| Chapter 042 |
| 2026 -- H 7836 Enacted 06/10/2026 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- BARBERS, HAIRDRESSERS, COSMETICIANS, MANICURISTS, AND ESTHETICIANS |
Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, Alzate, Cruz, Donovan, and Morales |
| Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 5-10-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-10 entitled "Barbers, |
| Hairdressers, Cosmeticians, Manicurists and Estheticians" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-10-10. Application form — Fee — Expiration and renewal of licenses — Fees. |
| (a) Applications for licenses under § 5-10-9 shall be made upon any forms that are |
| prescribed by the division and are accompanied by an application fee established in regulation. The |
| license of every person licensed under §§ 5-10-8 and 5-10-9 shall expire on the thirtieth (30th) day |
| of October of every other year following the date of license. This is determined on an odd-even |
| basis. On or before the first day of September of every year, the administrator of professional |
| regulation shall mail an application for send notification of the renewal of license to persons those |
| scheduled to be licensed that year on an odd or even basis as to the license number. Every person |
| who wishes to renew his or hertheir license must file with the administrator of professional |
| regulation a renewal application duly executed together with the renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1- |
| 54. Applications, accompanied by the fee for renewal, shall be filed with the division on or before |
| the fifteenth (15th) day of October in each renewal year. Upon receipt of the application and fee, |
| the administrator of professional regulation shall grant a renewal license effective October 1 and |
| expiring two (2) years later on September 30. |
| (b) Every person who fails to renew his or her their license on or before September 30 |
| following the date of issuance as provided in subsection (a) of this section may be reinstated by the |
| division upon payment of the current renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54. |
| (c) The license shall be on the person at all times while performing the services for which |
| they are licensed. |
| SECTION 2. Section 5-25-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-25 entitled "Veterinary |
| Practice" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-25-12. Expiration and renewal of licenses. |
| (a) The certificate of every person licensed as a veterinarian under the provisions of this |
| chapter expires on the first day of May of each even-numbered year. On or before the first day of |
| March of each two-year (2) period, the department shall mail an application send a reminder for |
| renewal of license to every person to whom a license has been issued or renewed during the current |
| licensure period. Every person so licensed who desires to renew his or her their license shall file |
| with the department a renewal application duly executed together with a renewal fee as set forth in |
| § 23-1-54 on or before the thirty-first first day of March May of each even-numbered year. |
| (b) Upon receipt of an application, and payment of the renewal fee, the department shall |
| grant a renewal license effective the second day of May, and expiring on the first day of May of |
| the next even-numbered year. |
| (c) Any person who allows his or her their license to lapse by failing to renew it on or |
| before the thirty-first first day of March May of the next even-numbered year, as provided in |
| subsection (a), may be reinstated by the department on payment of the current renewal fee plus an |
| additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54. |
| (d) Any person using the title “veterinarian” during the time that his or her their license has |
| lapsed is subject to the penalties provided for violations of this chapter. |
| (e) Every veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine within the state shall, in |
| connection with renewal of licensure, provide satisfactory evidence to the department that in the |
| preceding two-year period the veterinarian has completed a prescribed course of continuing |
| professional education established by an appropriate professional veterinary medicine association |
| and approved by rule or regulation of the department. The department may extend for only one six- |
| month (6) period, these education requirements if the department is satisfied that the applicant has |
| suffered hardship which prevented meeting the educational requirement. |
| SECTION 3. Section 5-30-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-30 entitled "Chiropractic |
| Physicians" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-30-12. Annual registration — Payment of fees. |
| Annually, during the month of October in each year, every person granted a certificate to |
| practice chiropractic medicine shall register his or her their name, address, and place of business |
| with the division of professional regulation of the department of health. The division shall keep a |
| book for that purpose record, and each person registering shall pay a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 |
| and shall receive a certificate of registration for the next succeeding fiscal year, unless the certificate |
| of practice has been suspended or revoked for cause, as provided in § 5-30-13. All fees for |
| examination, for certificate of exemption from examination, and for annual registration shall be |
| deposited as general revenues. |
| SECTION 4. Sections 5-31.1-7 and 5-31.1-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-31.1 |
| entitled "Dentists and Dental Hygienists" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-31.1-7. Recertification — Continuing dental education. |
