Brief(1)
S.B. 216 amends one statute that concerns podiatry and one that concerns the three branches of the healing arts (medicine, osteopathic medicine, and chiropractic) all of which are licensed and regulated by the Board of Healing Arts. The amendments authorize, but do not require, the Board to compensate members of the review committees established pursuant to the two statutes that are amended by S.B. 216 for reviewing records that relate to matters under investigation by the Board. The Senate Committee amendment requires that any such compensation be within the limit of appropriations.
Background
S.B. 216 was introduced at the request of the Kansas Association of Osteopathic Medicine. Representatives of the Kansas Medical Society, the Association of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Board of Healing Arts appeared as proponents of the bill, and a representative of the Kansas Chiropractic Association appeared as an opponent. Members of the review committees established by the Board receive compensation for the days the committees meet in Topeka, but do not currently receive compensation for hours spent at home reviewing material sent to them by the Board for review. The Board at one time did compensate the members of review committees on an hourly basis for hours spent reviewing records, but a review by the Attorney General indicated such compensation was in conflict with the law.
The Board currently has no money in its budget for the current or next fiscal year for compensation for review committee members so any additional costs would be in addition to requested appropriations.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html.