2019 -- S 0292 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- ELECTROLYSIS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 5-32 of the General Laws entitled "Electrolysis" is

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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CHAPTER 5-32

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Electrolysis

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CHAPTER 5-32

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ELECTROLYSIS AND LASER HAIR REMOVAL

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     SECTION 2. Sections 5-32-1, 5-32-2, 5-32-3 and 5-32-4 of the General Laws in Chapter

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5-32 entitled "Electrolysis" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     5-32-1. "Electrolysis" defined.Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Electrologist" means a person who is licensed by the department of health to perform

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electrolysis and/or laser hair removal.

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     (2) For the purposes of this chapter, electrolysis is defined as "Electrolysis" means the

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method of removing hair from the human body by the application of an electrical current or any

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form of energy to the hair-papilla or hair germination by means of a needle or needles any other

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instrument or device to cause decomposition, or coagulation, of the hair-papilla and thus

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permanently remove the hair dehydration or other form of tissue destruction, to permanently

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disable the hair follicle from producing hair.

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     (3) "Laser" means the acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of

 

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radiation.

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     (4) "Laser hair removal" means using laser light to perform hair removal or reduction or

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electrolysis performed with laser light.

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      (5) "Laser light" means an intense, coherent, directional beam of light produced by

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stimulated emission of photons.

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      (6) "Medical director" means a Rhode Island licensed physician.

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     5-32-2. Penalty for unlicensed practice.

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     Every person who subsequently engages in the practice of electrolysis in this state

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without being licensed by the board of examiners in electrolysis is practicing illegally and, upon

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conviction, shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) one hundred dollars ($100)

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and every day of the continuation of illegal practice is a separate offense.

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     5-32-3. Certificates -- Applications -- Penalty for violations.

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     The division of professional regulation of the department of health shall issue certificates

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to practice electrolysis and laser hair removal, as defined in this chapter, to any persons that

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comply with the provisions of this chapter. Any person who desires to engage in that practice

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shall submit, in writing, in any form that is required by the board, an application for a certificate

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to engage in that practice. The application shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54.

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Any person, firm, corporation or association violating any of the provisions of this chapter

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commits a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed two

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hundred dollars ($200), or imprisoned for a period not to exceed three (3) months, or both the fine

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and imprisonment.

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     5-32-4. Qualifications of applicants.

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     Licenses to engage in the practice of electrolysis and laser hair removal shall be issued to

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the applicants who comply with the following requirements:

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     (1) Are citizens or legal residents of the United States.

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     (2) Have attained the age of eighteen (18) years.

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     (3) Have graduated from a high school or whose education is the equivalent of a high

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school education.

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     (4) Have satisfactorily completed a course of training and study in electrolysis, as a

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registered apprentice under the supervision of a licensed Rhode Island electrologist who is

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qualified to teach electrolysis to apprentices as prescribed in § 5-32-20, or has graduated from a

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school of electrolysis after having satisfactorily completed a program consisting of not less than

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six hundred fifty (650) hours of study and practice in the theory and practical application of

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electrolysis. That apprenticeship includes at least six hundred and fifty (650) hours of study and

 

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practice in the theory and practical application of electrolysis within a term of nine (9) months;

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provided, that the apprentice registers with the division of professional regulation of the

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department of health upon beginning his or her course of instruction, and the licensed person with

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whom they serve that apprenticeship keeps a record of the hours of that instruction, and, upon the

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completion of that apprenticeship, certifies that fact to the board of examiners in electrolysis.

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     (5) Is of good moral character.

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     (6) Passes an examination approved by the department of health.

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     SECTION 3. Chapter 5-32 of the General Laws entitled "Electrolysis" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following section:

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     5-32-21. Practice of laser hair removal.

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     (a) A person licensed as an electrologist before July 1, 2019, who has practiced laser hair

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removal under the supervision of a medical director for not less than two (2) years and has

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conducted at least one thousand (1,000) laser hair removal treatments, whichever is later, with no

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disciplinary complaints that were found to be actionable by the department resulting in the

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suspension of a license, shall be permitted to practice electrology and laser hair removal without

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medical director oversight. The department may reinstate the requirement to perform laser hair

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removal under the supervision of a medical director for a period of two (2) years as part of a

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disciplinary settlement; provided, however, that the department shall not require the medical

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director to be located on-site, but shall be available for consultation.

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     (b) A person licensed as an electrologist after July l, 2019, shall practice laser hair

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removal only under the supervision of a medical director, who shall not be required to be located

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on-site, but who shall be available for consultation. A licensed electrologist, upon completion of

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two (2) years of practice under the supervision of a medical director, may submit an application

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to the department certifying the following:

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     (1) Completion of two (2) years of laser hair removal treatment of patients under the

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oversight of a medical director;

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     (2) Completion of one thousand (1,000) patient laser hair removal treatments; and

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     (3) American Electrology Association Board certification.

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     An electrologist meeting the foregoing criteria shall be exempt from the requirement to

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practice laser hair removal under the supervision of a medical director. The department may

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reinstate the requirement to perform laser hair removal under the supervision of a medical

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director for a period of two (2) years as part of a disciplinary settlement; provided, however, that

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the medical director shall not be required to be located on-site, but shall be available for

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consultation.

 

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     (c) All equipment used for laser hair removal shall comply with all applicable rules and

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regulations of the United States Food and Drug Administration.

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     (d) An electrologist shall maintain a complete record of receipt, transfer, and disposal for

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each device used for electrolysis and laser hair removal, which shall be in writing or capable of

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reproduction in written form, and shall, at a minimum, contain the following data:

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     (1) Manufacturer's name;

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     (2) Model and serial number of the device;

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     (3) Date of the receipt, transfer, or disposal;

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     (4) Name and address of the person the device was received from, transferred to, or to

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whom the device was transferred for disposal; and

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     (5) Name of the person recording the information.

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     SECTION 4. 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 -- ELECTROLYSIS

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     This act would establish the requirements for licensure and regulation of electrologists

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performing electrolysis and/or laser hair removal.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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