| (a) Effective beginning in the calendar year 2006, every Every dentist, dental hygienist, or |
| DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant licensed to practice within this state, on or |
| before the first day of May thirtieth of June in each even numbered year, shall apply to the Rhode |
| Island board of examiners in dentistry for a biennial license with the board. The applicant shall |
| include satisfactory evidence to the board of examiners in dentistry that, in the preceding two years, |
| the practitioner has completed a prescribed course of continuing dental or dental hygiene education |
| established by the appropriate dental or dental hygiene association and approved by rule or |
| regulation of the director or by the board of examiners in dentistry. If the applicant submits |
| satisfactory evidence to the board that he or shethe applicant has completed a prescribed course |
| of continuing dental education, dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery |
| assisting education and has complied with the provisions of § 5-31.1-6, the board shall issue the |
| applicant a license registration for a two-year (2) period commencing on July 1. The board may |
| extend for only one six-month (6) period those educational requirements if the board is satisfied |
| that the applicant has suffered hardship that prevented meeting the educational requirement. No |
| license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in this state shall be refused, nor any license |
| suspended or revoked, except as: |
| (1) Provided for in this chapter; and |
| (2) For failure to provide satisfactory evidence of continuing dental, dental hygiene, or |
| DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting education as provided for in this section. |
| (b) Licensees shall apply for recertification by submitting evidence of continuing dental, |
| dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting education on a biennial basis. |
| Application for biennial registration shall continue as provided in this section and § 5-31.1-21. |
| 5-31.1-21. Biennial registration. |
| (a) Effective beginning in the calendar year 2006, on On or before the first day of May in |
| each even-numbered year, the board shall mail send an application for biennial registration to every |
| person to whom a license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial |
| surgery assisting in this state has been granted by the constituted licensing authority in the state. |
| Every licensed person who intends to engage in the practice of his or her profession during the |
| ensuing two (2) years shall register his or her their license by filing with the board that application, |
| executed together with any registration form and fee that is established by regulation by the director, |
| on or before the first day of June in each even-numbered year. Upon receipt of that application and |
| fee, the board shall issue a registration certificate, effective by July 1 and expiring two (2) years |
| following June 30, and that registration certificate shall render its holder a registered practitioner |
| of dentistry or dental hygiene for that registration period. |
| (b) The registration certificate of all dentists, dental hygienists, or DAANCE-certified |
| maxillofacial surgery assistants whose renewals, accompanied by the prescribed fee, are not filed |
| on or before the first day of July automatically expire. The board may, in its discretion and upon |
| the payment by the dentist, dental hygienist, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant |
| of the current registration fee, plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54, reinstate any |
| certificate expired under the provisions of this section. All unexpended monies in the account of |
| the board of dentistry are transferred to the new board of dentistry as created by this chapter as of |
| June 2, 1988. |
| (c) Dentists, dental hygienists, and DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistants not |
| intending to practice in this state may request, on a biennial basis, to be placed on inactive status. |
| Those requests must be made, in writing, to the dental administrator and must be accompanied by |
| fees as set forth in § 23-1-54. Persons on inactive status may be reinstated by paying the current, |
| annual-registration fee and must meet any requirements established by this chapter and as are |
| further prescribed by the rules and regulations. |
| SECTION 5. Section 5-33.2-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-33.2 entitled "Funeral |
| Director/Embalmer and Funeral Service Establishments" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-33.2-15. Annual renewal of licenses. |
| All licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter must be renewed annually by their |
| holders, who shall pay to the division a yearly renewal fee for the renewal of a funeral |
| director/embalmer’s license, and additional fees for each funeral-establishment branch office |
| license and for the crematory license. These fees are as set forth in § 23-1-54. On or before the |
| fifteenth day of November in each year, the division shall mail send to each licensed funeral |
| director/embalmer and to each licensed funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch office, |
| and crematory an application for the renewal. Applications, accompanied by the fee for renewal, |
| shall be filed with the division on or before the thirty-first day of December in each year. |
| Applications filed after the thirty-first of December and on or before the fifteenth of January must |
| be accompanied by a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 for funeral director/embalmers and funeral |
| establishments in addition to the previously established renewal fees. Any funeral |
