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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- GENETIC COUNSELORS

LICENSING ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Ruggiero, Kazarian, Caldwell, and Craven

     Date Introduced: January 06, 2022

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS"

is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 91

GENETIC COUNSELORS LICENSING ACT

     5-91-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Genetic Counselors Licensing Act".

     5-91-2. Statement of policy.

     The state of Rhode Island has an interest in regulating the practice of genetic counseling

and in licensing genetic counselors in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare.

     5-91-3. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter, the following words, shall, unless the context requires otherwise,

have the following meanings:

     (1) "ABGC" means the American Board of Genetic Counseling, a national agency for

certification and recertification of genetic counselors or its successor agency.

     (2) "ABMG" means the American Board of Medical Genetics, a national agency for

certification and recertification of genetic counselors, MD and DO geneticists and Ph.D. geneticists

or its successor agency.

     (3) "ACGC" means the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC),

accreditation board for genetic counselor training programs or its successor agency.

     (4) "Department" means the department of health.

     (5) "Licensed genetic counselor" means a person licensed under this chapter to engage in

the practice of genetic counseling.

     (6) "Person" means an individual and does not mean an association of individuals or a legal

entity.

     (7) "Practice of genetic counseling" means a communication process, conducted by one or

more appropriately trained individuals that may include:

     (i) Obtaining and evaluating individual, family and medical histories to determine genetic

risk for genetic/medical conditions and diseases in a patient, his/her offspring, and other family

members;

     (ii) Discussing the features, natural history, means of diagnosis, genetic and environmental

factors, and management of risk for genetic/medical conditions and diseases;

     (iii) Identifying, ordering and coordinating genetic laboratory tests as appropriate for the

genetic assessment;

     (iv) Integratic genetic laboratory test results and other diagnostic studies with personal and

family medical history to assess and communicate risk factors for genetic/medical conditions and

diseases;

     (v) Explaining the clinical implications of genetic laboratory tests and other diagnostic

studies and their results;

     (vi) Evaluating the client's or family's responses to the condition or risk of recurrence and

provide client-centered counseling and anticipatory guidance;

     (vii) Identifying and utilizing community resources that provide medical, educational,

financial, and psychosocial support and advocacy;

     (viii) Providing written documentation of medical, genetic, and counseling information for

families and health care professionals; and

     (ix) When necessary, referring patients to a physician for diagnosis and treatment.

     (8) "Provisional licensed genetic counselor" means a person with a provisional license

issued under § 5-91-7.

     5-91-4. Genetic counselor license required.

     Effective July 1, 2023, a license shall be required to engage in the practice of genetic

counseling. No person shall hold themselves out as a genetic counselor unless they are licensed in

accordance with the provisions of this chapter. No person who is not so licensed may use in

connection with their name or place of business the title genetic counselor, licensed genetic

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counselor, gene counselor, genetic consultant, genetic associate or any words, letters, abbreviations

or insignia indicating or implying that a person holds a genetic counselor license unless such person

holds a genetic counselor license.

     5-91-5. Powers and duties of department regarding licensing of genetic counselors.

     For the purposes of conducting its responsibilities under this chapter, the department shall

have the following powers and duties:

     (1) To engage persons of established reputation and known ability in genetic counseling as

consultants to the department; the Rhode Island or New England chapter or affiliate of the National

Society of Genetic Counselors, if existing, or their successors or equivalent, is designated as the

appropriate body with which the department shall consult for referral of consultants and other

assistance to the department;

     (2) To promulgate regulations and adopt such rules as are necessary to regulate genetic

counselors;

     (3) To receive, review, approve or disapprove applications for licensing, renewal and

reinstatement and to issue those licenses;

     (4) To establish administrative procedures for processing applications for licenses and

license renewals and to hire or appoint such agents as are appropriate for processing applications

for licenses and license renewals;

     (5) To retain records of its actions and proceedings in accordance with public records laws;

