Missouri Senate

Senate Substitute

MILITARY LICENSE RECIPROCITY

Current law provides that any person who for at least one year has held a valid, current license issued by another state, a U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, which allows the person to legally practice an occupation or profession in such jurisdiction may apply for an equivalent Missouri license through the appropriate oversight body, subject to procedures and limitations provided in current law.

This act allows any person who holds a valid, current license issued by a branch or unit of the military to also apply for an equivalent Missouri license. (Section 324.009)

These provisions are identical to HB 476 (2021).

PROFESSIONAL LICENSING OF INDIVIDUALS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS

Under current law, an individual with a criminal record may petition a licensing authority for a determination of whether the criminal record will disqualify the individual from obtaining a professional license. This act requires licensing authorities to notify the petitioner in writing of the grounds and reasons if the authority determines that the petitioner is disqualified. This act also removes an exemption for certain licensing authorities listed in current law from the petition requirements. (Sections 324.012.2(3) and 324.012.7)

This act also removes a provision in current law requiring licensing authorities to only list criminal convictions directly related to the licensed occupation for purposes of the Fresh Start Act of 2020. (Former section 324.012.6(1))

These provisions are identical to SCS/SB 308 (2021).

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT

This act adopts the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.

The Compact allows eligible occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants licensed in member states to practice in other member states, subject to the requirements and limitations described in the Compact.

The Compact establishes procedures for a licensee to apply for a new home state license in a member state of primary residence based on their licensure in another member state. Active-duty military personnel and their spouses shall retain home state licensure during the period of active duty service without having to maintain residency.

Under the Compact, only a home state may take adverse action on the home state license, while remote member states may take adverse action against the licensee's privilege to practice in the remote state. The Compact provides procedures for how member states shall coordinate in various aspects of adverse actions and investigations.

The Compact establishes the Occupational Therapy Compact Commission as a joint public agency to implement and administer the Compact. The Commission may collect an annual assessment on member states or impose fees on other parties to cover its costs.

The Compact creates qualified immunity from suit and liability for agents of the Commission for negligent misconduct within the scope of the agents' work with the Commission. Such agents shall also be entitled to representation and indemnity in civil actions for such misconduct.

Under the Compact, the Commission shall develop a data system containing information on all licensees related to licensure, adverse actions, and investigations. Member states shall report certain information, as described in the Compact, to the Commission for use in the data system.

Legislatures of member states may reject any rule promulgated by the Commission by a majority of such legislatures enacting a statute or resolution.

The Compact provides procedures for oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement of the Compact, including procedures for default and termination of membership. The Commission may also sue a member state in federal court to enforce compliance with the Compact, its rules, and its bylaws.

The Compact shall become effective upon its enactment in at least ten states.

The Compact supercedes all other laws that conflict with provisions of the Compact to the extent of the conflict. (Section 324.087)

These provisions are identical to SB 330 (2021).

APPLICATION OF THE DIETITIAN PRACTICE ACT

Current law provides that, for purposes of provisions of law regulating the practice of nutrition and dietetics, "medical nutrition therapy" shall mean nutritional diagnostic, therapy, and counseling services furnished by a registered dietitian or register dietitian nutritionist. Under this act, "medical nutrition therapy" shall instead mean the provision of nutrition care services for the treatment or management of a disease or medical condition. (Section 324.200)

Under this act, no provision of law governing licensed dieticians shall interfere with any person credentialed in the field of nutrition providing advice, counseling, or evaluations related to food, diet, or nutrition within his or her scope of practice if such services do not constitute medical nutrition therapy under the Dietician Practice Act.

Prior to performing any service to which the law governing licensed dieticians does not apply under the act, a credentialed non-dietician shall provide his or her name, title, business address and telephone number, a statement that he or she is not a licensed dietician, a statement that his or her information or advice may constitute alternative care, and his or her qualifications. (Section 324.206)

These provisions are substantially similar to SB 232 (2021) and HCS/HB 475 (2021) and are similar to SB 893 (2020) and HB 2000 (2020).

ARCHITECTS

Current law sets forth the practice of an architect in Missouri as any person who renders or offers to render or represent himself or herself as willing or able to render service or creative work which requires architectural education, training and experience.

