Senate Bill 1294 - Genetic Counselors Licensing Act

• Establishes the Genetic Counselors Licensing Board under the Bureau of Occupational Licenses with 5 members (3 licensed genetic counselors, 1 physician, 1 public member) to license and regulate genetic counselors in Idaho.

• Requires genetic counselors to hold a master's degree or higher in genetics or related field, pass a nationally recognized competency examination, and meet other board-established qualifications to obtain a license.

• Allows endorsement licensure for applicants licensed in other states with substantially equivalent requirements and permits provisional licenses for those with active candidate status, valid for up to one year with possible renewals.

• Establishes a transition period until July 1, 2015 for existing genetic counselors with 10+ years of experience (including 5 recent years) and at least 200 hours of formal training to apply for licensure without meeting standard degree requirements.

• Authorizes the board to collect fees (up to $1,000 for various license types), enforce the licensing act, impose civil penalties up to $5,000 for violations, and require continuing education for license renewal.