32-3104. Health professional groups; written report; legislative informational hearings; proposed legislation

A. A health professional group shall submit a written report explaining the factors prescribed in section 32-3105 or 32-3106 to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives. The report shall be submitted on or before November 1 before the start of the legislative session for which the legislation is proposed, and the health professional group may request informational hearings pursuant to this section. The president of the senate or the speaker of the house of representatives shall assign the written report to the health committee of the house of representatives and the health and human services committee of the senate, or their respective successor committees, and the legislative committees may conduct informational hearings on the written report before the legislative session convenes. The report may be amended after it has been filed but before any hearing on the report. The committees shall study the written report and may take public comment on the report at the informational hearings but shall not vote whether to accept or reject the report filed by the health professional group. If a health professional group proposes to increase the scope of practice of its profession, the health professional group may send copies of the written report to the regulatory board of the health profession and the department of health services for review and comment. A health professional group may seek to introduce legislation in the legislative session regardless of comments, if any, from the informational hearings.

B. If a health professional group's report is not heard by a legislative committee pursuant to subsection A of this section, the health professional group may seek to have legislation introduced in the legislative session for certification, registration or licensure or to increase the scope of practice of an existing regulated health profession. The lack of a hearing shall not be considered as either support or rejection of the health professional group's proposed legislation.

C. Unless there is a material change in the proposed increased scope of practice, a health professional group is not required to refile a report if the health professional group filed the report within the previous five years. On or before November 1, the health professional group shall notify in writing the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate and the chairpersons of the respective health committees if the health professional group intends to pursue the proposed increased scope of practice during the next legislative session and shall reference the specific report that was previously filed on which the health professional group is relying.