Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 542
       
       
        
       By Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       
       
       36-00465-26                                            2026542__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to naturopathy; providing a short
    3         title; providing legislative findings and intent;
    4         renumbering, reenacting, reordering, and amending s.
    5         462.01, F.S.; defining the term “board”; revising the
    6         definition of the terms “natureopathy” and
    7         “naturopathy”; repealing s. 462.023, F.S., relating to
    8         powers and duties of the Department of Health;
    9         creating s. 462.002, F.S.; creating the Board of
   10         Naturopathy within the department; providing for
   11         membership of the board; providing term limits;
   12         providing applicability; specifying requirements for
   13         the first naturopath members appointed to the board;
   14         creating s. 462.003, F.S.; providing rulemaking
   15         authority to the board; creating s. 462.004, F.S.;
   16         providing licensure requirements for naturopaths;
   17         providing for licensure by endorsement; renumbering,
   18         reenacting, reordering, and amending s. 462.08, F.S.,
   19         relating to renewal of license to practice
   20         naturopathy; providing requirements for licensure
   21         renewal; creating s. 462.006, F.S.; providing titles
   22         and abbreviations licensed naturopaths may use and are
   23         prohibited from using; creating s. 462.007, F.S.;
   24         specifying acts that are outside the scope of practice
   25         of naturopaths; authorizing licensed naturopaths to
   26         prescribe, dispense, and administer specified non
   27         legend nutritional product; specifying that controlled
   28         and noncontrolled legend drugs are outside the scope
   29         of a licensed naturopath’s prescriptive authority;
   30         creating s. 462.008, F.S.; authorizing the board to
   31         adopt certain rules for the health, safety, and
   32         welfare of the public; repealing s. 462.09, F.S.,
   33         relating to disposition of fees; reenacting and
   34         amending s. 462.11, F.S., relating to naturopaths to
   35         observe regulations; conforming provisions to changes
   36         made by the act; repealing s. 462.13, F.S., relating
   37         to additional powers and duties of the department;
   38         reenacting and amending s. 462.14, F.S., relating to
   39         grounds for disciplinary action and action by the
   40         department; conforming provisions to changes made by
   41         the act; making technical changes; reenacting and
   42         amending ss. 462.16 and 462.17, F.S., relating to
   43         reissue of license and penalty for offenses relating
   44         to naturopathy, respectively; conforming provisions to
   45         changes made by the act; reenacting and amending s.
   46         462.18, F.S.; providing continuing education
   47         requirements for licensed naturopaths; reenacting and
   48         amending s. 462.19, F.S.; making conforming and
   49         technical changes; reenacting s. 462.2001, F.S.,
   50         relating to saving clause; providing an effective
   51         date.
   52          
   53  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   54  
   55         Section 1. This act shall be known as the Florida
   56  Naturopathy Sunrise Act.
   57         Section 2. (1)The Legislature finds that naturopathy is a
   58  distinct healing art emphasizing natural methods of health care.
   59         (2) The Legislature further finds that public health and
   60  safety require updated, modernized licensing, scope of practice
   61  standards, and regulatory oversight for naturopaths.
   62         (3) It is the intent of the Legislature to reestablish
   63  licensure for naturopaths to ensure professional competency,
   64  protect the public health, and provide residents of this state
   65  with access to regulated naturopathic care.
   66         Section 3. Section 462.01, Florida Statutes, is renumbered
   67  as section 462.001, Florida Statutes, and reenacted, reordered,
   68  and amended, to read:
   69         462.001 462.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the
   70  term:
   71         (1) “Board” means the Board of Naturopathy.
