SCS/SB 1153 - This act modifies several provisions relating to professional licensing, including: (1) exemptions for professional licensing; (2) land surveyors; (3) Missouri Dental Board pilot projects; (4) assistant physicians; (5) physical therapists; and (6) audiologists and speech-language pathologists. EXEMPTIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL LICENSING (Sections 324.005 and B) Under this act, a professional who has a current license to practice his or her profession from another state, commonwealth, territory, or the District of Columbia shall be exempt from Missouri licensure requirements if: (1) the professional is an active duty or reserve member of the Armed Forces, a member of the National Guard, a civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), an authorized contractor under federal law, or a professional otherwise authorized under the DOD; (2) the professional practices the same occupation or profession for which he or she holds a current license; and (3) the professional is engaged in the practice of a profession through a partnership with the federal Innovative Readiness Training program within the DOD. This exemption shall only apply while: (1) the professional's practice is required by the program pursuant to military orders; and (2) the services provided by the professional are within the scope of practice for individual's respective profession in Missouri. This provision has an emergency clause. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS#2/SS/HB 2149 (2022). LAND SURVEYORS (Sections 327.312, 327.313, 327.314, and 327.331) Beginning January 1, 2024, this act changes the name of a person licensed as a land surveyor-in-training to a land surveyor intern. A person may apply to the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, and Professional Landscape Architects for enrollment as a land surveyor-intern if such person is a high school graduate or possesses a certificate of high school equivalence and has passed any examination required by the Board. Beginning January 1, 2024, this act institutes new education, experience, and examination requirements for licensure as a land surveyor, as described in the act. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS#2/SS/HB 2149 (2022) and SB 1001 (2022). MISSOURI DENTAL BOARD PILOT PROJECTS (Section 332.325) This act authorizes the Missouri Dental Board, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Office of Dental Health within the Department of Health and Senior Services, to approve pilot projects designed to examine new methods of extending care to under-served populations. Such projects may employ techniques or approaches to care that may necessitate a waiver of statute or regulation and shall follow the requirements of the act regarding scope, content, and reports. The provisions of this act shall expire on August 28, 2026, and a report of the pilot projects approved by the Board shall be submitted to the General Assembly no later than December 1, 2025. This provision is identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS#2/SS/HB 2149 (2022) and SCS/SB 993 (2022) and substantially similar to provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SB 690 (2022). ASSISTANT PHYSICIANS (Section 334.036) Currently, a requirement for licensure as an assistant physician is that the applicant must be a graduate of any medical school. This act provides that the applicant must be a graduate of an accredited North American medical school. This act repeals a provision of law that authorizes an assistant physician collaborative practice arrangement in any pilot project areas established in which assistant physicians may practice. Finally, this act provides that no individual shall hold an assistant physician license for more than five years. All currently licensed assistant physicians shall have five years from the effective date of this act before their current license expires. This provision is similar to SS#2/SCS/SB 938 (2022). PHYSICAL THERAPISTS (Sections 334.530 and 334.655) Currently, a candidate for a physical therapy or physical therapist assistant license shall submit evidence of completion of physical therapy education program to the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. This act adds that candidates may submit evidence of eligibility to graduate from such a program within 90 days. Additionally, this act requires applicants to meet the qualifying standards for fitness to practice examinations, including those established by any entity contracted by the Board to administer the Board-approved examination. No person who has failed on 6 or more occasions to achieve a passing score on the examination shall be eligible for licensure by examination. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS#2/SS/HB 2149 (2022) and CCS/HCS/SS/SB 690 (2022). AUDIOLOGISTS AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS (Sections 345.015, 345.022, 345.050, 345.052, and 345.085) This act modifies provisions relating to audiology and speech-language pathology. In order to be eligible for licensure by the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts by examination under this act, each applicant shall present written evidence of completion of a clinical fellowship. Any person in a clinical fellowship shall hold a provisional license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology and shall be issued a license if the person meets requirements set forth in the act. This act modifies provisions relating to license reciprocity. Currently, those applicants who are licensed in another country or hold a certificate of competence issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association may receive a license without an examination. This act repeals this provision and implements a provision permitting any person who, for at least one year, has held a valid, current license issued by another state, a branch or unit of the military, a U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, to apply for an equivalent Missouri license through the Board, subject to procedures and limitations as provided in the act. This act also adopts the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. The purpose of the compact is to increase access to audiology and speech-language pathology services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses. The compact sets forth requirements that must be met in order for a state to join the compact. Each member state shall require an applicant to obtain or retain a license in the home state and meet the home state's qualifications for licensure or renewal of licensure as well as all other applicable state laws. The compact creates a joint public agency known as the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact Commission. The Commission has powers and duties as listed in the compact and shall enforce the provisions and rules of the compact. The Commission shall provide for the development, maintenance, and utilization of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and investigative information on all licensed individuals in member states. The compact shall come into effect on the date on which the compact is enacted into law in the 10th member state. Any member state may withdraw from the compact by enacting a statute repealing the same. The compact shall be binding upon member states and shall supersede any conflict with state law. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS#2/SS/HB 2149 (2022), CCS/HCS/SS/SB 690 (2022), and SCS/SB 978 (2022) and substantially similar to HCS/HB 2138 (2022). SARAH HASKINS