Substitute Bill No. 5318 - Summary

• Establishes state licensure requirements for lactation consultants effective October 1, 2027, requiring certification from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.

• Prohibits unlicensed individuals from practicing lactation consulting for compensation or using the title "lactation consultant" or designation "L.C.", with exceptions for students, health care providers acting within their scope of practice, and certified community health workers.

• Sets application fee at $200 and renewal fee at $100 every two years, with renewal requiring current certification and continuing education units from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.

• Grants the Commissioner of Public Health authority to deny applications and take disciplinary action for violations including failure to meet professional standards, fraud, negligence, incompetence, substance abuse, and falsification of records.

• Adds lactation consultant to the list of professions regulated by the Department of Public Health without a separate board, subjecting the profession to uniform provisions governing licensure, discipline, and complaints.