   72         (3) “Natureopathy” and “naturopathy” shall be construed as
   73  synonymous terms and mean the use and practice of biofeedback;
   74  biochemistry; Christian Science or prayer treatments;
   75  counseling; diagnostic procedures, including physical
   76  examinations for diagnostic purposes, clinical laboratory tests,
   77  if conducted in cooperation with a licensed physician, and
   78  physiological function tests; dietary therapy; dietary
   79  recommendations; digestive aids; Eastern medicine; Eastern
   80  medicine dietary recommendations; enzymes; external
   81  applications; first aid; food; food extracts; health coaching;
   82  health education; herbal substances, excluding CBD and THC
   83  compounds; homeopathy; hygiene; hydrotherapy; hypnotherapy, if
   84  licensed as a hypnotherapist or certified in hypnotherapy;
   85  indigenous medicine; iridology; ordering an ultrasound, X-ray,
   86  or electrocardiogram test, only if working with a licensed
   87  physician and referring the client to an appropriate licensed
   88  health care professional for conducting and interpreting the
   89  tests; mechanotherapy or stretch therapy; minerals; naturopathic
   90  light touch therapy; naturopathic testing, such as tongue and
   91  nail observational testing; nutrition counseling; nutrition
   92  education; nutritional substances, such as amino acids, vitamins
   93  and minerals, and nutritional IV therapies, only if ordered in
   94  cooperation with a licensed physician; phytotherapy; plant
   95  substances; sanitation; spiritual healing; and animal
   96  organotherapy not scheduled under chapter 893 psychological,
   97  mechanical, and material health sciences to aid in purifying,
   98  cleansing, and normalizing human tissues for the preservation or
   99  restoration of health, according to the fundamental principles
  100  of anatomy, physiology, and applied psychology, as may be
  101  required. Naturopathic practice employs, among other agencies,
  102  phytotherapy, dietetics, psychotherapy, suggestotherapy,
  103  hydrotherapy, zone therapy, biochemistry, external applications,
  104  electrotherapy, mechanotherapy, mechanical and electrical
  105  appliances, hygiene, first aid, sanitation, and heliotherapy;
  106  provided, however, that nothing in this chapter shall be held or
  107  construed to authorize any naturopathic physician licensed
  108  hereunder to practice materia medica or surgery or chiropractic
  109  medicine, nor shall the provisions of this law in any manner
  110  apply to or affect the practice of osteopathic medicine,
  111  chiropractic medicine, Christian Science, or any other treatment
  112  authorized and provided for by law for the cure or prevention of
  113  disease and ailments.
  114         (2) “Department” means the Department of Health.
  115         Section 4. Section 462.023, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  116         Section 5. Section 462.002, Florida Statutes, is created to
  117  read:
  118         462.002Board of Naturopathy.—
  119         (1) There is created within the department the Board of
  120  Naturopathy.
  121         (2) The board shall be composed of seven members appointed
  122  by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Four members must
  123  be naturopaths licensed under this chapter; one member must be a
  124  physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459; one member
  125  must be a chiropractic physician licensed under chapter 460; and
  126  one member must be a pharmacist licensed under chapter 465.
  127         (3) Members shall serve 4-year terms. Members may serve for
  128  no more than 8 consecutive years and no more than 12 years in
  129  total. After serving 8 consecutive years, a member is eligible
  130  for reappointment for one additional 4-year term after 1
  131  calendar year has passed since the date of the end of the last
  132  term served.
  133         (4) As the terms of the members expire, the Governor shall
  134  appoint successors for terms of 4 years, and such members shall
  135  serve until their successors are appointed.
  136         (5) All applicable provisions of chapter 456 relating to
  137  activities of regulatory boards shall apply.
  138         Section 6. The first naturopath members appointed to the
  139  Board of Naturopathy under s. 462.002, Florida Statutes, as
  140  created by this act, must meet all qualifications to obtain a
  141  license pursuant to s. 462.004, Florida Statutes.
  142         Section 7. Section 462.003, Florida Statutes, is created to
  143  read:
  144         462.003Rulemaking authority.—The board has authority to
  145  adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement
  146  the provisions of this chapter conferring duties upon it. Such
  147  rules include, but are not limited to, rules relating to
  148  licensure requirements, standards of practice, and continuing
  149  education.
  150         Section 8. Section 462.004, Florida Statutes, is created to
  151  read:
  152         462.004Licensure requirements; licensure by endorsement.—
  153         (1) Any person desiring to be a licensed naturopath under
  154  this chapter must apply to the department, submit to background
  155  screening in accordance with s. 456.0135, and submit proof to
  156  the department that she or he meets all of the following
  157  criteria:
  158         (a)Is at least 21 years of age.
  159         (b)Has obtained professional liability insurance.
