1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to health; regulating the practice of 
  1.3             respiratory care; establishing the requirements for 
  1.4             registration and regulation of respiratory care 
  1.5             practitioners; providing for continuing education, 
  1.6             fees, reporting obligations, disciplinary actions, and 
  1.7             for an advisory council; providing criminal penalties; 
  1.8             proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.9             chapter 147C; repealing Minnesota Rules, parts 
  1.10            4762.0010; 4762.0020; 4762.0030; 4762.0040; 4762.0050; 
  1.11            4762.0060; 4762.0065; 4762.0070; 4762.0080; 4762.0090; 
  1.12            4762.0100; 4762.0200; and 4762.0300. 
  1.13  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.14     Section 1.  [147C.01] [DEFINITIONS.] 
  1.15     Subdivision 1.  [APPLICABILITY.] The definitions in this 
  1.16  section apply to this chapter. 
  1.17     Subd. 2.  [ADVISORY COUNCIL.] "Advisory council" means the 
  1.18  respiratory care practitioner advisory council established under 
  1.19  section 147C.35. 
  1.20     Subd. 3.  [APPROVED EDUCATION PROGRAM.] "Approved education 
  1.21  program" means a university, college, or other post-secondary 
  1.22  education program leading to eligibility for registry or 
  1.23  certification in respiratory care, that, at the time the student 
  1.24  completes the program, is accredited by a national accrediting 
  1.25  organization approved by the board.  
  1.26     Subd. 4.  [BOARD.] "Board" means the board of medical 
  1.27  practice or its designee. 
  1.28     Subd. 5.  [CONTACT HOUR.] "Contact hour" means an 
  1.29  instructional session of 50 consecutive minutes, excluding 
  2.1   coffee breaks, registration, meals without a speaker, and social 
  2.2   activities. 
  2.3      Subd. 6.  [CREDENTIAL.] "Credential" means a license, 
  2.4   permit, certification, registration, or other evidence of 
  2.5   qualification or authorization to engage in respiratory care 
  2.6   practice in this state or any other state. 
  2.7      Subd. 7.  [CREDENTIALING EXAMINATION.] "Credentialing 
  2.8   examination" means an examination administered by the National 
  2.9   Board for Respiratory Care or other national testing 
  2.10  organization approved by the board for credentialing as a 
  2.11  certified respiratory therapy technician, registered respiratory 
  2.12  therapist, or other title indicating an entry or advanced level 
  2.13  respiratory care practitioner.  
  2.14     Subd. 8.  [HEALTH CARE FACILITY.] "Health care facility" 
  2.15  means a hospital as defined in section 144.50, subdivision 2, a 
  2.16  medical facility as defined in section 144.561, subdivision 1, 
  2.17  paragraph (b), or a nursing home as defined in section l44A.01, 
  2.18  subdivision 5, a long-term acute care facility, a subacute care 
  2.19  facility, an outpatient clinic, a physician's office, or a 
  2.20  hospice. 
  2.21     Subd. 9.  [QUALIFIED MEDICAL DIRECTION.] "Qualified medical 
  2.22  direction" means direction from a licensed physician who is on 
  2.23  the staff or is a consultant of a health care facility or home 
  2.24  care agency or home medical equipment provider and who has a 
  2.25  special interest in and knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment 
  2.26  of deficiencies, abnormalities, and diseases of the 
  2.27  cardiopulmonary system.  
  2.28     Subd. 10.  [RESPIRATORY CARE.] "Respiratory care" means the 
  2.29  provision of services described under section 147C.05 for the 
  2.30  assessment, treatment, education, management, evaluation, and 
  2.31  care of patients with deficiencies, abnormalities, and diseases 
  2.32  of the cardiopulmonary system, under the guidance of qualified 
  2.33  medical direction and pursuant to a referral from a physician 
  2.34  who has medical responsibility for the patient.  It includes 
  2.35  education pertaining to health promotion and disease prevention, 
  2.36  patient care, and treatment. 
