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Committee advances bill to centralize health-related licensure in Department of Health
Summary
Lawmakers approved an administration-backed bill that would consolidate some professional licensing functions into a Department of Health commissioner-issued system to reduce delays caused by board quorum issues; an amendment removed several small boards and the measure passed the committee.
Senators on the Health and Welfare Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 2227 after adopting an amendment that narrows which professional boards are consolidated under a new Department of Health licensure office.
Senator Johnson, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure "implements the core act, which is the consolidation of regulatory efficiency act, which will streamline health, licensure regulation by centralizing certain licensing and rulemaking functions within the new agency of commissioner issued licenses in the Tennessee Department of Health." He said the change aims to prevent routine licensing and disciplinary matters from being delayed when small boards have trouble reaching quorum.
An amendment (drafting number 015671) was adopted to remove several boards from the consolidation, including podiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing home administrators, dietitians and nutritionists, alcohol and drug counselors, and applied behavioral analysts. The sponsor said the amendment preserves professional expertise while improving administrative efficiency so licensing matters "can be addressed and adjudicated more quickly rather than having to wait for a quarterly meeting or a semi annual meeting of the board and then potentially not even having a quorum."
The committee approved the amendment and then passed the bill; the secretary reported "8 ayes, 1 present not voting." The bill will proceed to the full chamber calendar for further consideration.
