Committee approves bill letting genetic counselors order tests, updates exam window

Senate Human Services Committee members voted unanimously to advance Senate Bill 2040, a measure that would allow licensed genetic counselors to order genetic testing directly and update examination-time limits used for licensure.

The bill’s sponsor, Sandra DuPuntis, executive director of the North Dakota Board of Medicine, told the committee that SB 2040 has two short sections: it would remove a requirement that genetic test orders be routed through another health-care provider and it would adjust the licensure exam timeframe to match changes from the American Board of Genetic Counselors (ABGC). "A pretty simple bill. There's only 2 sections," DuPuntis said during her introduction.

Supporters said the change aims to reduce delays for patients and providers. Linda Wolf, a licensed genetic counselor who testified alongside DuPuntis, described how counseling works in practice and why the bill would streamline care: "What genetic counselors do, we basically work with the families as kind of the intermediary between the ordering physicians or the referring physicians, trying to figure out what testing is appropriate." Wolf told the committee that physicians welcome the support because they cannot keep up with the rapid technical changes in genetic testing.

DuPuntis told lawmakers that 33 states license genetic counselors and 11 allow independent ordering by the counselors themselves; SB 2040 would align North Dakota with neighboring states that have granted that authority. The bill also updates the state rules to reflect the ABGC’s decision to extend the window for taking its certification exam from four to five years and retains a three-exam limit while recognizing documented disabilities as a basis for exceptions.

Committee members asked about geographic access to genetic expertise; witnesses said the state has very few medical geneticists (witnesses identified a medical geneticist located in Fargo) and that independent ordering by counselors would help patients who live far from specialists. The committee did not receive opposition testimony.

Senator Kathy Hogan moved adoption of SB 2040; Senator Kent Weston seconded. The committee recorded the following roll call: Senator Dave Clemens — yes; Senator Kathy Hogan — yes; Senator Judy Lee (chair) — yes; Senator Kristen Rohrs — yes; Senator Van Oosting — yes; Senator Kent Weston — yes. The motion passed unanimously and SB 2040 will move to the full Senate for floor consideration. Senator Hogan volunteered to carry the bill on the floor.

If enacted, the measure would formally allow genetic counselors to order tests and adjust the state licensure rules to reflect current national exam timetables; the statutory changes and any budget implications will be handled in later floor and committee steps.