  3.1      Sec. 2.  [147C.05] [SCOPE OF PRACTICE.] 
  3.2      (a) The practice of respiratory care by a registered 
  3.3   respiratory care practitioner includes, but is not limited to, 
  3.4   the following services: 
  3.5      (1) providing and monitoring therapeutic administration of 
  3.6   medical gases, aerosols, humidification, and pharmacological 
  3.7   agents related to respiratory care procedures, but not including 
  3.8   administration of general anesthesia; 
  3.9      (2) carrying out therapeutic application and monitoring of 
  3.10  mechanical ventilatory support; 
  3.11     (3) providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and maintenance 
  3.12  of natural airways and insertion and maintenance of artificial 
  3.13  airways; 
  3.14     (4) assessing and monitoring signs, symptoms, and general 
  3.15  behavior relating to, and general physical response to, 
  3.16  respiratory care treatment or evaluation for treatment and 
  3.17  diagnostic testing, including determination of whether the 
  3.18  signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior, or general response 
  3.19  exhibit abnormal characteristics; 
  3.20     (5) obtaining physiological specimens and interpreting 
  3.21  physiological data including: 
  3.22     (i) analyzing arterial and venous blood gases; 
  3.23     (ii) assessing respiratory secretions; 
  3.24     (iii) measuring ventilatory volumes, pressures, and flows; 
  3.25     (iv) testing pulmonary function; 
  3.26     (v) testing and studying the cardiopulmonary system; and 
  3.27     (vi) diagnostic testing of breathing patterns related to 
  3.28  sleep disorders; 
  3.29     (6) assisting hemodynamic monitoring and support of the 
  3.30  cardiopulmonary system; 
  3.31     (7) assessing and making suggestions for modifications in 
  3.32  the treatment regimen based on abnormalities, protocols, or 
  3.33  changes in patient response to respiratory care treatment; 
  3.34     (8) providing cardiopulmonary rehabilitation including 
  3.35  respiratory-care related educational components, postural 
  3.36  drainage, chest physiotherapy, breathing exercises, aerosolized 
  4.1   administration of medications, and equipment use and 
  4.2   maintenance; 
  4.3      (9) instructing patients and their families in techniques 
  4.4   for the prevention, alleviation, and rehabilitation of 
  4.5   deficiencies, abnormalities, and diseases of the cardiopulmonary 
  4.6   system; and 
  4.7      (10) transcribing and implementing physician orders for 
  4.8   respiratory care services. 
  4.9      (b) Patient service by a practitioner must be limited to: 
  4.10     (1) services within the training and experience of the 
  4.11  practitioner; and 
  4.12     (2) services within the parameters of the laws, rules, and 
  4.13  standards of the facilities in which the respiratory care 
  4.14  practitioner practices.  
  4.15     (c) Respiratory care services provided by a registered 
  4.16  respiratory care practitioner, whether delivered in a health 
  4.17  care facility or the patient's residence, must not be provided 
  4.18  except upon referral from a physician. 
  4.19     Sec. 3.  [147C.10] [PROTECTED TITLES AND RESTRICTIONS ON 
  4.20  USE.] 
  4.21     Subdivision 1.  [PROTECTED TITLES.] No individual may use 
  4.22  the title "Minnesota registered respiratory care practitioner," 
  4.23  "registered respiratory care practitioner," "respiratory care 
  4.24  practitioner," "respiratory therapist," "respiratory therapy (or 
  4.25  care) technician," "inhalation therapist," or "inhalation 
  4.26  therapy technician," or use, in connection with the individual's 
  4.27  name, the letters "RCP," or any other titles, words, letters, 
  4.28  abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that the 
  4.29  individual is eligible for registration by the state as a 
  4.30  respiratory care practitioner unless the individual has been 
  4.31  registered as a respiratory care practitioner according to this 
  4.32  chapter. 
  4.33     Subd. 2.  [OTHER HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS.] (a) 
  4.34  Nonphysician individuals practicing in a health care occupation 
  4.35  or profession are not restricted in the provision of services 
  4.36  included in section 147C.05, as long as they do not hold 
  5.1   themselves out as respiratory care practitioners by or through 
  5.2   the use of the titles provided in subdivision 1 in association 
  5.3   with provision of these services. 
  5.4      (b) Physician practitioners are exempt from this chapter. 
