This bill requires a person who practices genetic counseling to be licensed by
a seven-member genetic counselors affiliated credentialing board (board), created
by the bill. The board consists of four persons licensed under the bill, two persons
licensed to practice medicine and surgery, and one public member. The board
members serve four-year terms.

The bill defines genetic counseling as interpreting, analyzing, integrating, and
delivering any of the following to individuals and families: 1) individual and family
medical histories; 2) education and information about inheritance, genetic testing,
management, prevention, resources, and research; and 3) social and psychological
support. In addition, the foregoing activities do not satisfy the definition of "genetic
counseling" unless they are performed for the following purposes: 1) to provide

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guidance about the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic
contributions to disease; 2) to assess the mode of inheritance and chance of
occurrence or recurrence of conditions with a genetic component; or 3) to promote
informed choices and adaptations to a risk or condition.

The following persons are exempt from the bill's licensure requirement: 1) any
person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration, or
certification granted by the state or the federal government; 2) any person assisting
and under the direct supervision of a licensed genetic counselor; 3) certain students
of genetic counseling who are assisting a genetic counselor; and 4) a person who is
licensed to practice genetic counseling in another state or country and is providing
assistance to a genetic counselor licensed in this state.

To qualify for licensure under the bill, a person must have completed a
degree-granting educational program in genetic counseling approved by the board
and accredited by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC). In addition,
the person must have passed either an examination administered by ABGC or the
genetic counseling exam administered by the American Board of Medical Genetics.
Finally, the person must obtain and maintain certification with ABGC. The board
may waive these requirements for a person who holds an unexpired genetic
counselor license issued by another state or territory if the board determines that the
requirements for licensure and renewal are substantially equivalent to the
requirements for licensure and renewal in this state. If the person completed a
degree-granting educational program in genetic counseling that is not in the United
States, the person must satisfy any additional requirements established by the board
by rule.

This bill permits the board to provide, by rule, for the issuance of a temporary
license to a person who has not passed the requisite exam; the temporary license may
be renewed only once. A person holding a temporary license may practice genetic
counseling only under the supervision of a person licensed under the bill.

The bill also authorizes the board to make investigations and conduct hearings
to determine whether a violation of the bill has occurred. The board may reprimand
a genetic counselor or deny, limit, suspend, or revoke a license granted under the bill
if a genetic counselor or applicant for licensure has engaged in prohibited conduct.
The bill requires the board to revoke the license of a genetic counselor who has failed
to maintain certification with ABGC or whose certification with ABGC has been
revoked.

The bill requires the board to promulgate rules that define the standards of
practice of genetic counseling and permits the board to define the scope of practice
of genetic counseling. In addition, this bill also does each of the following: 1) makes
current law regarding the preservation, destruction, and confidentiality of patient
health care records applicable to genetic counselors; 2) includes genetic counselors
in the definition of "health care provider" for the requirements under current law
for powers of attorney for health care and for the prohibition under current law on
discrimination related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; 3) requires a
genetic counselor, like other professionals under current law, to make certain reports
regarding abused or neglected children; and 4) provides to genetic counselors the

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same protection from discipline under current law that is available to other health
care professionals who make certain reports regarding violations of laws applicable
to pharmacists or controlled substances or of laws or clinical or ethical standards by
health care facilities, health care providers, or employees of such facilities or
providers.