HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 1009

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. Section 61-6-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1923, Chapter 44, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

     "61-6-11. LICENSURE.--

          A. The board may consider for licensure a person who [is of good moral character] is a graduate of [a medical college or school in good standing] an accredited United States or Canadian medical school, has passed an examination approved by the board and has completed two years of an approved postgraduate training program.

          B. An applicant who has not completed two years of an approved postgraduate training program, but who otherwise meets all other licensing requirements, may present evidence to the board of the applicant's other professional experience for consideration by the board in lieu of the approved postgraduate training program. The board shall, in its sole discretion, determine if the professional experience is substantially equivalent to the required approved postgraduate training program.

          C. A graduate of a board-approved medical [college] school located outside the United States or Canada may be granted a license to practice medicine in New Mexico, provided the applicant presents evidence to the board that the applicant is [a person of good moral character and is] in compliance with the United States immigration laws and provided that the applicant presents satisfactory evidence to the board that the applicant has successfully passed an examination as required by the board and has successfully completed two years of postgraduate medical training in an approved postgraduate training program. A graduate of a medical school located outside the United States who successfully completes at least two years of an approved postgraduate training program at or affiliated with an institution located in New Mexico prior to December 30, 2007 and who meets the other requirements of this section may also be granted a license to practice medicine.

          D. All applicants for licensure may be required to appear personally before the board or a designated agent for an interview.

          E. An applicant for licensure by examination shall not be granted a license if the applicant has taken the examination in two or more steps and has failed to successfully pass the final step within seven years of the date that the first step was passed. An applicant for licensure who holds a medical doctor degree and a doctoral degree in a medically related field must successfully complete the entire examination series within ten years from the date the first step of the examination is passed; provided that the board may, by rule, establish exceptions to the time requirements of this subsection.

          F. Every applicant for licensure under this section shall pay the fees required by Section 61-6-19 NMSA 1978.

          G. The board may require fingerprints and other information necessary for a state and national criminal background check."

     Section 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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