  5.5      (c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require 
  5.6   registration of: 
  5.7      (1) a respiratory care practitioner student enrolled in a 
  5.8   respiratory therapy education program accredited by the 
  5.9   Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 
  5.10  or another accrediting organization approved by the board; and 
  5.11     (2) a respiratory care practitioner employed in the service 
  5.12  of the federal government while performing duties incident to 
  5.13  that employment. 
  5.14     Subd. 3.  [PENALTIES.] A person who violates subdivision 1 
  5.15  or subdivision 2 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. 
  5.16     Subd. 4.  [IDENTIFICATION OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS.] 
  5.17  Respiratory care practitioners registered in Minnesota shall 
  5.18  wear name tags that identify them as respiratory care 
  5.19  practitioners while in a professional setting.  If not written 
  5.20  in full, this must be designated as RCP.  A student attending a 
  5.21  respiratory therapy training program or a tutorial intern 
  5.22  program must be identified as a student respiratory care 
  5.23  practitioner.  This abbreviated designation is Student RCP.  
  5.24  Unregulated individuals who work in an assisting respiratory 
  5.25  role under the supervision of respiratory care practitioners 
  5.26  must be identified as respiratory care assistants or aides. 
  5.27     Sec. 4.  [147C.15] [REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.] 
  5.28     Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION.] To 
  5.29  be eligible for registration, an applicant, with the exception 
  5.30  of those seeking registration by reciprocity under subdivision 
  5.31  2, must: 
  5.32     (1) submit a completed application on forms provided by the 
  5.33  board along with all fees required under section 147C.40 that 
  5.34  includes: 
  5.35     (i) the applicant's name, social security number, home 
  5.36  address and telephone number, and business address and telephone 
  6.1   number; 
  6.2      (ii) the name and location of the respiratory care 
  6.3   education program the applicant completed; 
  6.4      (iii) a list of degrees received from educational 
  6.5   institutions; 
  6.6      (iv) a description of the applicant's professional training 
  6.7   beyond the first degree received; 
  6.8      (v) the applicant's work history for the five years 
  6.9   preceding the application, including the average number of hours 
  6.10  worked per week; 
  6.11     (vi) a list of registrations, certifications, and licenses 
  6.12  held in other jurisdictions; 
  6.13     (vii) a description of any other jurisdiction's refusal to 
  6.14  credential the applicant; 
  6.15     (viii) a description of all professional disciplinary 
  6.16  actions initiated against the applicant in any jurisdiction; and 
  6.17     (ix) any history of drug or alcohol abuse, and any 
  6.18  misdemeanor or felony conviction; 
  6.19     (2) submit a certificate of completion from an approved 
  6.20  education program; 
  6.21     (3) achieve a qualifying score on a credentialing 
  6.22  examination within five years prior to application for 
  6.23  registration; 
  6.24     (4) submit a verified copy of a valid and current 
  6.25  credential, issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care or 
  6.26  other board-approved national organization, as a certified 
  6.27  respiratory therapy technician, registered respiratory 
  6.28  therapist, or other entry or advanced level respiratory care 
  6.29  practitioner designation; 
  6.30     (5) submit additional information as requested by the 
  6.31  board, including providing any additional information necessary 
  6.32  to ensure that the applicant is able to practice with reasonable 
  6.33  skill and safety to the public; 
  6.34     (6) sign a statement that the information in the 
  6.35  application is true and correct to the best of the applicant's 
  6.36  knowledge and belief; and 
  7.1      (7) sign a waiver authorizing the board to obtain access to 
  7.2   the applicant's records in this or any other state in which the 
  7.3   applicant has completed an approved education program or engaged 
  7.4   in the practice of respiratory care. 
  7.5      Subd. 2.  [REGISTRATION BY RECIPROCITY.] To be eligible for 
  7.6   registration by reciprocity, the applicant must be credentialed 
  7.7   by the National Board for Respiratory Care or other 
  7.8   board-approved organization and have worked at least eight weeks 
  7.9   of the previous five years as a respiratory care practitioner 
  7.10  and must: 
  7.11     (1) submit the application materials and fees as required 
  7.12  by subdivision 1, clauses (1), (4), (5), (6), and (7); 
  7.13     (2) provide a verified copy from the appropriate government 
  7.14  body of a current and unrestricted credential for the practice 
  7.15  of respiratory care in another jurisdiction that has initial 
  7.16  credentialing requirements equivalent to or higher than the 
  7.17  requirements in subdivision 1; and 
  7.18     (3) provide letters of verification from the appropriate 
  7.19  government body in each jurisdiction in which the applicant 
  7.20  holds a credential.  Each letter must state the applicant's 
  7.21  name, date of birth, credential number, date of issuance, a 
  7.22  statement regarding disciplinary actions, if any, taken against 
  7.23  the applicant, and the terms under which the credential was 
  7.24  issued. 