Under this act, the practice of architecture is modified to include the rendering or offering to render services in connection with the design and construction of public and private buildings, structures and shelters, site improvements, in whole or part, which have as their principal purpose human occupancy or habitation. The act sets forth the services that may be included in the practice of architecture. Only a person with the required architectural education, practical training, relevant work experience, and licensure may practice as an architect in Missouri. (Section 327.091)

Current law prohibits any person from practicing architecture in Missouri unless and until such person is licensed or certificated to practice architecture in the state. Current law also exempts certain persons from this requirement.

This act repeals provisions exempting persons who render architectural service in connection with the construction, remodeling, or repairing of certain commercial or industrial buildings or structures or structures containing less than two thousand square feet. All other persons exempt from the licensing requirement may engage in the practice of architecture, provided such person does not use the title "architect" or other terms set forth in the act that indicate or imply that such person is or holds himself or herself out to be an architect. This act also exempts any person who renders architectural services in connection with the construction, remodeling, or repairing of any building or structure used exclusively for agriculture purposes from the licensing requirement.

Current law also exempts any person who renders architectural services in connection with the construction, remodeling or repairing of any privately owned building set forth in the act, provided such person indicates on any documents furnished in connection with such services that the person is not a licensed architect. This act repeals certain privately owned buildings from the list of buildings such person may provide services for, and adds any one building which provides for the employment, assembly, housing, sleeping, or eating of not more than 9 persons, contains less than 2,000 square feet and is not part of another building structure. (Section 327.101)

Current law permits any person to apply for licensure as an architect who holds a certified Intern Development Program record with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Under this act, such person may also hold a certified Architectural Experience Program record. (Section 327.131)

These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/SB 257 (2021).

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

Current law prohibits any person from practicing as a professional engineer in Missouri unless and until such person is licensed or certificated to practice engineering in the state. Current law also exempts certain persons from this requirement, including any person who is a regular full-time employee of a person, who performs professional engineering work for the person's employer if certain conditions are met.

Under this act, such exempted persons shall not use the title "professional engineer" or other terms set forth in the act that indicate or imply that such person is or holds himself or herself out to be a professional engineer. This act also exempts any person who renders professional engineering services in connection with the construction, remodeling, or repairing of any privately owned building, as set forth in the act, and professional engineering services rendered in connection with a building or structure used exclusively for agriculture, so long as the person rendering either such type of services indicates on any documents furnished in connection with such services that the person is not a licensed professional engineer.

Any person who renders engineering services in connection with the remodeling of any privately owned, multiple family dwelling house, flat, or apartment containing 3 or 4 families is also exempt, provided certain conditions are met. (Section 327.191)

This act repeals provisions in current law requiring any person entitled to be licensed as a professional engineer to be licensed within 4 years after the date on which he or she is entitled to be licensed, and providing that if such person is not licensed within that time, the Engineering Division of the Board may require him or her to take and satisfactorily pass an examination before issuing him or her a license. (Section 327.241)

These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/SB 257 (2021).

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

Current law permits any person who is of good moral character, 21 years of age, who has a degree in landscape architecture, and has at least three years of landscape architectural experience to apply to the Board for licensure as a professional landscape architect.

This act repeals the age requirement, and also provides that an applicant who may not have a degree in landscape architecture may instead have an education which, in the opinion of the Board, equals or exceeds the education received by a graduate of an accredited school. This act also requires an applicant to have taken and passed all sections of the landscape architectural registration examination administered by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards. (Section 327.612)

These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/SB 257 (2021) and are substantially similar to SB 992 (2020).

SHAMPOOING

This act prohibits the Division of Professional Registration from requiring a person who engages solely in shampooing under the supervision of a licensed barber or cosmetologist to have a license as a barber or cosmetologist. (Section 329.034)

These provisions are similar to HB 1758 (2020), HB 349 (2019), HB 1400 (2018), and HB 2308 (2018).

