SB 634

This bill requires a person who practices genetic counseling to be licensed by

a seven-member genetic counselors affiliated credentialing board (board), created

by the bill. The board consists of four persons licensed under the bill, two persons

licensed to practice medicine and surgery, and one public member. The board

members serve four-year terms.

The bill defines genetic counseling as interpreting, analyzing, integrating, and

delivering any of the following to individuals and families: 1) individual and family

medical histories; 2) education and information about inheritance, genetic testing,

management, prevention, resources, and research; and 3) social and psychological

support. In addition, the foregoing activities do not satisfy the definition of "genetic

counseling" unless they are performed for the following purposes: 1) to provide

guidance about the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic

contributions to disease; 2) to assess the mode of inheritance and chance of

occurrence or recurrence of conditions with a genetic component; or 3) to promote

informed choices and adaptations to a risk or condition.

The following persons are exempt from the bill's licensure requirement: 1) any

person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration, or

certification granted by the state or the federal government; 2) any person assisting

and under the direct supervision of a licensed genetic counselor; 3) certain students

of genetic counseling who are assisting a genetic counselor; 4) a person licensed as

a genetic counselor in another state or country who is authorized by the board to

provide consulting services in this state on a temporary basis, as defined by the board

by rule; and 5) a person who is not licensed as a genetic counselor in another state

but who is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) or the

American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG) and is authorized by the board to

provide consulting services in this state on a temporary basis, as defined by the board

by rule.

To qualify for licensure under the bill, a person must have completed a

degree-granting educational program in genetic counseling approved by the board

and accredited by ABGC or ABMG. In addition, the person must have passed either

an examination administered by ABGC or the genetic counseling examination

administered by ABMG. Finally, the person must obtain and maintain certification

with ABGC. The board may waive these requirements for a person who holds an

unexpired genetic counselor license issued by another state or territory if the board

determines that the requirements for licensure and renewal are substantially

equivalent to the requirements for licensure and renewal in this state. If the person

completed a degree-granting educational program in genetic counseling that is not

in the United States, the person must satisfy any additional requirements

established by the board by rule.

This bill permits the board to provide, by rule, for the issuance of a temporary