  160         (c)Has obtained first aid and cardiopulmonary
  161  resuscitation certifications.
  162         (d)Holds one or more of the following qualifications:
  163         1.Board certification in naturopathy from the American
  164  Naturopathic Medical Certification Board.
  165         2.Successful passage of the Naturopathic Doctors Licensing
  166  Exam from the National Board of Naturopathic Examiners.
  167         3.Successful passage of the Naturopathic Physicians
  168  Licensing Examinations from the North American Board of
  169  Naturopathic Examiners.
  170         (2)The department shall issue a license by endorsement to
  171  any applicant who, upon applying to the department, demonstrates
  172  that she or he meets the requirements for licensure by
  173  endorsement under s. 456.0145.
  174         Section 9. Section 462.08, Florida Statutes, is renumbered
  175  as section 462.005, Florida Statutes, and reenacted and amended,
  176  to read:
  177         462.005 462.08 Renewal of license to practice naturopathy.
  178  Each licenseholder shall biennially renew her or his license to
  179  practice naturopathy. As a condition for licensure renewal, an
  180  applicant must maintain professional liability coverage and
  181  certifications in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  182  and comply with the continuing education requirements of s.
  183  462.18. The department shall renew a license upon receipt of a
  184  renewal application and proof of compliance with the
  185  requirements of this section The applicant must furnish to the
  186  department such evidence as it requires of the applicant’s
  187  compliance with s. 462.18, relating to educational requirements.
  188  The biennial renewal fee, the amount of which shall be
  189  determined by the department but which may not exceed $1,000,
  190  must be paid at the time the application for renewal of the
  191  license is filed.
  192         Section 10. Section 462.006, Florida Statutes, is created
  193  to read:
  194         462.006 Titles.—
  195         (1)Naturopaths licensed under this chapter may use any of
  196  the following titles or abbreviations: “naturopath,”
  197  “traditional naturopath,” “naturopathic practitioner,” “licensed
  198  naturopath,” “L.N.,” or “N.D.”
  199         (2)Naturopaths licensed under this chapter may not use any
  200  of the following titles: “naturopathic medical doctor” or
  201  “naturopathic physician.”
  202         Section 11. Section 462.007, Florida Statutes, is created
  203  to read:
  204         462.007 Scope of practice; prescriptive authority.—
  205         (1)This chapter does not authorize a licensed naturopath
  206  to engage in or perform any of the following:
  207         (a)Acupuncture.
  208         (b)Electroacupuncture.
  209         (c)Emergency medicine.
  210         (d)Endoscopies.
  211         (e)Injections, including injections with the use of
  212  syringes.
  213         (f)Local anesthesia.
  214         (g)Physiological function tests requiring infusion,
  215  injection, inhalation, or ingestion of medications to perform
  216  the test.
  217         (h)Practice or claim to practice medicine, surgery,
  218  osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, chiropractic
  219  medicine, or physical therapy.
  220         (i)Surgery and surgical procedures.
  221         (2)A licensed naturopath may prescribe, dispense, and
  222  administer non-legend nutritional products, including, but not
  223  limited to, all of the following:
  224         (a)Essential and nonessential amino acids, such as lysine,
  225  glutamine, and tryptophan.
  226         (b)Electrolytes and hydration products, such as oral
  227  rehydration salts and electrolyte powders.
  228         (c)Enzymes, including digestive enzymes such as amylase,
  229  protease, lipase, bromelain, and papain.
  230         (d)Fatty acids, such as omega-3s, omega-6s, and medium
  231  chain triglycerides.
  232         (e)Herbal and botanical substances, such as echinacea,
  233  ginseng, green tea extract, milk thistle, and turmeric.
  234         (f)Minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium,
  235  selenium, and zinc.
  236         (g)Nutraceuticals and specialty compounds, such as alpha
  237  lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, glucosamine, chondroitin, and L
  238  carnitine.
  239         (h)Other non-legend nutritional substances, such as
  240  collagen peptides, fiber supplements, and natural antioxidants.
  241         (i)Probiotics and prebiotics, such as bifidobacterium,
  242  fructooligosaccharides, inulin, and lactobacillus.