  7.25     Subd. 3.  [TEMPORARY PERMIT.] The board may issue a 
  7.26  temporary permit to practice as a respiratory care practitioner 
  7.27  to an applicant eligible for registration under this section if 
  7.28  the application for registration is complete, all applicable 
  7.29  requirements in this section have been met, and a nonrefundable 
  7.30  fee set by the board has been paid.  The permit remains valid 
  7.31  only until the meeting of the board at which a decision is made 
  7.32  on the respiratory care practitioner's application for 
  7.33  registration. 
  7.34     Subd. 4.  [TEMPORARY REGISTRATION.] The board may issue 
  7.35  temporary registration as a respiratory care practitioner for a 
  7.36  period of one year to an applicant for registration under this 
  8.1   section if the application for registration is complete, all 
  8.2   applicable requirements have been met with exception of 
  8.3   completion of a credentialing examination, and a nonrefundable 
  8.4   fee set by the board has been paid.  A respiratory care 
  8.5   practitioner with temporary registration may qualify for full 
  8.6   registration status upon submission of verified documentation 
  8.7   that the respiratory care practitioner has achieved a qualifying 
  8.8   score on a credentialing examination within one year after 
  8.9   receiving temporary registration status.  Temporary registration 
  8.10  may not be renewed. 
  8.11     Subd. 5.  [PRACTICE LIMITATIONS WITH TEMPORARY 
  8.12  REGISTRATION.] A respiratory care practitioner with temporary 
  8.13  registration is limited to working under the direct supervision 
  8.14  of a registered respiratory care practitioner or physician able 
  8.15  to provide qualified medical direction.  The respiratory care 
  8.16  practitioner or physician must be present in the health care 
  8.17  facility or readily available by telecommunication at the time 
  8.18  the respiratory care services are being provided.  A registered 
  8.19  respiratory care practitioner may supervise no more than two 
  8.20  respiratory care practitioners with temporary registration 
  8.21  status. 
  8.22     Subd. 6.  [REGISTRATION EXPIRATION.] Registrations issued 
  8.23  under this chapter expire annually. 
  8.24     Subd. 7.  [RENEWAL.] (a) To be eligible for registration 
  8.25  renewal a registrant must: 
  8.26     (1) annually, or as determined by the board, complete a 
  8.27  renewal application on a form provided by the board; 
  8.28     (2) submit the renewal fee; 
  8.29     (3) provide evidence every two years of a total of 24 hours 
  8.30  of continuing education approved by the board as described in 
  8.31  section 147C.25; and 
  8.32     (4) submit any additional information requested by the 
  8.33  board to clarify information presented in the renewal 
  8.34  application.  The information must be submitted within 30 days 
  8.35  after the board's request, or the renewal request is nullified. 
  8.36     (b) Applicants for renewal who have not practiced the 
  9.1   equivalent of eight full weeks during the past five years must 
  9.2   achieve a passing score on retaking the credentialing 
  9.3   examination, or complete no less than eight weeks of advisory 
  9.4   council-approved supervised clinical experience having a broad 
  9.5   base of treatment modalities and patient care.  
  9.6      Subd. 8.  [CHANGE OF ADDRESS.] A registrant who changes 
  9.7   addresses must inform the board within 30 days, in writing, of 
  9.8   the change of address.  All notices or other correspondence 
  9.9   mailed to or served on a registrant by the board at the 
  9.10  registrant's address on file with the board shall be considered 
  9.11  as having been received by the registrant. 
