Senate Bill 1063 Summary

• Establishes the "Clinical Laboratory Science Practice Act" creating a licensure system for clinical laboratory personnel including medical laboratory scientists, categorical laboratory scientists, clinical laboratory technicians, and clinical laboratory assistants

• Creates a 9-member Clinical Laboratory Science Board appointed by the governor to oversee licensure requirements, examinations, and disciplinary actions

• Requires applicants to possess appropriate degrees (baccalaureate for scientists, associate for technicians, high school diploma for assistants), acceptable clinical laboratory experience, and passage of a nationally recognized certification examination

• Establishes grounds for license denial or disciplinary action including fraud, incompetence, criminal offenses, substance abuse, and violations of professional standards, with penalties up to license revocation

• Exempts certain healthcare professionals (licensed physicians, pathologist assistants, histotechnologists, cytotechnologists) and allows transition period through August 28, 2012 for currently practicing laboratory personnel to meet new requirements