Bill Text: NY S06021 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides for the licensing of genetic counselors; creates the state board for genetic counseling.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION [S06021 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-S06021-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6021 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN SENATE May 16, 2019 ___________ Introduced by Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to licensing of genetic counselors The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 142 2 to read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 142 4 GENETIC COUNSELING 5 Section 7050. Introduction. 6 7051. Practice of genetic counseling and use of the title 7 "genetic counselor". 8 7052. State board for genetic counseling. 9 7053. Requirements for a professional license. 10 7054. Exempt persons. 11 7055. Limited permits. 12 7056. Special provisions. 13 § 7050. Introduction. This article applies to the licensing of genetic 14 counselors. The general provisions for all professions contained in 15 article one hundred thirty of this title apply to this article. 16 § 7051. Practice of genetic counseling and use of the title "genetic 17 counselor". 1. The "practice of genetic counseling" shall mean the 18 communication to and education of clients, their families, other health 19 care professionals and the general public with regard to genetic test- 20 ing, individual family histories, or other genetic, personal medical 21 history, and technical information associated with the occurrence, risk 22 of occurrence or recurrence, of a genetic or hereditary condition or 23 birth defect. A practitioner of genetic counseling shall seek to 24 promote decision-making for their client which respects the client's EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD01386-01-9S. 6021 2 1 culture, language, tradition, lifestyle, religion, beliefs and values. 2 Genetic counseling shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 3 (a) obtain and evaluate personal and family medical history to deter- 4 mine genetic risk for genetic conditions and diseases in a client, his 5 or her offspring, and other family members; 6 (b) educate clients regarding the means to assess and manage risk for 7 genetic conditions and disease; 8 (c) identify and order genetic laboratory tests and coordinate other 9 diagnostic studies as appropriate for the genetic assessment; 10 (d) integrate genetic laboratory test results and other diagnostic 11 studies with personal and family medical history to assess and communi- 12 cate risk factors for genetic conditions; 13 (e) explain to a client the clinical implications of genetic laborato- 14 ry tests and other diagnostic studies and their results; and 15 (f) maintain written documentation of the genetic counseling services 16 performed for clients and health care professionals. 17 2. Nothing in this article shall be construed to authorize a licensed 18 genetic counselor to diagnose or treat any genetic disease or medical 19 condition, practice psychotherapy, or practice any other profession that 20 is licensed under this title. This includes, but may not be limited to, 21 the following: 22 (a) Prescribe or administer drugs as defined in this chapter or as a 23 treatment, therapy, or professional services in the practice of his or 24 her profession; 25 (b) Use invasive procedures as a treatment, therapy, or professional 26 service in the practice of his or her profession. For the purposes of 27 this subdivision, "invasive procedure" means any procedure in which 28 human tissue is cut, altered, or otherwise infiltrated by mechanical or 29 other means. Invasive procedures shall include surgery, lasers, ionizing 30 radiation, therapeutic ultrasound, or electroconvulsive therapy; or 31 (c) Provide psychotherapy as defined in subdivision two of section 32 eighty-four hundred one of this title. 33 3. If in the course of providing genetic counseling to any client, a 34 genetic counselor finds any indication of disease or condition that may 35 require medical assessment, the genetic counselor shall refer that 36 client to a licensed physician, or as appropriate, another health care 37 professional licensed pursuant to this title. 38 4. Only a person licensed under this article shall practice genetic 39 counseling. Only a person licensed under this article shall use the 40 title "licensed genetic counselor" and use the letters "L.G.C." after 41 his or her name or any words or letters, abbreviations or insignia indi- 42 cating or implying that a person is licensed pursuant to this article. 43 § 7052. State board for genetic counseling. 1. A state board for 44 genetic counseling shall be appointed by the board of regents upon the 45 recommendation of the commissioner, prior to the effective date of this 46 article, and shall assist on matters of professional licensing and 47 professional conduct in accordance with section sixty-five hundred eight 48 of this title. Members of the first board need not be licensed prior to 49 their appointment to such board. An executive secretary to the board 50 shall be appointed by the board of regents on recommendation of the 51 commissioner. 52 2. The board shall consist of seven individuals, to be composed of the 53 following: 54 (a) five licensed genetic counselors, 55 (b) one licensed physician, andS. 6021 3 1 (c) a public representative as defined in paragraph b of subdivision 2 one of section sixty-five hundred eight of this title. 3 3. Board members shall be appointed for terms of five years. The terms 4 of the first appointed members shall be staggered so that two members 5 are appointed for three years, three members are appointed for four 6 years and two members are appointed for five years. 7 § 7053. Requirements for a professional license. To qualify for a 8 license as a "licensed genetic counselor", an applicant shall fulfill 9 the following requirements: 10 1. Application: file an application with the department; 11 2. Education: have received a master's degree or higher in genetic 12 counseling or human genetics from a program registered by the depart- 13 ment, or determined by the department to be the substantial equivalent, 14 in accordance with the commissioner's regulations. Appropriate course- 15 work shall be determined in accordance with the commissioner's regu- 16 lations on recommendations of the state board for genetic counseling; 17 3. Experience: experience acceptable to the department; 18 4. Examination: pass an examination satisfactory to the department and 19 in accordance with the commissioner's regulations; 20 5. Age: be at least twenty-one years of age; 21 6. Character: be of good moral character as determined by the depart- 22 ment; 23 7. Fees: pay a fee of three hundred dollars to the department for an 24 initial license and two hundred dollars for each subsequent triennial 25 re-registration of a license. 