  9.12     Subd. 9.  [REGISTRATION RENEWAL NOTICE.] At least 30 days 
  9.13  before the registration renewal date, the board shall send out a 
  9.14  renewal notice to the last known address of the registrant on 
  9.15  file.  The notice must include a renewal application and a 
  9.16  notice of fees required for renewal.  It must also inform the 
  9.17  registrant that registration will expire without further action 
  9.18  by the board if an application for registration renewal is not 
  9.19  received before the deadline for renewal.  The registrant's 
  9.20  failure to receive this notice shall not relieve the registrant 
  9.21  of the obligation to meet the deadline and other requirements 
  9.22  for registration renewal.  Failure to receive this notice is not 
  9.23  grounds for challenging expiration of registered status. 
  9.24     Subd. 10.  [RENEWAL DEADLINE.] The renewal application and 
  9.25  fee must be postmarked on or before July 1 of the year of 
  9.26  renewal or as determined by the board.  If the postmark is 
  9.27  illegible, the application shall be considered timely if 
  9.28  received by the third working day after the deadline. 
  9.29     Subd. 11.  [INACTIVE STATUS AND RETURN TO ACTIVE STATUS.] 
  9.30  (a) A registration may be placed in inactive status upon 
  9.31  application to the board by the registrant and upon payment of 
  9.32  an inactive status fee.  
  9.33     (b) Registrants seeking restoration to active from inactive 
  9.34  status must pay the current renewal fees and all unpaid back 
  9.35  inactive fees.  They must meet the criteria for renewal 
  9.36  specified in subdivision 7, including continuing education hours 
 10.1   equivalent to one hour for each month of inactive status, prior 
 10.2   to submitting an application to regain registered status.  If 
 10.3   the inactive status extends beyond five years, a qualifying 
 10.4   score on a credentialing examination, or completion of an 
 10.5   advisory council-approved eight-week supervised clinical 
 10.6   training experience is required.  If the registrant intends to 
 10.7   regain active registration by means of eight weeks of advisory 
 10.8   council-approved clinical training experience, the registrant 
 10.9   shall be granted temporary registration for a period of no 
 10.10  longer than six months. 
 10.11     Subd. 12.  [REGISTRATION FOLLOWING LAPSE OF REGISTRATION 
 10.12  STATUS FOR TWO YEARS OR LESS.] For any individual whose 
 10.13  registration status has lapsed for two years or less, to regain 
 10.14  registration status, the individual must: 
 10.15     (1) apply for registration renewal according to subdivision 
 10.16  7; 
 10.17     (2) document compliance with the continuing education 
 10.18  requirements of section 147C.25 since the registrant's initial 
 10.19  registration or last renewal; and 
 10.20     (3) submit the fees required under section 147C.40 for the 
 10.21  period not registered, including the fee for late renewal. 
 10.22     Subd. 13.  [CANCELLATION DUE TO NONRENEWAL.] The board 
 10.23  shall not renew, reissue, reinstate, or restore a registration 
 10.24  that has lapsed and has not been renewed within two annual 
 10.25  registration renewal cycles starting July 1997.  A registrant 
 10.26  whose registration is canceled for nonrenewal must obtain a new 
 10.27  registration by applying for registration and fulfilling all 
 10.28  requirements then in existence for initial registration as a 
 10.29  respiratory care practitioner.  
 10.30     Subd. 14.  [CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION IN GOOD STANDING.] 
 10.31  (a) A registrant holding active registration as a respiratory 
 10.32  care practitioner in the state may, upon approval of the board, 
 10.33  be granted registration cancellation if the board is not 
 10.34  investigating the person as a result of a complaint or 
 10.35  information received or if the board has not begun disciplinary 
 10.36  proceedings against the registrant.  Such action by the board 
 11.1   shall be reported as a cancellation of registration in good 
 11.2   standing. 
 11.3      (b) A registrant who receives board approval for 
 11.4   registration cancellation is not entitled to a refund of any 
 11.5   registration fees paid for the registration year in which 
 11.6   cancellation of the registration occurred. 
 11.7      (c) To obtain registration after cancellation, a registrant 
 11.8   must obtain a new registration by applying for registration and 
 11.9   fulfilling the requirements then in existence for obtaining 
 11.10  initial registration as a respiratory care practitioner.  
