SB452 Summary

• Establishes the Alabama Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine consisting of four members appointed by the Governor (three licensed acupuncturists and one public member) to license and regulate acupuncture practitioners.

• Requires applicants to be at least 21 years old, of good moral character, pass board-prescribed examinations, and hold certification from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine or demonstrate equivalent competency.

• Authorizes the board to collect licensing fees (application/license fee up to $200, annual renewal up to $150, reissuance fee up to $50) with all revenue deposited in the State Treasury to fund board operations.

• Makes it unlawful to practice acupuncture or use related professional titles without a valid license effective July 1, 2013, with violations punishable as Class C misdemeanors; grants board authority to seek injunctions with civil penalties up to $1,000 and attorney fees up to $400.

• Board subject to Alabama Sunset Law with termination date of October 1, 2016 and every four years thereafter unless continued by the Legislature.