Amends TCA Title 4; Title 63; Title 68, Chapter 1, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 140.

Present law generally requires each health-related board and the emergency medical services board to establish a procedure to expedite the issuance of a license, certification, or permit to perform professional services regulated by each such board to a person who meets the following criteria:<br /> <br /> (1) Who is certified or licensed in another state to perform professional services in another state, whose spouse is a member of the armed forces of the United States, and whose spouse is the subject of a military transfer to Tennessee; or<br /> <br /> (2) Who, as a member of the armed forces of the United States, carries a current license or certification in another state to perform substantially similar professional services in a state other than Tennessee and who applies for a licensure in Tennessee within 180 days of either retiring from armed forces of the United States, receiving any discharge other than a dishonorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States, or being released from active duty into a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.<br /> <br /> Present law requires the procedure to include issuing the person a license, certificate, or permit, if, in the opinion of the board, either the requirements for certification or licensure of such other state are substantially equivalent to that required in Tennessee; or developing a method to authorize the person to perform professional services regulated by the board in Tennessee by issuing the person a temporary permit for a limited period of time.<br /> <br /> This bill requires, as part of the expedited process, that the boards make a determination on such applications submitted by Tennessee residents within 60 days of the date they are submitted. If the board requires additional information to make a determination on an application, it must be communicated to the applicant within 60 dates of the application being submitted, along with specific instructions for the person to complete the application. This bill requires the boards to collaborate in drafting and promulgating the same rules to be applied by each.<br /> <br /> This bill also authorizes each board, upon a majority vote of its members, to request the department of health to replace or transfer administrative staff or the attorney assigned to the board by the division of health related boards.<br /> <br /> ON MARCH 23, 2023, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 458, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 requires the following boards to either render a decision on the application or inform the applicant of the need to appear before such board within 60 days from the date the respective board receives the completed application for licensure from either an initial applicant or an applicant who is licensed in another state or territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia:<br /> <br /> (1) The board of podiatric medical examiners;<br /> <br /> (2) The board of chiropractic examiners;<br /> <br /> (3) The board of optometry; <br /> <br /> (4) The applied behavior analyst licensing committee of the board of examiners in psychology;<br /> <br /> (5) The board of veterinary medical examiners;<br /> <br /> (6) The board of occupational therapy; <br /> <br /> (7) The board of physical therapy; <br /> <br /> (8) The board of communications disorders and sciences; <br /> <br /> (9) The board of professional counselors, marital and family therapists and clinical pastoral therapists; and <br /> <br /> (10) The board of social worker licensure. <br />