HB226 Alabama 2014 Session

Under existing law, the Home Medical Equipment Services Providers Board provides for the licensing and regulation of home medical equipment services providers

This bill would rename the board the Board of Home Medical Equipment

This bill would provide for the removal of board members and for the authority of the board to employ an administrator and other necessary employees, adopt a seal, and establish and charge reasonable fees

This bill would prohibit the practice of providing home medical equipment services without a license and would provide a process for late renewal of a license and renewal of a lapsed license

This bill would provide further for the authority of the board and the grounds necessary to deny, revoke, or suspend a license, and would provide for disciplinary hearings, administrative fines, injunctions, and other penalties against violators

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

To amend Sections 34-14C-l, 34-14C-2, 34-14C-3, 34-14C-4, 34-14C-4.1, 34-14C-5, 34-14C-6, 34-14C-7, and 34-14C-8, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Home Medical Equipment Services Providers Board, to rename the board the Board of Home Medical Equipment; to provide for the removal of board members; to authorize the board to employ an executive director and other necessary employees, adopt a seal, and establish and charge reasonable fees; to prohibit the unlicensed practice of providing home medical equipment services; to provide for late renewal and renewal of a lapsed license; to authorize the board to deny, revoke, or suspend a license; to provide for disciplinary hearings; to provide for administrative fines, injunctions, and other penalties against violators; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.