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Committee hears competing views on safe-harbor bill for complementary and alternative practitioners
Summary
Supporters told the committee SB 452 would protect consumer access to herbalists, Reiki and other noninvasive wellness providers through disclosure and consent; the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification warned the bill's broad language could confuse scope-of-practice rules and reduce enforceability.
Sen. Ruth Ward introduced SB 452, a safe-harbor measure that would allow certain complementary and alternative health practitioners to provide designated, noninvasive services without state licensure provided they disclose qualifications and obtain informed consent. "Through disclosure and transparency, patients are able to better understand the difference between licensed and unlicensed providers," the sponsor said.
The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification testified it is not taking a policy position but raised technical concerns about the bill's breadth. Executive Director Deanna Jarius said the language could "muddle the waters" for licensed professionals by blurring scope-of-practice boundaries and might allow license holders to claim an alternative practice to evade discipline. "I don't see this piece of legislation, the language as drafted, as creating any oversight," she told the committee, and asked for narrower definitions or clearer exclusions.
Supporters said the bill would protect long-standing wellness practices, increase consumer options and add transparency requirements. Representatives from National Health Freedom Action and multiple individual practitioners urged adoption and emphasized informed consent, public access and the noninvasive nature of many modalities such as herbalism, homeopathy, Reiki and sound therapy.
Committee members pushed for clearer definitions and asked OPLC and stakeholders to help draft narrower language and consider consumer protections without undermining professional discipline. The committee placed the measure on interim study to allow additional technical work and stakeholder negotiation.
