HB18-1114: Genetic Counselor Licensure Act

• Enacts the "Genetic Counselor Licensure Act" requiring licensure by the Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations for anyone practicing genetic counseling in Colorado effective June 1, 2019.

• Applicants must provide evidence of certification by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) or American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG), except the Director may issue provisional licenses to candidates with active candidate status or license counselors with 15 years of experience and 3 letters of recommendation from a Colorado program.

• Restricts use of genetic counselor titles exclusively to licensed individuals and gives the Director authority to establish rules for licensing, fees, continuing education (30 hours of NSGC-approved education required for renewal), and discipline.

• Requires genetic counselors to maintain professional liability insurance unless the Director determines by rule that insurance is not reasonably available; public employees acting within scope of duties are exempted.

• The article is scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2025, and genetic counselors are subject to the mandatory disclosures of the "Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act of 2010."