AB 726

safety and professional services

Professional licensure

Under current law, various professions are regulated by the Department of

Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) and various examining boards and

affiliated credentialing boards are created under DSPS. Affiliated credentialing

boards are each attached to a specific examining board. This bill makes numerous

changes to the laws governing DSPS and the examining boards and affiliated

credentialing boards under DSPS, including all of the following:

1. Elimination of certain boards and transfer of their functions to DSPS.

Under current law, in Wisconsin, the Auctioneer Board advises DSPS,

including by reviewing and commenting on proposed rules, concerning the

regulation of auctioneering and has the power to discipline registered auctioneers

and auction companies; the Cemetery Board regulates many aspects of the

management of cemeteries, including the sale of cemetery plots and other cemetery

services; the Examining Board of Professional Geologists, Hydrologists, and Soil

Scientists and the respective sections created under that board regulate the practice

of geologists, hydrologists, and soil scientists; and the Dietitians Affiliated

Credentialing Board regulates the practice of dietitians. The Dietitians Affiliated

Credentialing Board is attached to the Medical Examining Board, but all of those

boards are under the umbrella of DSPS. This bill eliminates all of those boards and

transfers their functions to DSPS.

2. Elimination of certain boards and transfer of their functions to the

Medical Examining Board.

Under current law, the Radiography Examining Board regulates the practice

of radiographers and limited X-ray machine operators in Wisconsin, and the

Podiatry Affiliated Credentialing Board, which is attached to the Medical

Examining Board, regulates the practice of podiatrists. This bill eliminates both of

those boards and transfers their functions to the Medical Examining Board.

3. Elimination of certain boards and transfer of their functions to the

Medical Therapy Examining Board.

Under current law, occupational therapists and occupational therapy

assistants are regulated by the Occupational Therapists Affiliated Credentialing

Board, athletic trainers are regulated by the Athletic Trainers Affiliated

Credentialing Board, and massage therapists and bodyworkers are regulated by the

Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board. Also

under current law, physical therapists and physical therapy assistants are regulated

by the Physical Therapy Examining Board.

This bill eliminates the Occupational Therapists Affiliated Credentialing

Board, the Athletic Trainers Affiliated Credentialing Board, and the Massage

Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board and transfers their