     (6) To define, by regulation, the appropriate standards for education and experience

necessary to qualify for licensing, including, but not limited to, continuing professional education

requirements for licensed genetic counselors and provisional licensed genetic counselors, which

shall be consistent with those of the American Board of Genetic Counseling, or its successor, and

for the conduct and ethics which shall govern the practice of genetic counseling;

     (7) To establish standards of supervision for students or persons in training to become

qualified to obtain a license in the occupation or profession it represents;

     (8) To conduct hearings upon charges calling for the discipline of a licensed genetic

counselor or for revocation of a license pursuant to § 5-91-9. The department has the power to issue

subpoenas and compel the attendance of witnesses and administer oaths to persons giving testimony

at hearings. The department shall cause the prosecution of all persons violating this chapter and has

the power to incur the necessary expenses for the prosecution;

     (9) To summarily suspend the license of a licensee who poses an imminent danger to the

public, but a hearing shall be afforded to the licensee within seven (7) days of an action by the

department to determine whether such summary action is warranted;

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     (10) To recover the actual costs and fees, including attorneys' fees, incurred by the

department in the investigation and prosecution of a licensee upon the finding of a violation of this

chapter or a rule adopted or an order issued by the department under this chapter;

     (11) To take such action as may be necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter and

to regulate the practice of genetic counseling;

     (12) To impose a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each

violation by a licensee of this chapter or of rules adopted by the department; and

     (13) To perform such other functions and duties as may be required to carry out this

chapter.

     5-91-6. Genetic counselors; License applications; Fee; Educational and professional

requirements.

     An application for an original license or license renewal shall be made on forms approved

by the department. The initial fee for application for licensure is one hundred seventy dollars

($170). Licenses shall be renewed every twenty-four (24) months after initial licensure upon

payment of a fee of one hundred seventy dollars ($170) and in compliance with any additional

requirements that the department promulgates. An applicant for an original license shall:

     (1) Meet educational experience qualifications as follows:

     (i) Successfully completed a genetic counseling education program approved by the

department; provided, however, that the program shall meet the educational standards established

by the ACGC or its successor; and provided, further, that the genetic counselor remains certified in

accordance with the ABGC or ABMG, or their successors; or

     (ii) Earned a master's degree from a genetic counseling training program that is accredited

by the ACGC or an equivalent as determined by the ACGC, or a doctoral degree from a medical

genetics training program that is accredited by the ABMG or an equivalent as determined by the

ABMG.

     (2) Have passed the examination for certification as:

     (i) A genetic counselor by the American Board of Genetic Counseling or the American

Board of Medical Genetics, or successor or equivalent; or

     (ii) A medical geneticist by the American Board of Medical Genetics, or successor or

equivalent.

     (3) Within six (6) months after licensure applications being available, an applicant for a

license as a genetic counselor may, in lieu of the requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this

section, submit evidence satisfactory to the department, prior to the date of passage of this chapter,

of the following:

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     (i) Acquisition of eight (8) years of experience in the practice of genetic counseling;

     (ii) Award, from an accredited institution of higher education, of a master's or doctoral

degree in genetics or a related field; and

     (iii) Attendance at a continuing education program approved by the National Society of

Genetic Counselors within the five (5) year period prior to the date of application.

     5-91-7. Practice as provisional licensed genetic counselor; Expiration; Extension;

Supervision by professional licensed genetic counselor.

     (a) A person who meets the qualifications for licensure except for the requirement in § 5-

91-6(2) may practice as a provisional licensed genetic counselor upon filing an approved

application with the department and payment of a fee of eighty-five dollars ($85.00). Such license

shall be valid for one year from the date of its issue and may be renewed for an additional one year

if an applicant fails the ABGC or ABMG certification exam. Such provisional license shall expire

automatically upon the earliest of the following:

     (1) Issuance of a full license;

     (2) Thirty (30) days after the applicant fails to pass the complete examination on the last

permitted attempt as provided by the ABGC or ABMG, or their successors; or

     (3) The date printed on the temporary license.