  243         (j)Protein and meal supplements, such as casein, plant
  244  based proteins, and whey protein.
  245         (k)Vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin B-complex, vitamin
  246  C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K.
  247         (3)This chapter does not authorize a licensed naturopath
  248  to prescribe, dispense, and administer controlled and
  249  noncontrolled legend drugs, including, but not limited to, any
  250  of the following:
  251         (a)Antibiotics.
  252         (b)Antidiabetics.
  253         (c)Antihypertensives.
  254         (d)Antivirals.
  255         (e)Barrier devices for contraception or abortion.
  256         (f)Biologics.
  257         (g)Botulinum toxin.
  258         (h)Corticosteroids, including inhaled corticosteroids.
  259         (i)Herbal substances containing CBD and THC compounds.
  260         (j)Hormonal therapies.
  261         (k)Lipid-lowering agents.
  262         (l)Local anesthesia.
  263         (m)Nonopioid pain medications.
  264         (n)Ophthalmic or oral inhalation drugs in aqueous format.
  265         (o)Proton pump inhibitors.
  266         (p)Thyroid hormones.
  267         (q)Vaccinations.
  268         (r)Any controlled substance on Schedules I–V of s. 893.03.
  269         (s)Any other controlled substance or legend drug not used
  270  for the practice of naturopathy.
  271         Section 12. Section 462.008, Florida Statutes, is created
  272  to read:
  273         462.008 Infection control.—The board may adopt rules
  274  relating to the prevention of infection, safe disposal of any
  275  potentially infectious materials, and other requirements to
  276  protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
  277         Section 13. Section 462.09, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  278         Section 14. Section 462.11, Florida Statutes, is reenacted
  279  and amended to read:
  280         462.11 Naturopaths to observe regulations.—Naturopaths
  281  licensed under this chapter Doctors of naturopathy shall observe
  282  and are be subject to all state, county, and municipal
  283  regulations in regard to the control of contagious and
  284  infectious diseases, the reporting of births and deaths, and to
  285  any and all other matters pertaining to the public health in the
  286  same manner as is required of other practitioners of the healing
  287  art.
  288         Section 15. Section 462.13, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  289         Section 16. Section 462.14, Florida Statutes, is reenacted
  290  and amended to read:
  291         462.14 Grounds for disciplinary action; action by the
  292  department.—
  293         (1) The following acts constitute grounds for denial of a
  294  license or disciplinary action, as specified in s. 456.072(2):
  295         (a) Attempting to obtain, obtaining, or renewing a license
  296  to practice naturopathy naturopathic medicine by bribery, by
  297  fraudulent misrepresentation, or through an error of the
  298  department.
  299         (b) Having a license to practice naturopathy naturopathic
  300  medicine revoked, suspended, or otherwise acted against,
  301  including the denial of licensure, by the licensing authority of
  302  another state, territory, or country.
  303         (c) Being convicted or found guilty, regardless of
  304  adjudication, of a crime in any jurisdiction which directly
  305  relates to the practice of naturopathy naturopathic medicine or
  306  to the ability to practice naturopathy naturopathic medicine.
  307  Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for
  308  purposes of this chapter.
  309         (d) False, deceptive, or misleading advertising.
  310         (e) Advertising, practicing, or attempting to practice
  311  under a name other than one’s own.
  312         (f) Failing to report to the department any person who the
  313  licensee knows is in violation of this chapter or of the rules
  314  of the department. However, a person who the licensee knows is
  315  unable to practice naturopathy naturopathic medicine with
  316  reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or
  317  use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any other type
  318  of material, or as a result of a mental or physical condition,
  319  may be reported to a consultant operating an impaired
  320  practitioner program as described in s. 456.076 rather than to
  321  the department.
  322         (g) Aiding, assisting, procuring, or advising any
  323  unlicensed person to practice naturopathy naturopathic medicine
  324  contrary to this chapter or to a rule of the department.
  325         (h) Failing to perform any statutory or legal obligation
  326  placed upon a licensed naturopath naturopathic physician.
