prior to August 1, 2015, for the purposes of license renewal is only required to

certify satisfactory completion of at least twenty-four (24) hours of Category A or Category B

continuing education courses, clinics, lectures, training programs, seminars, or other programs

related to the licensee's specific license category, and subject to the following additional

requirements:

     (1) At least two (2) of the twenty-four (24) credits of continuing education must be

specifically related to radiation protection.

     (2) At least twelve (12) of the twenty-four (24) credits of continuing education must be

completed within Category A, Formal Programs as follows:

     (i) Programs reviewed and approved by a Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation

Mechanism (RCEEM);

     (ii) Activities meeting American Registry of Radiologic Technologist's (ARRT) or the

Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board's (NMTCB) definition of an Approved

Academic Course;

     (iii) Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training approved by the American Red

Cross or the American Heart Association;

     (iv) Activities which have been approved by the American Medical Association (AMA

Category I) or the American Nurses Association (ANA) through the American Nurses

Credentialing Center (ANCC) as long as they are relevant to the radiologic sciences; or

     (v) Activities approved by another state licensing board which meet ARRT or NMTCB

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criteria.

     (3) Category B programs are any legitimate continuing education activity relevant to the

radiologic sciences that are not a Category A, Formal Program, and meet the definition of a

continuing education activity of the ARRT or the NMTCB.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS

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     This act would establish a continuing education requirement for renewal of those

radiologic technologists (radiographers) initially licensed prior to December 10, 2012 without a

national certification documenting the required education and experience.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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