| director/embalmer who acts or holds himself or herself themselves out as a funeral |
| director/embalmer after his or her their certificate has been lapsed shall be punished as provided in |
| this chapter. Any funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch office, or crematory that acts |
| or holds itself out as a funeral establishment after its license has lapsed shall be punished as |
| provided in this chapter. |
| SECTION 6. Section 5-34-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-34 entitled "Nurses" is |
| hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-34-19. Expiration and renewal of licenses. |
| (a) The license of every person licensed under this chapter shall expire on the first day of |
| March of every other year following the date of license. On or before the first day of January of |
| every year, the director shall mail an application send a reminder for renewal of license to persons |
| scheduled to be licensed that year. Every person who wishes to renew his or her their license shall |
| file with the department a duly executed renewal application together with the renewal fee as set |
| forth in § 23-1-54. |
| (b) Upon receipt of an application accompanied by payment of fees, the department shall |
| grant a renewal license effective March second and expiring two (2) years later on March first, and |
| that renewal license shall render the holder a legal practitioner of nursing for the period stated on |
| the certificate of renewal. Every person seeking renewal of a license pursuant to this section shall |
| provide satisfactory evidence to the department that in the preceding two (2) years the practitioner |
| has completed the ten (10) required continuing education hours as established by the department |
| through rules and regulations. The department may extend for only one six-month (6) period these |
| educational requirements if the department is satisfied that the applicant has suffered hardship that |
| prevented meeting the educational requirement. |
| (c) Any person practicing nursing during the time his or her their license has lapsed shall |
| be considered an illegal practitioner and is subject to the penalties provided for violation of this |
| chapter. |
| (d) A licensee whose license has expired by failure to renew may apply for reinstatement |
| according to the rules established by the board. Upon satisfaction of the requirements for |
| reinstatement, the board shall issue a renewal of license. |
| SECTION 7. Section 5-37-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-37 entitled "Board of |
| Medical Licensure and Discipline" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-37-10. Biannual registration, physicians — Annual registration, hospitals. |
| (a) Effective beginning in calendar year 2004, on or before the first day of March in each |
| year, the board shall mail an application send a reminder for biannual registration to every person |
| to whom a license to practice medicine in this state has been granted by the licensing authority in |
| the state. Every licensed person who intends to engage in the practice of his or her their profession |
| during the ensuing two-year (2) period shall register his or her their license by submitting to the |
| board, on or before June 1, the application, executed together with the registration form, and fee as |
| established by regulation by the director of the department of health. Upon receipt of the application |
| and fee, the board shall issue a registration certificate effective July 1 and expiring two (2) years |
| following on June 30. The registration certificate renders the holder a registered practitioner of |
| medicine for that registration period. Effective beginning in calendar year 2004, any references in |
| this chapter to annual registration or annual limited registration shall be interpreted to mean |
| biannual registration and biannual limited registration, respectively. |
| (b) The registration certificate of all physicians whose renewals accompanied by the |
| prescribed fee are not completed and filed on or before the first day of July shall automatically |
| lapse. The board may, in its discretion and upon the payment by the physician of the current |
| registration fee plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54, reinstate any certificate lapsed under |
| the provisions of this section. |
| (c) Hospitals shall, on or before the first day of December of each year, submit an |
| application and annual fee to the board as a condition of rendering hospital services in the state. |
| The form of application and fee shall be as the director, by regulation, establishes; provided, that |
| the ratio of payment between hospital per-bed licensing fees and the combined licensing and board |
| of medical licensure and discipline fees paid by physicians remain the same as the ratio that existed |
| as of January 1, 1987. All fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited as general |
| revenues. |
| SECTION 8. Section 5-40-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-40 entitled "Physical |
| Therapists" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-40-10. Continuing education requirements and expiration and renewal of licenses. |
| (a) The certificate of every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire |
| on the first day of May of the next even year following the date of original licensure. On or before |
| the first day of March of each year, the department shall mail an application send a reminder for |
| renewal of license to every person to whom a license has been issued or renewed during the current |
| licensure period. Every licensed person who desires to renew his or her their license shall provide |
| satisfactory evidence to the department that in the preceding two (2) years the practitioner has |