26 § 7054. Exempt persons. So long as the person does not hold him or 27 herself out to the public as a genetic counselor, the provisions of this 28 article shall not apply to: 29 1. A licensed health care professional licensed under this title who 30 is practicing within the scope of practice as defined in this title; 31 2. A student or intern enrolled in a master's or higher program regis- 32 tered or approved by the department where the student or intern is 33 engaged in activities constituting the practice of a profession as 34 defined in this title, whose scope of practice includes genetic coun- 35 seling; provided, however, such activities shall be part of a supervised 36 training program under a licensed genetic counselor or a health care 37 professional licensed pursuant to this title in accordance with the 38 commissioner's regulations; and 39 3. An employee of the state department of health in the provision of 40 education regarding conditions included on the newborn screening panels. 41 Nothing in this article shall be construed as prohibiting counseling 42 services provided by an attorney, rape crisis counselor, or pastoral 43 counseling by a clergy member working within his or her ministerial 44 charge of obligation. 45 § 7055. Limited permits. Limited permits may be issued by the depart- 46 ment to authorize the practice of the profession under a licensed genet- 47 ic counselor or physician pursuant to the commissioner's regulations: 48 1. The department may issue a limited permit to an applicant who meets 49 all qualifications for licensure as a genetic counselor, except those 50 relating to the examination, in accordance with the commissioner's regu- 51 lations. 52 2. Limited permits shall be for one year. Such permits may be extended 53 at the discretion of the department, for one additional year. 54 3. The fee for each limited permit and for each renewal shall be 55 seventy dollars.S. 6021 4 1 § 7056. Special provisions. 1. (a) Any individual who meets the 2 requirements for a license established in this article, except for exam- 3 ination, experience and education, and who is certified by a national 4 certifying body having certification standards acceptable to the depart- 5 ment, may be licensed without meeting additional requirements as to 6 examination, experience, or education, provided that such individual 7 submits an application to the department within two years of the effec- 8 tive date of this article. 9 (b) Any individual who meets the requirements for a license estab- 10 lished in this article, except for examination, may be licensed without 11 examination, provided that the person completed the education require- 12 ment prior to two thousand eight, submits evidence of a minimum of ten 13 years employment as a genetic counselor, submits experience acceptable 14 to the department and submits an application to the department within 15 two years of the effective date of this article. 16 2. This article shall not prohibit the practice of genetic counseling 17 by a lawfully organized business entity meeting the requirements author- 18 ized by this article or by an employee or agent of such a business enti- 19 ty provided that such practice is provided by a licensed genetic counse- 20 lor or persons exempt under this article. Violation of this provision 21 shall be subject to the provisions of section sixty-five hundred twelve 22 of this title. For the purposes of this subdivision, "business entity" 23 means any lawfully established business entity, other than a profes- 24 sional service corporation (PC), a professional service limited liabil- 25 ity company (PLLC) or a registered limited liability partnership (LLP) 26 that is authorized to practice genetic counseling under New York law. 27 Provided further, that any such business entity must: 28 (a) have registered and been approved by the department before provid- 29 ing any such services to patients who reside in this state by providing 30 their name and address for service of process. 31 (b) submit an application to the department which shall: 32 (i) be made in a manner and form prescribed by the department; 33 (ii) include information as may be required by the department to 34 ensure safe practice, including, but not limited to, a current list of 35 genetic counselors licensed pursuant to this article who are employees 36 or agents of the business entity and are providing such services to 37 patients who reside in the state; and 38 (iii) be accompanied by a fee of three hundred forty-five dollars. 39 (c) submit annually to the department a current list of genetic coun- 40 selors licensed pursuant to this article who are employees or agents of 41 the business entity and are providing such services to patients who 42 reside in the state. 43 (d) not compensate the licensed genetic counselor or exempt person in 44 a manner that takes into account, directly or indirectly, the volume or 45 financial values of genetic tests ordered. 46 (e) ensure the licensed genetic counselor or exempt person provides a 47 form to each client disclosing the name of the business entity and 48 informs the client of his or her right to utilize an alternative genetic 49 counselor. 50 (f) as a condition of employment, not require a licensed genetic coun- 51 selor or exempt person to order a certain test or tests, or otherwise 52 direct or influence professional conduct. 53 3. All business entity registrations shall be renewed on dates set by 54 the department. The triennial registration fee shall be two hundred 55 sixty dollars, or a prorated portion thereof as determined by the 56 department.S. 6021 5 1 4. Such business entity registered under this section shall be under 2 the supervision of the board of regents and shall be subject to disci- 3 plinary proceedings and penalties in accordance with article one hundred 4 thirty of this title in the same manner and to the same extent as indi- 5 vidual licensees. Provided further, that failure to comply with the 6 requirements of this section shall also constitute professional miscon- 7 duct. 8 § 2. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part 9 of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to 10 be invalid and after exhaustion of all further judicial review, the 11 judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, 12 but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, para- 13 graph, section or part of this act directly involved in the controversy 14 in which the judgment shall have been rendered. 15 § 3. This act shall take effect two years after it shall have become a 16 law; provided, however, that the state education department is author- 17 ized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations and take any other 18 measure necessary to implement this act, including, but not limited to, 19 the appointment of board members pursuant to section 7052 of the educa- 20 tion law, as added by section one of this act on or before such effec- 21 tive date.
