SENATE BILL
56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023
INTRODUCED BY
Bill Tallman
AN ACT
RELATING TO CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE; EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR PROFESSIONAL MEMBER VACANCIES ON THE CHIROPRACTIC BOARD; PROVIDING FOR ELECTION OF A VICE CHAIR ON THAT BOARD; PROVIDING FOR TEMPORARY LICENSURE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; PROVIDING LICENSURE AND APPLICATION EXEMPTIONS FROM THE CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN PRACTICE ACT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 61-4-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 3, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:
"61-4-3. BOARD CREATED--APPOINTMENT--OFFICERS--DUTIES--COMPENSATION.--
A. The "chiropractic board" is created and is administratively attached to the regulation and licensing department. The board shall consist of six persons, four of whom have been continuously engaged in the practice of chiropractic in New Mexico for five years immediately prior to their appointment. Two persons shall represent the public and shall not have practiced chiropractic in this state or any other jurisdiction. A person shall not be appointed to the board who is an officer or employee of or who is financially interested in any school or college of chiropractic, medicine, surgery or osteopathy.
B. Members of the board shall be appointed by the governor for staggered terms of five years [or less] and in a manner that the term of one board member expires on July 1 of each year. [A list of five names for each professional member vacancy shall be submitted by the New Mexico chiropractic association to the governor for consideration in the appointment of board members.] A vacancy shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term. Board members shall [serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified] be limited to two full consecutive terms and one full term after a three-year hiatus.
C. The board shall annually elect a chair and a [secretary-treasurer] vice chair. A majority of the board constitutes a quorum. The board shall meet quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the chair and shall be called upon the written request of two members of the board. Notification of special meetings shall be made by certified mail unless such notice is waived by the entire board and the action noted in the minutes. Notice of all regular meetings shall be made by regular mail at least ten days prior to the meeting, and copies of the minutes of all meetings shall be mailed to each board member within thirty days after a meeting.
D. A board member failing to attend three consecutive meetings, either regular or special, shall automatically be removed as a member of the board.
E. The board shall adopt a seal.
F. The board shall promulgate and file, in accordance with the State Rules Act, all rules necessary for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act, including educational requirements for a chiropractic assistant.
G. The board, for the purpose of protecting the health and well-being of the citizens of this state and maintaining and continuing informed professional knowledge and awareness, shall establish by rule mandatory continuing education requirements for chiropractic physicians and certified advanced practice chiropractic physicians licensed in this state.
H. Failure to comply with the rules adopted by the board shall be grounds for investigation, which may lead to revocation of license.
I. Members of the board shall be reimbursed as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act, but shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance for each day necessarily spent in the discharge of their duties."
SECTION 2. Section 61-4-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 3, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:
"61-4-4. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS--EVALUATION.--
A. Each applicant for a license to practice chiropractic shall:
(1) make application on forms furnished by the board;
(2) submit evidence on oath satisfactory to the board that the applicant has reached the age of majority, has completed a preliminary education equal to the requirements for graduation from high school, is of good moral character and, after January 1, 1976, except for any student currently enrolled in a college of chiropractic, has completed two years of college-level study in an accredited institution of higher learning and is a graduate of a college of chiropractic that meets the standards of professional education prescribed in Section 61-4-5 NMSA 1978; and
(3) except as otherwise provided in the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act or Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978, pay in advance to the board fees:
(a) for examination; and
(b) [except as provided in Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978] for issuance of a license.
B. In evaluating an application, the board may use the services of a professional background information service that compiles background information regarding applicants from multiple sources.
C. Each applicant for inclusion in the advanced practice chiropractic certification registry shall furnish materials and proof of education and training as established by rule of the board."
SECTION 3. Section 61-4-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 3, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:
"61-4-6. EXAMINATION--SUBJECTS--METHOD OF TREATMENT--RECORDING LICENSE.--
A. The board shall recognize successful completion of all parts of the examination conducted by the national board of chiropractic examiners.
B. The board shall examine each applicant in the act of chiropractic adjusting, procedures and methods as shall reveal the applicant's qualifications; provided that the board may waive the requirement for the board-administered examination as provided in the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act or upon proof of satisfactory completion of the examination conducted by the national board of chiropractic examiners.
C. The board shall issue a license to all applicants whose applications have been filed with and approved by the board and who have paid the required fees and passed either the board-administered examination with a general average of not less than seventy-five percent with no subject below sixty-five percent or the examination conducted by the national board of chiropractic examiners with a general average of not less than seventy-five percent with no subject below sixty-five percent. A license shall be refused to an applicant who fails to make application as provided in this section, fails the examination or fails to pay the required fees.
D. The license, when granted by the board, carries with it the title of doctor of chiropractic and entitles the holder to diagnose using any necessary diagnostic procedures, excluding invasive procedures, except as provided by the board by rule, and treat injuries, deformities or other physical or mental conditions relating to the basic concepts of chiropractic by the use of any methods as provided in this section, including but not limited to palpating, diagnosing, adjusting and treating injuries and defects of human beings by the application of manipulative, manual and mechanical means, including all natural agencies imbued with the healing act, such as food, water, heat, cold, electricity and mechanical appliances, herbs, nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies, but excluding operative surgery and prescription or use of controlled or dangerous drugs. The holder may also supervise the use of any natural agencies imbued with the healing act, such as food, water, heat, cold, electricity, mechanical appliances, herbs, nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies administered by a chiropractic assistant.