| completed the twenty-four (24) required continuing education hours as established by the |
| department through rules and regulations and shall file with the department a renewal application |
| executed together with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 on or before the thirty-first day of |
| March of each even year. The department may extend for only one six-month (6) period these |
| educational requirements if the department is satisfied that the applicant has suffered hardship that |
| prevented meeting the educational requirement. |
| (b) Upon receipt of the renewal application, and payment of the renewal fee, the accuracy |
| of the application shall be verified and the department shall grant a renewal license effective the |
| second day of May, and expiring on the first day of May of the next even year. |
| (c) Any person who allows his or her their license to lapse by failing to renew it on or |
| before the thirty-first day of March of the next even year, as provided in this section, may be |
| reinstated by the department on payment of the current renewal fee plus an additional fee as set |
| forth in § 23-1-54. |
| (d) Any person using the title “physical therapist” or “physical therapist assistant” during |
| the time that his or her their license has lapsed is subject to the penalties provided for violations in |
| this chapter. |
| SECTION 9. Section 5-40.1-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-40.1 entitled |
| "Occupational Therapy" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-40.1-12. Renewal of licenses — Inactive status. |
| (a) Upon the recommendation of the board, the director shall issue to applicants who have |
| satisfactorily met the licensure requirements of this chapter, a license to practice occupational |
| therapy in this state. The license, unless sooner suspended or revoked, shall expire on the thirty- |
| first (31st) day of March, of each even year (biennially). |
| (1) On or before the first (1st) day of March of each even year, the administrator of the |
| division shall mail an application send a reminder for renewal of license to every individual to |
| whom a license has been issued or renewed during the current licensure period. |
| (2) Every licensed individual who desires to renew his or her their license shall file with |
| the division a renewal application executed together with the evidence of continuing education |
| requirements as delineated in subsection (a)(3) and the renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 made |
| payable by check to the general treasurer, state of Rhode Island, on or before the thirty-first (31st) |
| day of March of each even year. |
| (3) On application for renewal of license, occupational therapists and occupational therapy |
| assistants must show proof of participation in twenty (20) hours biennially in presentations, clinical |
| instruction, publications, research, in-service programs, American Occupational Therapy |
| Association-recognized conferences, university courses, and/or self-study courses. |
| (4) Upon receipt of a renewal application and payment of fee, the director shall, upon the |
| recommendation of the board, grant a renewal license effective the thirty-first (31st) day of March |
| for a period of two (2) years, unless sooner suspended or revoked. |
| (5) Any individual who allows his or her their license to lapse by failing to renew it on or |
| before the thirty-first (31st) day of March of the next even year as provided in subsections (a)(1), |
| (a)(2), and (a)(3), may be reinstated by the director upon receiving a receipt from the division for |
| payment of the current renewal fee plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 made payable by |
| check to the general treasurer, state of Rhode Island. |
| (6) An individual using the title “occupational therapist” or “occupational therapy |
| assistant” during the time his or her their license has lapsed is subject to the penalties provided for |
| violation of those regulations and this chapter. |
| (b) An individual licensed as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant in |
| this state who does not intend to engage in the practice of occupational therapy within this state |
| during any year, may upon request to the division, have his or her their name transferred to an |
| inactive status and shall not be required to register biennially or pay any fee as long as he or she |
| they remains remain inactive. Any individual whose name has been transferred to an inactive status |
| pursuant to this section, may be restored to active status to practice occupational therapy without a |
| penalty fee, upon the filing of an application for licensure renewal, the licensure renewal fee as set |
| forth in § 23-1-54 made payable by check to the general treasurer of the state of Rhode Island, and |
| any other information that may be requested by the division. |
| SECTION 10. Section 5-44-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-44 entitled |
| "Psychologists" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-44-15. Expiration and renewal of licenses — Continuing education — Lapsed |
| license. |
| (a) The license of every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire |
| on the first day of July of the next even-numbered year following the issuance of his or her their |
| license. |
| (b) On or before the first day of May of each even-numbered year, the department shall |
| mail an application send a reminder for renewal of license to every person to whom a license has |
| been issued or renewed during the cycle. |
| (c) Every licensed person who desires to renew his or her their license shall file with the |
| department a renewal application, executed, together with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54, |