PRISONER COMPLAINTS AGAINST A PSYCHOLOGIST'S LICENSE

Under current law, if the State Committee of Psychologists finds merit to a complaint made by a prisoner under the care and control of the Department of Corrections or who has been ordered to be taken into custody, detained, or held as a sexually violent predator, and takes further investigative action, no documentation may appear on file nor may any disciplinary action be taken in regards to the licensee's license unless there are grounds for the denial, revocation, or suspension of a license.

This act includes complaints made by individuals who have been ordered to be evaluated in a criminal proceeding involving mental illness.

Under this act, a psychologist subject to the complaint by an individual who has been ordered to be evaluated in a criminal proceeding involving mental illness prior to August 28, 2021, may submit a written request to destroy all documentation regarding the complaint, and notify any other licensing board in another state, or any national registry who had been notified of the complaint, that the Committee found the complaint to be unsubstantiated. (Section 337.068)

These provisions are identical to SB 9 (2021), SB 556 (2020), and SB 451 (2019) and are substantially similar to HB 441 (2019) and HB 2709 (2018).

ADVERTISEMENTS FOR REAL ESTATE COMPANIES

Under this act, the Missouri Real Estate Commission may cause a complaint to be filed with the Administrative Hearing Commission against any licensed or previously licensed real estate broker, salesperson, broker-salesperson, appraiser, or appraisal manager for advertisements or solicitations which include a name or team name that uses the terms "realty", "brokerage", "company", or any other terms that can be construed to advertise a real estate company other than the licensee or a licensed business entity with whom the licensee is associated.

The Commission may consider the context of the advertisement or solicitation when determining whether there has been a violation of this act. (Section 339.100)

These provisions are identical to SB 473 (2021).

PAYMENTS TO BUSINESSES OWNED BY REAL ESTATE LICENSEES

Under this act, a real estate broker may pay compensation directly to a business entity, as defined in the act, owned by a licensed real estate salesperson or broker-salesperson formed for the purpose of receiving compensation earned by such licensee.

The business entity shall not be required to be licensed and may be co-owned by an unlicensed spouse, a licensed spouse associated with the same broker as the licensee, or one or more other licensees associated with the same broker as the licensee. (Section 339.150)

These provisions are identical to SB 435 (2021).

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR INSURANCE PRODUCERS

This act specifies that an insurance producer's active participation in a local, regional, state, or national professional insurance association may be approved by the Director of the Department of Commerce and Insurance for up to four hours of continuing education credit per biannual reporting period.

Credit granted under these provisions shall not be used to satisfy continuing education hours required to be in a classroom or classroom-equivalent setting, or to satisfy ethics education requirements. (Section 375.029)

These provisions are identical to SB 548 (2021) and HB 1114 (2021) and are similar to HCS/HB 1647 (2020).

ATHLETIC AGENTS

This act modifies provisions of the Uniform Athlete Agents Act.

Current law defines an athlete agent as an individual who enters into an agency contract with a student athlete or recruits or solicits a student athlete to enter into an agency contract.

Under this act, an athlete agent is defined as an individual who directly or indirectly recruits or solicits a student athlete to enter into an agency contract or, for compensation, procures employment or offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for a student athlete as a professional athlete or member of a professional sports team or organization. An athlete agent shall also mean a person providing certain services to a student athlete, as set forth in the act, including serving the student in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finance, business pursuits, or career management decisions, unless such person is an employee of an educational institution acting exclusively as an employee of the institution.

An athlete agent shall not include an individual who acts solely on behalf of a professional sports team or organization, or is a licensed, registered, or certified professional and offers or provides services to a student athlete customarily provided by members of the profession, unless such person meets certain requirements set forth in the act. (Section 436.218)

Under this act, an applicant for registration as an athlete agent shall submit an application to the Director of the Division of Professional Registration that shall be in the name of an individual and shall include certain information set forth in the act, including each social media account with which the applicant or the applicant's business or employer is affiliated.

An applicant who is registered as an athlete agent in another state may apply for registration as an athlete agent, by submitting certain information to the Director.

The Director shall issue a certificate of registration to an applicant registered in another state who applies for registration under the act, if the Director determines that the application and registration requirements of the other state are substantially similar to or more restrictive than the requirements of this act, and if the registration has not been revoked or suspended and no action is pending against the applicant or the applicant's registration in any state.

