HB 309

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to radiological personnel; amending s.
3	468.3003, F.S.; clarifying legislative policy;
4	amending s. 468.301, F.S.; redefining the term
5	"radiation" and defining the term "specialty
6	technologist" as those terms relate to the
7	certification of radiological personnel; amending s.
8	468.302, F.S.; providing titles for persons who hold a
9	certificate as a specialty technologist; authorizing a
10	person holding a certificate as a specialty
11	technologist to perform the specific duties allowed
12	for a specialty technologist as defined by the
13	Department of Health; requiring that the duties be
14	consistent with the scope of practice of a national
15	registry for the particular advanced, postprimary, or
16	specialty area; amending s. 468.304, F.S.; providing
17	criteria for certification as a specialty
18	technologist; amending s. 468.306, F.S.; providing for
19	an applicant for certification as a specialty
20	technologist to be certified only by endorsement
21	rather than by examination; amending s. 468.3065,
22	F.S.; authorizing the department to issue a
23	certificate by endorsement to practice as a specialty
24	technologist to an applicant who meets certain
25	criteria; providing an effective date.
26
27	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
29	Section 1.  Section 468.3003, Florida Statutes, is amended
30	to read:
31	468.3003  Declaration of policy.-It is declared to be the
32	policy of the state that the health and safety of the people
33	must be protected against the harmful effects of excessive and
34	improper exposure to ionizing radiation. Such protection can in
35	some major measure be accomplished by requiring adequate
36	training and experience of persons who use radiation and
37	radiation-emitting equipment in each particular case under the
38	specific direction of licensed practitioners. It is the purpose
39	of this part to establish standards of education, training, and
40	experience and to require the examination and certification of
41	users of radiation and radiation-emitting equipment.
42	Section 2.  Subsection (14) of section 468.301, Florida
43	Statutes, is amended, and subsection (18) is added to that
44	section, to read:
45	468.301  Definitions.-As used in this part, the term:
46	(14)  "Radiation" means X rays and gamma rays, alpha and
47	beta particles, high-speed electrons, neutrons, and other
48	nuclear particles. The department may by rule add other types of
49	radiation to this definition in order to accommodate changes in
50	imaging or therapy technology or procedures.
51	(18)  "Specialty technologist" means a person, other than a
52	licensed practitioner, who is qualified by education and
53	certification, as set forth in s. 468.304, to use radiation on
54	humans under the specific direction and general supervision of a
55	licensed practitioner.
56	Section 3.  Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (2) and
57	paragraph (i) is added to subsection (3) of section 468.302,
58	Florida Statutes, to read:
59	468.302  Use of radiation; identification of certified
60	persons; limitations; exceptions.-
61	(2)
62	(h)  A person holding a certificate as a specialty
63	technologist may use the title "Certified Radiologic
64	Technologist-X" or the letters "CRT-X" where "X" represents a
65	single- or multiple-letter designation signifying the advanced,
66	postprimary, or specialty area of radiologic technology, such as
67	"CT" for computed tomography or "PET" for positron emission
68	tomography, in which the person is certified by a national
69	registry that is recognized by the department. The department
70	shall approve these letter designations by rule for each area,
71	consistent with the designation used by the national registry.
72
73	No other person is entitled to so use a title or letters
74	contained in this subsection or to hold himself or herself out
75	in any way, whether orally or in writing, expressly or by
76	implication, as being so certified.
77	(3)
78	(i)  A person holding a certificate as a specialty
79	technologist may perform the specific duties allowed for a
80	specialty technologist as defined by department by rule. These
81	duties must be consistent with the scope of practice of the
82	national registry for that particular advanced, postprimary, or
83	specialty area.