 11.11     Sec. 5.  [147C.20] [BOARD ACTION ON APPLICATIONS FOR 
 11.12  REGISTRATION.] 
 11.13     (a) The board shall act on each application for 
 11.14  registration according to paragraphs (b) to (d). 
 11.15     (b) The board shall determine if the applicant meets the 
 11.16  requirements for registration under section 147C.15.  The board 
 11.17  or advisory council may investigate information provided by an 
 11.18  applicant to determine whether the information is accurate and 
 11.19  complete.  
 11.20     (c) The board shall notify each applicant in writing of 
 11.21  action taken on the application, the grounds for denying 
 11.22  registration if registration is denied, and the applicant's 
 11.23  right to review under paragraph (d).  
 11.24     (d) Applicants denied registration may make a written 
 11.25  request to the board, within 30 days of the board's notice, to 
 11.26  appear before the advisory council and for the advisory council 
 11.27  to review the board's decision to deny the applicant's 
 11.28  registration.  After reviewing the denial, the advisory council 
 11.29  shall make a recommendation to the board as to whether the 
 11.30  denial shall be affirmed.  Each applicant is allowed only one 
 11.31  request for review per yearly registration period.  
 11.32     Sec. 6.  [147C.25] [CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.] 
 11.33     Subdivision 1.  [NUMBER OF REQUIRED CONTACT HOURS.] Two 
 11.34  years after the date of initial registration, and every two 
 11.35  years thereafter, a registrant applying for registration renewal 
 11.36  must complete a minimum of 24 contact hours of board-approved 
 12.1   continuing education in the two years preceding registration 
 12.2   renewal and attest to completion of continuing education 
 12.3   requirements by reporting to the board. 
 12.4      Subd. 2.  [APPROVED PROGRAMS.] The board shall approve 
 12.5   continuing education programs that have been approved for 
 12.6   continuing education credit by the American Association of 
 12.7   Respiratory Care or the Minnesota Society for Respiratory Care 
 12.8   or their successor organizations.  The board shall also approve 
 12.9   programs substantially related to respiratory care that are 
 12.10  sponsored by an accredited university or college, medical 
 12.11  school, state or national medical association, national medical 
 12.12  specialty society, or that are approved for continuing education 
 12.13  credit by the Minnesota board of nursing.  
 12.14     Subd. 3.  [APPROVAL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS.] The 
 12.15  board shall also approve continuing education programs that do 
 12.16  not meet the requirements of subdivision 1 but that meet the 
 12.17  following criteria: 
 12.18     (1) the program content directly relates to the practice of 
 12.19  respiratory care; 
 12.20     (2) each member of the program faculty is knowledgeable in 
 12.21  the subject matter as demonstrated by a degree from an 
 12.22  accredited education program, verifiable experience in the field 
 12.23  of respiratory care, special training in the subject matter, or 
 12.24  experience teaching in the subject area; 
 12.25     (3) the program lasts at least one contact hour; 
 12.26     (4) there are specific, measurable, written objectives, 
 12.27  consistent with the program, describing the expected outcomes 
 12.28  for the participants; and 
 12.29     (5) the program sponsor has a mechanism to verify 
 12.30  participation and maintains attendance records for three years. 
 12.31     Subd. 4.  [HOSPITAL, HEALTH CARE FACILITY, OR MEDICAL 
 12.32  COMPANY IN-SERVICES.] Hospital, health care facility, or medical 
 12.33  company in-service programs may qualify for continuing education 
 12.34  credits provided they meet the requirements of this section. 
 12.35     Subd. 5.  [ACCUMULATION OF CONTACT HOURS.] A registrant may 
 12.36  not apply contact hours acquired in one two-year reporting 
 13.1   period to a future continuing education reporting period.  
 13.2      Subd. 6.  [VERIFICATION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS.] 
 13.3   The board shall periodically select a random sample of 
 13.4   registrants and require those registrants to supply the board 
 13.5   with evidence of having completed the continuing education to 
 13.6   which they attested.  Documentation may come directly from the 
 13.7   registrant or from state or national organizations that maintain 
 13.8   continuing education records. 
 13.9      Subd. 7.  [RESTRICTION ON CONTINUING EDUCATION TOPICS.] A 
 13.10  registrant may apply no more than a combined total of eight 
 13.11  hours of continuing education in the areas of management, risk 
 13.12  management, personal growth, and educational techniques to a 
 13.13  two-year reporting period. 