     (b) An application for extension shall be signed by a supervising licensed genetic

counselor.

     (c) A provisional licensed genetic counselor shall be under the general supervision of a

licensed genetic counselor or a licensed physician at all times during which the provisional licensed

genetic counselor performs clinical genetic counseling.

     (d) The department shall adopt rules governing such supervision and direction which may

not require the immediate physical presence of the supervising licensed genetic counselor.

     5-91-8. Exceptions.

     (a) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent or restrict the practice, service or

activities of:

     (1) Any person licensed, certified, or registered in the state, by any other statute other than

as a genetic counselor from engaging in activities within the scope of practice of the profession or

occupation for which he or she is licensed provided that he or she does not represent to the public,

directly or indirectly, that he or she is licensed under this chapter, and that he or she does not use

any name, title or designation indicating that the person is licensed under this chapter;

     (2) Any person employed as a genetic counselor by the federal government or an agency

thereof if such person provides genetic counseling services solely under the direction and control

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of the organization by which such person is employed;

     (3) A student or intern enrolled in an ACGC approved genetic counseling education

program if genetic counseling services performed by the student are an integral part of the student's

course of study and are performed under the direct supervision of a licensed genetic counselor

assigned to supervise the student and who is on duty and available in the assigned patient care area

and if the person is designated by a title which clearly indicates his or her status as a student or

intern;

     (4) An individual trained as a Ph.D. or medical geneticist who is reapplying for the ABMG

certification examination and is gathering logbook cases under a supervisor identified in the

training program’s ABMG accreditation documents as a member of the training faculty; and

     (5) An out-of-state genetic counselor from working as a consultant, or out-of-state

employer or other organization from employing genetic counselors providing occasional services,

who are not licensed pursuant to this chapter, from engaging in the practice of genetic counseling,

subject to the stated circumstances and limitations as defined by the department, by regulation,

provided that the genetic counselor holds a license, if available, in the genetic counselor’s state of

employment. If licensure is not available in the genetic counselor’s state of employment, the genetic

counselor shall be certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling or the American Board

of Medical Genetics, or their successors, in order to practice genetic counseling without a state

license in accordance with this section.

     5-91-9. Grounds for denial; Refusal to renew; Revocation; Suspension or cancellation

of genetic counselor license.

     The department may deny or refuse to renew a license or, after a hearing, revoke, suspend

or cancel the license or place on probation, reprimand, censure or otherwise discipline a licensee

upon proof satisfactory to the department that the person has:

     (1) Obtained or attempted to obtain a license by fraud or deception;

     (2) Been convicted of an offense warranting disqualification in accordance with the

standards and procedures established in § 28-5.1-14;

     (3) Been adjudged mentally ill or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction;

     (4) Used illicit drugs or intoxicating liquors to the extent which adversely affects his or her

practice;

     (5) Engaged in unethical or unprofessional conduct including, but not limited to, willful

acts, negligence or incompetence in the course of professional practice;

     (6) Violated any lawful order, rule or regulation rendered or adopted by the department; or

     (7) Been refused issuance or been disciplined in connection with a license issued by any

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other state or country.

     5-91-10. Privileged communications.

     The provisions of § 9-17-24 shall apply to persons licensed pursuant to this chapter.

     5-91-11. Certain acts prohibited.

     It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to engage in any of the following

acts:

     (1) To practice genetic counseling or to represent themselves to be a licensed genetic

counselor as defined in this chapter without having at the time of so doing, a valid license issued

under this chapter; or

     (2) To use in connection with their name or place of business, the title genetic counselor or

any words indicating or implying that the person holds a genetic counselor license unless they are

licensed in accordance with this chapter.

     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 -- GENETIC COUNSELORS

LICENSING ACT

***

     This act would provide a statutory framework for the licensing and regulation of genetic

counselors.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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