Senate panel approves multiple occupational-licensing rule dockets, adopts fee reductions and several board reorganizations

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved multiple rule dockets from the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses during a single session that covered licensing requirements, continuing-education cycles, scope clarifications and temporary fee reductions.

The committee voted on final approval or temporary adoption for several dockets after brief presentations by division staff and board representatives. Committee members approved the rules by voice vote, with one modification requested during the genetic-counselor docket.

Why it matters: the changes affect licensing standards and business processes for several licensed professions in Idaho, alter continuing-education cycles, remove or consolidate duplicative rule language into statute, and reduce certain application and renewal fees following a 2024 legislative directive to limit cash balances.

Highlights of approved dockets and substantive changes - Chiropractic Physicians (docket 24.03.01 / 2403012401): John Price, bureau chief for Occupational Licenses, said the rewrite updated definitions, moved fee language and revised continuing-education requirements from 18 hours per 12 months to 36 hours per 24 months to align with biannual licensure. The rule also clarified permitted duties for chiropractic assistants and removed duplicative prohibitions on sale or compounding already covered by Idaho Code 54-716.

- Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators (docket 24.09.01 / 2409012401): Cecily Metcalfe, Board Services Program Manager, summarized a chapter rewrite that removed examination-detail requirements (left to the exam provider), added a licensure pathway for individuals holding a health services credential, consolidated trainee and preceptor requirements, and removed temporary-permit language and civil fine authority that lacked statutory support.

- Residential Care Facility Administrators (docket 24.19.01 / 2419012401): Metcalfe said the rewrite aligned continuing-education cycles with biennial renewal, accepted basic first aid and CPR courses for credit, reduced continuing-education hours from 12 per 12 months to 12 per 24 months, and adjusted fees consistent with the division's appropriation bill.

- Genetic Counselors (docket 24.24.01 / 2424012401): Metcalfe presented the rewrite and noted removal of requirements duplicative of certification by national boards. Senator Shippey moved, and the committee approved, an amendment to remove one item from the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) code of ethics incorporated by reference: section 2, item 3 (the transcript text read: "provide genetic counseling services to their clients regardless of their clients abilities, age, culture, religion, ethnicity, language, ****** orientation and gender identity"). The motion carried on voice vote.

- Temporary fee reductions (various temporary dockets): Katie Stewart, bureau chief for the administration bureau, described fee-decrease temporary rules driven by the legislature's 2024 intent language requiring the division to be mindful of cash balances. Examples included the midwifery board temporarily reducing an application, licensure and renewal fee to $35 (from prior figures presented as $200 application and $850 renewal), and the board of dentistry reducing fees by roughly 25 percent; Stewart said boards added "not more than" language to fee tables to allow future decreases.

Votes at a glance: - Docket 2403012401 (Chiropractic Physicians): Motion to approve by Senator Van Orden; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Docket 2409012401 (Nursing Home Administrators): Motion to approve by Senator Blaylock; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Docket 2419012401 (Residential Care Facility Administrators): Motion to approve by Senator Keiser; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Docket 2424012401 (Genetic Counselors): Motion to approve by Senator Shippey with exception removing NSGC code of ethics section 2.3; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Docket 2426012501 (Midwifery, temporary fee decrease): Motion to approve by Senator Harris; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Docket 2431012501 (Dentistry, temporary fee decrease): Motion to approve by Senator Shippey; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Docket 2434012501 (Board with fee decrease from $90 to $70): Motion to approve by Senator Harris; outcome: approved (voice vote).

What changed overall The division and the affected boards said the rewrite projects removed duplicated statutory language, updated outdated provisions, condensed sections into consolidated licensing rules, aligned continuing-education cycles with biennial renewals, clarified preceptor/trainee requirements, and in several cases removed rules for which the board lacked statutory authority (for example, registration of preceptors or civil fines). Multiple dockets also adjusted fee schedules in response to legislative direction to reduce cash balances.

Speakers and presenters who addressed the committee included John Price (Bureau Chief, Occupational Licenses), Cecily Metcalfe (Board Services Program Manager, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses), and Katie Stewart (Bureau Chief, Administration Bureau, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses). Committee motions were offered by senators recorded in the transcript as Van Orden, Blaylock, Keiser, Shippey, Harris and others.