  327         (i) Making or filing a report that which the licensee knows
  328  to be false, intentionally or negligently failing to file a
  329  report or record required by state or federal law, willfully
  330  impeding or obstructing such filing or inducing another person
  331  to do so. Such reports or records shall include only those which
  332  are signed in the capacity as a licensed naturopath naturopathic
  333  physician.
  334         (j) Paying or receiving any commission, bonus, kickback, or
  335  rebate, or engaging in any split-fee arrangement in any form
  336  whatsoever with a physician, organization, agency, or person,
  337  either directly or indirectly, for patients referred to
  338  providers of health care goods and services, including, but not
  339  limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, clinical laboratories,
  340  ambulatory surgical centers, or pharmacies. The provisions of
  341  This paragraph may shall not be construed to prevent a
  342  naturopath naturopathic physician from receiving a fee for
  343  professional consultation services.
  344         (k) Exercising influence within a patient-naturopath
  345  patient-physician relationship for purposes of engaging a
  346  patient in sexual activity. A patient is shall be presumed to be
  347  incapable of giving free, full, and informed consent to sexual
  348  activity with her or his naturopath physician.
  349         (l) Making deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations
  350  in the practice of naturopathy naturopathic medicine or
  351  employing a trick or scheme in the practice of naturopathy
  352  naturopathic medicine when such scheme or trick fails to conform
  353  to the generally prevailing standards of treatment in the
  354  medical community.
  355         (m) Soliciting patients, either personally or through an
  356  agent, through the use of fraud, intimidation, undue influence,
  357  or a form of overreaching or vexatious conduct. A “solicitation”
  358  is any communication which directly or implicitly requests an
  359  immediate oral response from the recipient.
  360         (n) Failing to keep written medical records justifying the
  361  course of treatment of the patient, including, but not limited
  362  to, patient histories, examination results, test results, X
  363  rays, and records of the prescribing, dispensing and
  364  administering of non-legend drugs.
  365         (o) Exercising influence on the patient or client in such a
  366  manner as to exploit the patient or client for the financial
  367  gain of the licensee or of a third party, which shall include,
  368  but not be limited to, the promoting or selling of services,
  369  goods, appliances, or non-legend drugs and the promoting or
  370  advertising on any prescription form of a community pharmacy
  371  unless the form also states “This prescription may be filled at
  372  any pharmacy of your choice.”
  373         (p) Performing professional services that which have not
  374  been duly authorized by the patient or client, or her or his
  375  legal representative, except as provided in s. 743.064, s.
  376  766.103, or s. 768.13.
  377         (q) Prescribing, dispensing, administering, mixing, or
  378  otherwise preparing a non-legend legend drug, including any
  379  controlled substance, other than in the course of the
  380  naturopath’s naturopathic physician’s professional practice. For
  381  the purposes of this paragraph, it shall be legally presumed
  382  that prescribing, dispensing, administering, mixing, or
  383  otherwise preparing non-legend legend drugs, including all
  384  controlled substances, inappropriately or in excessive or
  385  inappropriate quantities is not in the best interest of the
  386  patient and is not in the course of the naturopath’s
  387  naturopathic physician’s professional practice, without regard
  388  to her or his intent.
  389         (r) Prescribing, dispensing, or administering any medicinal
  390  drug appearing on any schedule set forth in chapter 893 by the
  391  naturopath naturopathic physician to herself or himself, except
  392  one prescribed, dispensed, or administered to the naturopath
  393  naturopathic physician by another practitioner authorized to
  394  prescribe, dispense, or administer medicinal drugs.
  395         (s) Being unable to practice naturopathy naturopathic
  396  medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason
  397  of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or
  398  any other type of material or as a result of any mental or
  399  physical condition. In enforcing this paragraph, the department
  400  shall have, upon probable cause, authority to compel a
  401  naturopath naturopathic physician to submit to a mental or
  402  physical examination by physicians designated by the department.
  403  The failure of a naturopath naturopathic physician to submit to
  404  such an examination when so directed shall constitute an
  405  admission of the allegations against her or him upon which a
  406  default and final order may be entered without the taking of
  407  testimony or presentation of evidence, unless the failure was
  408  due to circumstances beyond the naturopath’s naturopathic
  409  physician’s control. A naturopath naturopathic physician
  410  affected under this paragraph shall at reasonable intervals be
  411  afforded an opportunity to demonstrate that she or he can resume
  412  the competent practice of naturopathy naturopathic medicine with
  413  reasonable skill and safety to patients. In any proceeding under
  414  this paragraph, neither the record of proceedings nor the orders
  415  entered by the department may be used against a naturopath
  416  naturopathic physician in any other proceeding.