E. Failure to display the license shall be grounds for the suspension of the license to practice chiropractic until so displayed and shall subject the licensee to the penalties for practicing without a license.
F. The board shall certify a chiropractic physician as a "certified advanced practice chiropractic physician" when the chiropractic physician has demonstrated completion of advanced coursework and met other requirements established in the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act and by rule of the board."
SECTION 4. A new section of the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] TEMPORARY LICENSE WITHOUT EXAMINATION-- FEDERAL OR STATE DISASTER DECLARATION--FEES.--
A. Pursuant to rules issued by the board, a temporary license to practice in this state without examination may be granted to a person who is a licensed chiropractic physician practicing in good standing in a state in which a federal or state man-made or natural disaster has been declared and, during such time, the chiropractic physician cannot practice in the area of the declared disaster in the chiropractic physician's licensing state, if the chiropractic physician:
(1) is of good moral character; and
(2) is a graduate of a chiropractic college having status with the accrediting commission of the council on chiropractic education or equivalent criterion.
B. A temporary license without examination issued pursuant to this section shall be issued for the duration of the federal or state disaster for a period of time that is:
(1) no more than three months immediately following the lifting of the declared disaster; or
(2) the duration of the remainder of the term of the license issued to the chiropractic physician in the other state.
C. The board may impose a fee of no greater than twenty-five percent of the current licensing fee for a license issued pursuant to this section.
D. A license issued pursuant to this section shall be issued within thirty days of the receipt of an online application that complies with the requirements of this section."
SECTION 5. A new section of the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] TEMPORARY LICENSE WITHOUT EXAMINATION--SUBSTITUTION--FEES.--
A. Pursuant to rules issued by the board, a person who is a chiropractic physician licensed and practicing in another state may be granted a temporary license for not more than twelve months for the purpose of serving as a substitute for a chiropractic physician who is:
(1) licensed pursuant to the provisions of Section 61-4-6 or 61-4-8 NMSA 1978;
(2) on vacation;
(3) on family medical leave; or
(4) unable to perform chiropractic services due to illness, injury, pregnancy or other medical condition approved by the board.
B. The board may impose a fee of no greater than twenty-five percent of the current licensing fee for a temporary license issued pursuant to this section.
C. A license issued pursuant to this section shall be issued within fourteen days of receipt of an online application that complies with the requirements of this section.
D. Nothing in this section shall prevent an applicant from applying for a subsequent temporary license."
SECTION 6. Section 61-4-13 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 3, Section 12, as amended) is amended to read:
"61-4-13. ANNUAL RENEWAL OF LICENSE--FEE--NOTICE.--
A. Except as otherwise provided in the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act or in Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978, a person licensed to practice chiropractic in this state shall, on or before July 1 of each year, pay to the board an annual fee set by [regulation] rule and shall submit proof of completion of continuing education requirements as required by the board. The board shall send written notice to every person holding a license prior to June 1 of each year, directed to the last known address of the licensee, notifying the licensee that it is necessary to pay the renewal fee as provided in the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act. Proper forms shall accompany the notice, upon which forms the licensee shall make application for the renewal of the license. The licensee is responsible for renewal of the license even if the licensee does not receive the renewal notice.
B. The board shall establish a schedule of reasonable fees for applications, licenses, renewals, placement or inactive status and administrative fees."
SECTION 7. Section 61-4-15 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 3, Section 14, as amended) is amended to read:
"61-4-15. APPLICATION AND EXAMINATION EXEMPTIONS.--Sections 61-4-4 and 61-4-6 NMSA 1978 of the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act [does] do not apply to:
A. any commissioned officer of the armed forces of the United States in the discharge of [his] official duties;
B. a [chiropractor] chiropractic physician who is legally qualified to practice in the state or territory in which [he] the chiropractic physician resides, when in actual consultation with a licensed [chiropractor] chiropractic physician of this state; [or]
C. any bona fide student of any standard chiropractic college chiropractically analyzing and adjusting the human body under the direct supervision of a licensed [chiropractor] chiropractic physician;
D. a chiropractic physician who is licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States or credentialed to practice in another country, if the chiropractic physician is teaching, demonstrating or providing chiropractic in connection with an educational seminar in this state for not more than ten days;
E. a chiropractic college professor or a post-graduate educator or instructor holding a doctor of chiropractic degree endorsed by a chiropractic college, if that person is teaching, demonstrating or providing chiropractic in connection with an educational seminar in this state for not more than ten days;
F. a chiropractic physician who is licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States and practicing in good standing in that jurisdiction and who is practicing in this state on a single, temporary assignment for a specific sporting or performing arts event; provided that:
(1) the chiropractic physician is employed or designated in the chiropractic physician's professional capacity by a sports or performing arts entity to practice chiropractic for a specific sports or performing arts event in this state;
(2) the chiropractic physician's practice is limited to members, coaches and staff of the team or event for which the chiropractic physician is employed or designated; and
(3) the scope of the chiropractic physician's practice is limited to the practices permitted pursuant to the laws of the state in which the chiropractic physician is licensed but not to exceed the scope permitted pursuant to the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act; or
G. a chiropractic physician who is licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States and without licensure in this state during a state or federal disaster; provided that the chiropractic physician shall:
(1) only practice in the area of the declared disaster or within a contiguous county; and
(2) limit the chiropractic physician's scope of practice to practices permitted pursuant to the law of the state in which the chiropractic physician is licensed but not to exceed the scope permitted pursuant to the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act."
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