Committee advances bill letting Chiropractic Board access criminal-history records

The Labor, Health & Social Services Committee voted to pass Senate File 167, a bill that would authorize the Wyoming Board of Chiropractic Examiners to obtain criminal-history record information and require fingerprinting for license applicants and certain investigations.

Sponsor Sen. Hank Dockstader presented the bill to the committee, saying it was intended “for the purpose of protecting the public as part of their healthcare needs” and to prevent chiropractors who lost licenses elsewhere for criminal issues from practicing in Wyoming. Dockstader told the committee that 36 other states require criminal background checks for similar licensing.

The bill authorizes the board to request criminal-history records, to require fingerprinting of applicants or others as needed for investigation and disciplinary purposes, and updates rulemaking and effective-date language. Emily Kronbaugh, executive director of the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, appeared to answer questions for the committee.

Committee members reviewed the bill with limited questions. A roll-call on the measure recorded aye votes from Senators Krum, Hutchings, Scott, Steinmetz and Chairman Burrows; the bill passed the committee and will proceed to the full Senate.

The measure’s provisions apply to initial applicants and include language authorizing rulemaking and an effective date; the bill summary presented to the committee said there was no significant revenue impact.