  417         (t) Gross or repeated malpractice or the failure to
  418  practice naturopathy naturopathic medicine with that level of
  419  care, skill, and treatment which is recognized by a reasonably
  420  prudent similar naturopath physician as being acceptable under
  421  similar conditions and circumstances. The department shall give
  422  great weight to the provisions of s. 766.102 when enforcing this
  423  paragraph.
  424         (u) Performing any procedure or prescribing any therapy
  425  which, by the prevailing standards of medical practice in the
  426  community, constitutes experimentation on a human subject,
  427  without first obtaining full, informed, and written consent.
  428         (v) Practicing or offering to practice beyond the scope
  429  permitted by law or accepting and performing professional
  430  responsibilities that which the licensee knows or has reason to
  431  know that she or he is not competent to perform.
  432         (w) Delegating professional responsibilities to a person
  433  when the licensee delegating such responsibilities knows or has
  434  reason to know that such person is not qualified by training,
  435  experience, or licensure to perform them.
  436         (x) Violating a lawful order of the department previously
  437  entered in a disciplinary hearing or failing to comply with a
  438  lawfully issued subpoena of the department.
  439         (y) Conspiring with another licensee or with any other
  440  person to commit an act, or committing an act, that which would
  441  tend to coerce, intimidate, or preclude another licensee from
  442  lawfully advertising her or his services.
  443         (z) Procuring, or aiding or abetting in the procuring of,
  444  an unlawful termination of pregnancy.
  445         (aa) Presigning blank prescription forms.
  446         (bb) Prescribing by the naturopath naturopathic physician
  447  for office use any medicinal drug appearing on Schedule II in
  448  chapter 893.
  449         (cc) Prescribing, ordering, dispensing, administering,
  450  supplying, selling, or giving any drug that which is an
  451  amphetamine or sympathomimetic amine drug, or a compound
  452  designated pursuant to chapter 893 as a Schedule II controlled
  453  substance to or for any person except for:
  454         1. The treatment of narcolepsy; hyperkinesis; behavioral
  455  syndrome in children characterized by the developmentally
  456  inappropriate symptoms of moderate to severe distractability,
  457  short attention span, hyperactivity, emotional lability, and
  458  impulsivity; or drug-induced brain dysfunction.
  459         2. The differential diagnostic psychiatric evaluation of
  460  depression or the treatment of depression shown to be refractory
  461  to other therapeutic modalities.
  462         3. The clinical investigation of the effects of such drugs
  463  or compounds when an investigative protocol therefor is
  464  submitted to, reviewed, and approved by the department before
  465  such investigation is begun.
  466         (dd) Prescribing, ordering, dispensing, administering,
  467  supplying, selling, or giving growth hormones, testosterone or
  468  its analogs, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), or other
  469  hormones for the purpose of muscle building or to enhance
  470  athletic performance. For the purposes of this subsection, the
  471  term “muscle building” does not include the treatment of injured
  472  muscle. A prescription written for the drug products listed
  473  above may be dispensed by the pharmacist with the presumption
  474  that the prescription is for legitimate medical use.
  475         (ee) Violating any provision of this chapter or chapter
  476  456, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto.
  477         (2) The board department may enter an order denying
  478  licensure or imposing any of the penalties in s. 456.072(2)
  479  against any applicant for licensure or licensee who is found
  480  guilty of violating any provision of subsection (1) of this
  481  section or who is found guilty of violating any provision of s.
  482  456.072(1).
  483         (3) The board department shall not reinstate the license of
  484  a naturopath naturopathic physician until such time as the board
  485  department is satisfied that such person has complied with all
  486  the terms and conditions set forth in the final order and that
  487  such person is capable of safely engaging in the practice of
  488  naturopathy naturopathic medicine.
