It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 23-16.3-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-16.3 entitled "Clinical Laboratory Science Practice" is hereby amended to read as follows:

23-16.3-5. License required. -- (a) No person shall practice clinical laboratory science or hold himself or herself out as a clinical laboratory science practitioner in this state unless he or she is licensed pursuant to this chapter.

(b) All persons who were engaged in the practice of clinical laboratory science on July 1, 1992, who are certified by or eligible for certification by an agency approved by the department of health, and who have applied to the department of health on or before July 1, 1994, and have complied with all necessary requirements for such application, may continue to perform clinical laboratory tests until July 1, 1995 unless the application is denied by the department of health, or the withdrawal of the application, whichever occurs first.

(c) Persons not meeting the education, training, and experience qualifications for any license described in this chapter may be considered to have met the qualifications providing they have: (i) three (3) years acceptable experience between January 1, 1986 and January 1, 1996 and submits to the department of health the job description of the position which the applicant has most recently performed attested to by his or her employer and notarized; or (ii) no less than twelve (12) years acceptable experience prior to 1993 and submits to the department of health the job description of the position which the applicant has most recently performed attested to by his or her employer and notarized on or before June 1, 2000 December 1, 2001.

(d) After June 1, 2000 December 1, 2001, no initial license shall be issued until an applicant meets all of the requirements under this chapter, and successfully completes a nationally recognized certification examination, such as NCA, DHHS, ASCP, state civil service examination, or others including appropriate categorical and specialty exams. Provided, however, that the provisions of the subsection shall not be available to any individual who has been previously denied a license as a clinical laboratory science practitioner by the department of health.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.