84	Section 4.  Subsection (3) of section 468.304, Florida
85	Statutes, is amended to read:
86	468.304  Certification.-The department shall certify any
87	applicant who meets the following criteria:
88	(3)  Submits satisfactory evidence, verified by oath or
89	affirmation, that she or he:
90	(a)  Is at least 18 years of age at the time of
91	application;
92	(b)  Is a high school, vocational school, technical school,
93	or college graduate or has successfully completed the
94	requirements for a graduate equivalency diploma (GED) or its
95	equivalent;
96	(c)  Is of good moral character;
97	(d)  Has passed an examination as specified in s. 468.306
98	or meets the requirements specified in s. 468.3065; and
99	(e)1.  Has successfully completed an educational program,
100	which program may be established in a hospital licensed pursuant
101	to chapter 395 or in an accredited postsecondary academic
102	institution which is subject to approval by the department as
103	maintaining a satisfactory standard; or
104	2.a.  With respect to an applicant for a basic X-ray
105	machine operator's certificate, has completed a course of study
106	approved by the department with appropriate study material
107	provided the applicant by the department;
108	b.  With respect to an applicant for a basic X-ray machine
109	operator-podiatric medicine certificate, has completed a course
110	of study approved by the department, provided that such course
111	of study shall be limited to that information necessary to
112	perform radiographic procedures within the scope of practice of
113	a podiatric physician licensed pursuant to chapter 461;
114	c.  With respect only to an applicant for a general
115	radiographer's certificate who is a basic X-ray machine operator
116	certificateholder, has completed an educational program or a 2-
117	year training program that takes into account the types of
118	procedures and level of supervision usually and customarily
119	practiced in a hospital, which educational or training program
120	complies with the rules of the department;
121	d.  With respect only to an applicant for a nuclear
122	medicine technologist's certificate who is a general
123	radiographer certificateholder, has completed an educational
124	program or a 2-year training program that takes into account the
125	types of procedures and level of supervision usually and
126	customarily practiced in a hospital, which educational or
127	training program complies with the rules of the department; or
128	e.  With respect to an applicant for a radiologist
129	assistant's certificate who demonstrates to the department that
130	he or she holds a current certificate or registration as a
131	radiologist assistant granted by the American Registry of
132	Radiologic Technologists; or.
133	f.  With respect to an applicant for a specialty
134	technologist's certificate, demonstrates to the department that
135	he or she is currently certified or registered by a national
136	registry that is recognized by the department in an advanced,
137	postprimary, or specialty area of radiologic technology, such as
138	computed tomography or positron emission tomography.
139
140	The department may not certify any applicant who has committed
141	an offense that would constitute a violation of any of the
142	provisions of s. 468.3101 or applicable the rules adopted
143	thereunder if the applicant had been certified by the department
144	at the time of the offense. An No application for a limited
145	computed tomography certificate may not shall be accepted. A
146	person All persons holding a valid computed tomography
147	certificate certificates as of October 1, 1984, is are subject
148	to the provisions of s. 468.309.
149	Section 5.  Section 468.306, Florida Statutes, is amended
150	to read:
151	468.306  Examinations.-An applicant All applicants for
152	certification as a radiologic technologist, basic X-ray machine
153	operator, or basic X-ray machine operator-podiatric medicine,
154	except an applicant those certified pursuant to s. 468.3065,
155	shall be required to pass an examination. An applicant for
156	certification as a specialty technologist shall be certified
157	only in accordance with s. 468.3065. An application for
158	certification as a specialty technologist by examination may not
159	be accepted. In lieu of an examination for a radiologist
160	assistant certificate, the department shall accept a
161	demonstration by the applicant for such a certificate that he or
162	she holds a current certificate or registration as a radiologist
163	assistant granted by the American Registry of Radiologic
164	Technologists. The department may develop or use examinations
165	for each type of certificate. The department may require an
166	applicant who does not pass an examination after five attempts
167	to complete additional remedial education, as specified by rule
168	of the department, before admitting the applicant to subsequent
169	examinations.
170	(1)  The department may contract with organizations that
171	develop such test examinations. Examinations may be administered
172	by the department or the contracting organization.
173	(2)  Examinations shall be given for each type of
174	certificate at least twice a year at such times and places as
175	the department may determine to be advantageous for applicants.
176	(3)  All examinations shall be written and include
177	positioning, technique, and radiation protection. The department
178	shall either pass or fail each applicant on the basis of his or
179	her final grade. The examination for a basic X-ray machine
180	operator must shall include basic positioning and basic
181	techniques directly related to the skills necessary to safely
182	operate radiographic equipment.
183	(4)  A nonrefundable fee not to exceed $75 plus the actual
184	per-applicant cost for purchasing the examination from a
185	national organization shall be charged for any subsequent
186	examination.
187	Section 6.  Subsection (3) is added to section 468.3065,
188	Florida Statutes, to read:
189	468.3065  Certification by endorsement.-
190	(3)  The department may issue a certificate by endorsement
191	to practice as a specialty technologist to an applicant who,
192	upon applying to the department and remitting a nonrefundable
193	fee not to exceed $100, demonstrates to the department that he
194	or she holds a current certificate, license, or registration
195	from a national registry that is recognized by the department to
196	practice in an advanced, postprimary, or specialty area of
197	radiologic technology, such as computed tomography or positron
198	emission tomography, if the requirements for such certificate,
199	license, or registration are deemed by the department to be
200	substantially equivalent to those established under this part
201	and rules adopted under this part.
202	Section 7.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.