Senate Bill 1016 Summary

• Repeals the existing Respiratory Care Practice Act (Chapter 43, Title 54, Idaho Code) and replaces it with updated licensure and regulation provisions.

• Establishes a licensure board consisting of 5 members appointed by the state board of medicine: three licensed respiratory therapists, one respiratory therapist who is also a permitted polysomnographic technologist, and one public member.

• Requires licenses or permits for respiratory care practitioners and polysomnographic technicians/technologists, with applicants subject to criminal background checks, disciplinary history review, and successful completion of board-approved certification examinations.

• Specifies renewal requirements every 1-2 years and mandates 12 hours of continuing education for active license renewal, with licenses expired more than 24 months requiring reapplication as new applicants.

• Establishes exemptions for students in accredited programs, federal employees, pulmonary function technologists, and persons performing temporary consulting or training, and classifies violations as misdemeanors.