  489         (4) The board department shall by rule establish guidelines
  490  for the disposition of disciplinary cases involving specific
  491  types of violations. Such guidelines may include minimum and
  492  maximum fines, periods of supervision or probation, or
  493  conditions of probation or reissuance of a license.
  494         Section 17. Section 462.16, Florida Statutes, is reenacted
  495  and amended to read:
  496         462.16 Reissue of license.—Any person who practices shall
  497  practice naturopathy after her or his license has been revoked
  498  is and registration annulled shall be deemed to have practiced
  499  naturopathy without a license.; provided, However, at any time
  500  after 6 months after the date of such revocation said
  501  conviction, the department may grant a license to the person
  502  affected, restoring to her or him all the rights and privileges
  503  of and pertaining to the practice of naturopathy as defined and
  504  regulated by this chapter. The fee therefor shall not exceed
  505  $250.
  506         Section 18. Section 462.17, Florida Statutes, is reenacted
  507  and amended to read:
  508         462.17 Penalty for offenses relating to naturopathy.—A
  509  person who engages in any of the following acts commits a felony
  510  of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
  511  775.083, or s. 775.084 Any person who shall:
  512         (1) Sells Sell, fraudulently obtains obtain, or furnishes
  513  furnish any naturopathic diploma, license, record, or
  514  registration or aids aid or abets abet in the same.;
  515         (2) Practices Practice naturopathy under the cover of any
  516  diploma, license, record, or registration illegally or
  517  fraudulently obtained or secured or issued unlawfully or upon
  518  fraudulent representations.;
  519         (3) Advertises Advertise to practice naturopathy under a
  520  name other than her or his own or under an assumed name.;
  521         (4) Falsely impersonates impersonate another practitioner
  522  of a like or different name.;
  523         (5) Practices Practice or advertises advertise to practice
  524  naturopathy or uses use in connection with her or his name any
  525  designation tending to imply or to designate the person as a
  526  practitioner of naturopathy without then being lawfully licensed
  527  and authorized to practice naturopathy in this state.; or
  528         (6) Practices Practice naturopathy during the time her or
  529  his license is suspended or revoked
  530  
  531  shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as
  532  provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  533         Section 19. Section 462.18, Florida Statutes, is reenacted
  534  and amended to read:
  535         462.18 Continuing education Educational requirements.—
  536         (1) At the time each licensee shall renew her or his
  537  license as otherwise provided in this chapter, each licensee, in
  538  addition to the payment of the regular renewal fee, shall
  539  furnish to the board department satisfactory evidence that, in
  540  the year preceding each such application for renewal, the
  541  licensee has completed 25 hours of continuing education in
  542  naturopathy and medical nutrition therapy, and attended the 2
  543  day educational program as promulgated and conducted by the
  544  Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association, Inc., or an, as a
  545  substitute therefor, the equivalent of that program as approved
  546  by the board department. The department shall send a written
  547  notice to this effect to every person holding a valid license to
  548  practice naturopathy within this state at least 30 days before
  549  prior to May 1 in each even-numbered year, directed to the last
  550  known address of such licensee, and shall enclose with the
  551  notice proper blank forms for application for annual license
  552  renewal. All of the details and requirements of the aforesaid
  553  educational program shall be adopted and prescribed by the
  554  department. In the event of national emergencies, or for
  555  sufficient reason, the department shall have the power to excuse
  556  the naturopaths naturopathic physicians as a group or as
  557  individuals from taking this postgraduate course.
  558         (2) The determination of whether a substitute annual
  559  educational program is necessary shall be solely within the
  560  discretion of the department.
  561         Section 20. Section 462.19, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  562  read:
  563         462.19 Renewal of license; Inactive status.—
  564         (1) The department shall renew a license upon receipt of
  565  the renewal application and fee.
  566         (2) A licensee may request that her or his license be
  567  placed in an inactive status by making application to the
  568  department and paying a fee in an amount set by the department
  569  not to exceed $50.
  570         Section 21. Section 462.2001, Florida Statutes, is
  571  reenacted to read:
  572         462.2001 Saving clause.—All licenses to practice
  573  naturopathy issued pursuant to this chapter and valid on October
  574  1, 1985, shall remain in full force and effect.
  575         Section 22. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.