| on or before the first day of June 30th in each even-numbered year. Upon receipt of a renewal |
| application and payment of the renewal fee, the accuracy of the application shall be verified and |
| the department may grant a renewal license effective July 1st and expiring the June 30th in each |
| even-numbered year. |
| (d) Every licensed psychologist who desires to continue licensure as a licensed |
| psychologist shall present satisfactory evidence to the board and approved by rule or regulation of |
| the board that the licensed psychologist has completed a prescribed course of continuing licensed |
| psychological education. |
| (e) Any person who allows his or her their license to lapse, by failing to renew it on or |
| before June 1st 30th in each even-numbered year, as provided in this section, may be reinstated by |
| the department on payment of the current renewal fee, plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1- |
| 54. Any person using the title “psychologist” or offering services defined as the practice of |
| psychology under this chapter during the time his or her their license has lapsed is subject to the |
| penalties provided for violation of this chapter. |
| SECTION 11. Section 5-54-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-54 entitled "Physician |
| Assistants" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-54-11. Issuance and annual renewal of certificates of licensure. |
| (a) The board shall recommend to the director for registration those individuals who meet |
| the criteria for licensure as stated in this chapter. Upon that recommendation, the director shall |
| issue a certificate of licensure as a physician assistant. |
| (b) The certificate of licensure shall expire biannually on the thirtieth (30th) day of June. |
| On or before the first day of March in each year, the administrator shall mail an application send a |
| reminder for a renewal certificate to every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter, and |
| every person who desires his or her their certificate to be renewed shall file with the division the |
| renewal application together with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 on or before the first day |
| of June in every other year. Upon receipt of the renewal application and payment of fee, the |
| accuracy of the application shall be verified and the administrator shall grant a renewal certificate |
| effective July 1st and expiring June 30th two years hence, unless the certificate is sooner suspended |
| for cause as provided in § 5-54-12. |
| SECTION 12. Section 5-63.2-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-63.2 entitled "Mental |
| Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-63.2-17. Expiration and renewal of license. |
| (a) Every clinical mental health counselor and marriage and family therapist who desires |
| to continue licensure as a licensed clinical mental health counselor and licensed marriage and |
| family therapist shall present satisfactory evidence to the board and approved by rule or regulation |
| of the board that the licensed clinical mental health counselor and licensed marriage and family |
| therapist has completed a prescribed course of continuing education. The license of every person |
| licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire on the first day of July of the next even |
| year following the date of his or her license their; provided, that no license shall expire prior to July |
| 1, 1998. On or before the first day of May in each even year, commencing in the year 1998, the |
| administrator shall mail an send a reminder application for renewal of license to every person to |
| whom a license is issued or renewed during the current year, and every licensed person who desires |
| to renew his or her their license shall file with the division the renewal application executed. This |
| application shall include verification of prescribed continuing education requirements, together |
| with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54, on or before the first day of June in each even year. |
| Upon receipt of the application and payment of the fee, the accuracy of the application shall be |
| verified and the administrator of professional regulation shall grant a renewal license effective July |
| 1st and expiring twenty-four (24) months later. |
| (b) Any person who allows his or her their license to lapse, by failing to renew it on or |
| before June 1st 30th in each year, as provided in this section, shall be reinstated by the administrator |
| of professional regulation on payment of the current renewal fee plus an additional fee as set forth |
| in § 23-1-54; and verification of prescribed continuing education requirements. Any person using |
| the title “clinical mental health counselor” and/or “marriage and family therapist” during the time |
| his or her their license has lapsed shall be subject to the penalties provided for violation of this |
| chapter; provided, that if a person has allowed his or her their licensure to lapse for four (4) years |
| or more, he or she shall be reinstated at the discretion of the board. |
| SECTION 13. Section 5-86-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-86 entitled "Licensing of |
| Applied Behavior Analysts" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-86-13. Expiration and renewal of licenses — Continuing education — Lapsed |
| license. |
| (a) The license of every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire |
| on the first (1st) day of July of the next even-numbered year following the issuance of his or her |
| license. |
| (b) On or before the first day of May of each even-numbered year, the department shall |
| mail an application send notification of the for renewal of license to every person to whom a license |
