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AN ACT concerning the practice of acupuncture; concerning certain per-
  sons currently practicing acupuncture; providing for licensure; au-
  thorizing certain exemptions; declaring certain acts to be misdemean-
  ors and providing penalties therefor.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
  Section 1.  (a) Any person trained in acupuncture who on January 1,
1997, was currently practicing acupuncture under the supervision of a
person licensed to practice medicine and surgery shall be permitted to
continue practicing in Kansas under such person's supervision without
interference by the board of healing arts for a period of two years before
licensure by the board is required. On and after July 1, 1999, any person
authorized to practice acupuncture under this section in order to continue
such practice shall obtain a license as provided in this section. This section
shall not be applicable to persons licensed to practice medicine and sur-
gery or chiropractic under the Kansas healing arts act.
  (b)  This section shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas heal-
ing arts act.
  Sec. 2.  (a) It shall be the duty of the state board of healing arts to
pass upon the qualifications of all applicants for licensure to practice ac-
upuncture under this section.
  (b)  The state board of healing arts shall issue a license to an applicant
to practice acupuncture independently where the applicant:
  (1)  Submits an application for licensure to the board on forms pro-
vided by the board;
  (2)  submits satisfactory evidence that the applicant:
  (A)  Has been trained in and is qualified to engage in the practice of
acupuncture;
  (B)  was practicing acupuncture in Kansas on January 1, 1997, under
the direction of a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery;
  (C)  continued to practice acupuncture under the supervision of a
person licensed to practice medicine and surgery for a minimum of two
years after January 1, 1997;
  (D)  has paid the required licensing fee; and
  (E)  the board finds the applicant's training is comparable to or higher
HB 2377
                                     

 1  than other persons practicing acupuncture in this state.
 2    (c)  A license to practice acupuncture independently shall be valid for
 3  a period of two years after the date of issuance and may be renewed if
 4  the applicant for renewal is eligible to obtain a license, submitted evi-
 5  dence of satisfactory completion of a program of continuing education
 6  required by the board and has paid the required renewal fee as fixed by
 7  the board.
 8    (d)  The board may refuse to issue, suspend or revoke any license to
 9  practice acupuncture under this act for any of the grounds for refusing
10  to issue, suspend or revoke a license under K.S.A. 65-2836 and amend-
11  ments thereto or for professional incompetency or unprofessional con-
12  duct as defined under K.S.A. 65-2837 and amendments thereto.
13    (e)  The board is hereby authorized to adopt such rules and regula-
14  tions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.
15    (f)  A person who engages in the practice of acupuncture without
16  holding a valid license issued by the board shall be guilty of a class B
17  misdemeanor.
18    (g)  This section shall not be applicable to persons licensed to practice
19  medicine and surgery or chiropractic under the Kansas healing arts act.
20    (h)  This section shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas heal-
21  ing arts act.
22    Sec. 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
23  publication in the statute book.