 13.14     Subd. 8.  [CREDIT FOR CREDENTIALING EXAMINATION.] A 
 13.15  registrant may fulfill the continuing education requirements for 
 13.16  a two-year reporting period by achieving a qualifying score on 
 13.17  one of the credentialing examinations or a specialty 
 13.18  credentialing examination of the National Board for Respiratory 
 13.19  Care or another board-approved testing organization.  A 
 13.20  registrant may achieve 12 hours of continuing education credit 
 13.21  by completing a National Board for Respiratory Care or other 
 13.22  board-approved testing organization's specialty examination.  
 13.23     Sec. 7.  [147C.30] [DISCIPLINE; REPORTING.] 
 13.24     For purposes of this chapter, registered respiratory care 
 13.25  practitioners and applicants are subject to the provisions of 
 13.26  sections 147.091 to 147.162.  
 13.27     Sec. 8.  [147C.35] [RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONER ADVISORY 
 13.28  COUNCIL.] 
 13.29     Subdivision 1.  [MEMBERSHIP.] The board shall appoint a 
 13.30  seven-member respiratory care practitioner advisory council 
 13.31  consisting of two public members as defined in section 214.02, 
 13.32  three registered respiratory care practitioners, and two 
 13.33  licensed physicians with expertise in respiratory care. 
 13.34     Subd. 2.  [ORGANIZATION.] The advisory council shall be 
 13.35  organized and administered under section 15.059. 
 13.36     Subd. 3.  [DUTIES.] The advisory council shall: 
 14.1      (1) advise the board regarding standards for respiratory 
 14.2   care practitioners; 
 14.3      (2) provide for distribution of information regarding 
 14.4   respiratory care practitioner standards; 
 14.5      (3) advise the board on enforcement of sections 147.091 to 
 14.6   147.162; 
 14.7      (4) review applications and recommend granting or denying 
 14.8   registration or registration renewal; 
 14.9      (5) advise the board on issues related to receiving and 
 14.10  investigating complaints, conducting hearings, and imposing 
 14.11  disciplinary action in relation to complaints against 
 14.12  respiratory care practitioners; 
 14.13     (6) advise the board regarding approval of continuing 
 14.14  education programs using the criteria in section 147C.25, 
 14.15  subdivision 3; and 
 14.16     (7) perform other duties authorized for advisory councils 
 14.17  by chapter 214, as directed by the board. 
 14.18     Sec. 9.  [147C.40] [FEES.] 
 14.19     Subdivision 1.  [FEES.] The board shall adopt rules setting:
 14.20     (1) registration fees; 
 14.21     (2) renewal fees; 
 14.22     (3) late fees; 
 14.23     (4) inactive status fees; 
 14.24     (5) fees for temporary permits; and 
 14.25     (6) fees for temporary registration. 
 14.26     Fees shall remain in effect until the board changes them by 
 14.27  rule. 
 14.28     Subd. 2.  [PRORATION OF FEES.] The board may prorate the 
 14.29  initial annual registration fee.  All registrants are required 
 14.30  to pay the full fee upon registration renewal. 
 14.31     Subd. 3.  [PENALTY FEE FOR LATE RENEWALS.] An application 
 14.32  for registration renewal submitted after the deadline must be 
 14.33  accompanied by a late fee in addition to the required fees. 
 14.34     Subd. 4.  [NONREFUNDABLE FEES.] All of the fees in 
 14.35  subdivision 1 are nonrefundable. 
 14.36     Sec. 10.  [REPEALER.] 
 15.1      Minnesota Rules, parts 4762.0010; 4762.0020; 4762.0030; 
 15.2   4762.0040; 4762.0050; 4762.0060; 4762.0065; 4762.0070; 
 15.3   4762.0080; 4762.0090; 4762.0100; 4762.0200; and 4762.0300, are 
 15.4   repealed. 
 15.5      Sec. 11.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 15.6      Sections 1 to 10 are effective August 1, 1997, except that, 
 15.7   until August 1, 1998, applicants for initial registration need 
 15.8   not meet the credentialing requirement within five years prior 
 15.9   to registration.