Creation of a clinical exercise physiology affiliated credentialing board, licensure of clinical exercise physiologists, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE)

Under the bill, the board may grant an initial license to a person who is at least 18 years of age, holds a master's degree in exercise physiology or a related field, is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, has at least 600 hours of qualifying clinical experience, and pays a fee. The bill also allows the board, for one year after the requirement in the bill to obtain a license goes into effect, to grant an initial license to practice clinical exercise physiology to certain individuals who cannot satisfy all of the requirements described above but who satisfy certain experience and other requirements.

The bill requires the board to promulgate rules that establish the qualifying degrees and qualifying clinical experience that are required for licensure, a scope of practice for clinical exercise physiologists, and standards for what constitutes unprofessional conduct for a clinical exercise physiologist.

The bill includes provisions for the professional discipline of licensees, which allow the board to take certain actions against a licensee who violates certain prohibitions in the bill.

Finally, the bill also applies certain other laws, such as the law providing for confidentiality of health care records and the health care workers whistleblowers protection law, to licensed clinical exercise physiologists.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to result if the bill is enacted.