Department Of Regulatory Agencies Regulator Authority During Declared Emergency

The bill authorizes the director of the division of professions and occupations or the applicable regulatory board in the department of regulatory agencies (regulator) to suspend or waive statutes or rules governing a health care profession or occupation over which a regulator has authority during a disaster emergency declared by the governor. The suspension or waiver of a statute or rule is limited to those in which strict compliance would prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with or responding to the disaster emergency and may not suspend, waive, or modify any supervisory requirements. The bill allows a regulator to promulgate emergency rules commensurate with the nature of the disaster emergency and within the limits of the declaration and the applicable practice act for a health care profession or occupation. The emergency rules automatically expire 60 days after the termination of the declared disaster emergency. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)