SB213 Alabama 2019 Session

This bill creates the Alabama Genetic Counselor Act

This bill would establish the Alabama Board of Genetic Counseling and would provide for the powers and authority of the board

This bill would provide qualifications for licensure and requirements for license renewal and restoration of inactive licenses of genetic counselors

This bill would provide that the practice of genetic counseling without a license is a criminal offense

This bill would provide exemptions from licensure for physicians and other medical professionals and would clarify that genetic counselors are not authorized to practice medicine

This bill would establish the Genetic Counseling Fund in the State Treasury

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 create the Alabama Genetic Counselor Act; to establish the Alabama Board of Genetic Counseling; to provide for the powers and authority of the board; to provide qualifications for licensure as a genetic counselor and requirements for license renewal and restoration of inactive licenses; to make the practice of genetic counseling without a license a criminal offense; to exempt physicians and other licensed professionals from licensure by the board; to clarify that genetic counselors are not authorized to practice medicine; to establish the Genetic Counseling Fund in the State Treasury; 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.