The Director shall cooperate with any national organizations concerned with athlete agent issues and agencies in other states that register athlete agents to develop a common registration form, and to determine which states have laws substantially similar to or more restrictive than this act. The Director shall also exchange any information related to actions taken against registered athlete agents or their registrations with such organizations. (Section 436.227)

An athlete agent registered under the provisions of this act may renew his or her registration as set forth in the act or, if the registration in the other state has been renewed, by submitting to the Director copies of the application for renewal in the other state and the renewed registration from the other state. The Director shall renew the registration if he or she determines that the application and registration requirements of the other state are substantially similar to or more restrictive than the requirements of this act, and if the registration has not been revoked or suspended and no action is pending against the applicant or the applicant's registration in any state. (Section 436.230)

An agency contract shall contain a statement that the athlete agent is registered as an athlete agent in this state and shall include a list of any other states in which the athlete is registered as an athlete agent.

This act modifies the text required in an agency contract, and requires such contract to be accompanied by a separate record signed by the student athlete or, if the student athlete is a minor, by the parent or guardian of a student athlete acknowledging that signing the contract may result in the loss of the student athlete's eligibility to participate in the student athlete's sport.

If an agency contract is voided, by a student athlete, or by the parent or guardian of a minor student athlete, any consideration received by the student athlete from the athlete agent under the contract shall not be required to be returned.

If a student athlete is a minor, an agency contract shall be signed by the parent or guardian of the minor. (Section 436.242)

If an athlete agent enters into an agency contract with a student athlete, and the student athlete then enrolls in an educational institution, such athlete agent shall notify the athletic director of the institution of the existence of a contract within 72 hours of learning the student has enrolled.

If an athlete agent has a relationship with a student athlete before such student enrolls in an educational institution and receives a scholarship, the athlete agent shall notify the athletic director of the institution of such relationship within 10 days of enrollment.

An athlete agent shall give notice in a record to the athletic director of any educational institution at which a student athlete is enrolled before the agent communicates or attempts to communicate with the student athlete in an attempt to influence such student to enter into an agency contract, or another individual to have such person influence the student to enter into an agency contract.

If a communication or attempted communication is initiated by a student athlete or another individual on behalf of the student athlete, the athlete agent shall give notice in a record to the athletic director at the educational institution at which the student athlete is enrolled within 10 days of the communication.

An educational institution that becomes aware of a violation of the act by an athlete agent shall notify the Director of the violation and any professional league or players' association with which the educational institution is aware the agent is licensed or registered. (Section 326.245)

An athlete agent, under this act, shall not intentionally provide any student athlete with false information with the intent to influence such athlete to enter into an agency contract, nor shall any agent furnish anything of value to an individual if to do so may result in the loss of the student athlete's eligibility to participate in a sport unless certain requirements are met.

An athlete agent also may not intentionally initiate contact, directly or indirectly, with a student athlete to recruit or solicit the student athlete to enter into an agency contract, encourage another individual to perform any of the actions set forth in the act, or encourage another individual to assist any other individual performing the listed acts. (Section 436.254)

An educational institution or a student athlete, under this act, may bring an action for damages against an athlete agent if the institution or athlete is adversely affected, as defined in the act, by an act or omission of the athlete agent. This act repeals the provision allowing a former student athlete to bring an action for damages.

This act repeals provisions of current law setting forth the damages that may be claimed by an educational institution. Under this act, a plaintiff who prevails in an action under this act may recover actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorney's fees. An athlete agent found liable under this act forfeits any right of payment for anything of benefit or value provided to the student athlete and shall refund any consideration paid to the athlete agent by or on behalf of the student athlete.

Any violation of this act shall be considered an unfair trade practice. (Section 436.260)

Any individual who violates the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Any individual who commits a knowing violation shall be guilty of a Class E felony. Any such person shall also be liable for a civil penalty up to $100,000. (Section 436.263)

This act repeals the provision providing that the commission of certain acts by an athlete agent shall be a Class B misdemeanor. (Section 436.257)

These provisions are identical to SCS/SB 263 (2021) and are substantially similar to SB 1016 (2020) and HCS/HBs 2100 and 1532 (2020).

MATT KIMMINAU