| has been issued or renewed during the cycle. |
| (c) Every licensed person who desires to renew his or her their license shall file with the |
| department a renewal application, executed, together with a renewal fee of one hundred and fifty |
| dollars ($150), on or before the first (1st) thirtieth day of June in each even-numbered year. Upon |
| receipt of a renewal application and payment of the renewal fee, the accuracy of the application |
| shall be verified and the department may grant a renewal license effective July 1st and expiring the |
| June 30th in each even-numbered year. |
| (d) Every licensed person who desires to continue licensure as a licensed applied behavior |
| analyst, licensed applied behavior assistant analyst, or psychologist with equivalent experience |
| shall present satisfactory evidence to the board and approved by rule or regulation of the board that |
| the licensed applied behavior analyst, licensed applied behavior assistant analyst, or psychologist |
| with equivalent experience, has completed a prescribed course of continuing applied behavior |
| analysis education. |
| (e) Any person who allows his or her their license to lapse, by failing to renew it on or |
| before June 1st in each even-numbered year, as provided in this section, may be reinstated by the |
| department on payment of the current renewal fee, plus an additional fee of forty dollars ($40.00). |
| Any person using the title licensed applied behavior analyst or licensed applied behavior assistant |
| analyst or psychologist with equivalent experience offering services defined as the practice of |
| behavior analysis under this chapter during the time his or her their license has lapsed is subject to |
| the penalties provided for violation of this chapter. |
| SECTION 14. Section 23-74-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-74 entitled "Unlicensed |
| Health Care Practices" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 23-74-1. Definitions and applicability. |
| (a) As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings: |
| (1) “Director” or “director of health” means the director of the department of health or the |
| director’s designee; |
| (2) “Unlicensed health carehealthcare client” means an individual who receives services |
| from an unlicensed health carehealthcare practitioner; |
| (3) “Unlicensed health carehealthcare practices” means the broad domain of unlicensed |
| healing methods and treatments, including, but not limited to: (i) acupressure; (ii) Alexander |
| technique; (iii) aroma therapy; (iv) ayurveda; (v) cranial sacral therapy; (vi) crystal therapy; (vii) |
| detoxification practices and therapies; (viii) energetic healing; (ix) rolfing; (x) Gerson therapy and |
| colostrum therapy; (xi) therapeutic touch; (xii) herbology or herbalism; (xiii) polarity therapy; (xiv) |
| homeopathy; (xv) nondiagnostic iridology; (xvi) body work; (xvii) reiki; (xviii) mind-body healing |
| practices; and (ixx) naturopathy; and (xx) Qi Gong energy healing. “Unlicensed health care |
| practices” do not include surgery, x-ray radiation, prescribing, administering, or dispensing legend |
| drugs and controlled substances, practices that invade the human body by puncture of the skin, |
| setting fractures, any practice included in the practice of dentistry, the manipulation or adjustment |
| of articulations of joints, or the spine, also known as chiropractic medicine as defined in chapter 30 |
| of title 5, the healing art of acupuncture as defined in chapter 37.2 of title 5, or practices that are |
| permitted under § §§ 5-37-15 or § 5-34-31(6), 5-95-3(9) and (11) or any other new or existing |
| licensed scopes of practice within the department of health. |
| (4) “Unlicensed health care practitioner” means a person who: |
| (i) Is not licensed by a health-related licensing board or the director of health; or holds a |
| license issued by a health-related licensing board or the department of health in this state, but does |
| not hold oneself out to the public as being licensed or registered by the director or a health-related |
| licensing board when engaging in unlicensed health care; |
| (ii) Has not had a license issued by a health-related licensing board or the director of health |
| revoked or suspended without reinstatement unless the right to engage in unlicensed health care |
| practices has been established by order of the director of health; |
| (iii) Is engaging in unlicensed health care practices; and |
| (iv) Is providing unlicensed health care services for remuneration or is holding oneself out |
| to the public as a practitioner of unlicensed health care practices. |
| (b) This chapter does not apply to, control, prevent, or restrict the practice, service, or |
| activity of lawfully marketing or distributing food products, including dietary supplements as |
| defined in the federal Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act [see 21 U.S.C. § 321(ff)], |
| educating customers about those products, or explaining the uses of those products. Under Rhode |
| Island law, an unlicensed health care practitioner may not provide a medical diagnosis. |
| (c) A health care practitioner, licensed or registered by the director or a health-related |
| licensing board, who engages in unlicensed health care while practicing under the practitioner’s |
| license or registration, shall be regulated by and be under the jurisdiction of the applicable health- |
| related licensing board with regard to the unlicensed health care practices. |
| (d) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, persons in Rhode Island are authorized to |
| practice as unlicensed health care practitioners and receive remuneration for their services. |
| SECTION 15. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005256 |
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