H 7836

2026 -- H 7836
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LC005256
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  STATE  OF  RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- BARBERS, HAIRDRESSERS,
  COSMETICIANS, MANICURISTS, AND ESTHETICIANS
  Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, Alzate, Cruz, Donovan, and Morales
  Date Introduced: February 27, 2026
  Referred To: House Corporations
  (Dept. of Health)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Section 5-10-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-10 entitled "Barbers,
2 Hairdressers, Cosmeticians, Manicurists and Estheticians" is hereby amended to read as follows:
35-10-10. Application form — Fee — Expiration and renewal of licenses — Fees.
4(a) Applications for licenses under § 5-10-9 shall be made upon any forms that are
5 prescribed by the division and are accompanied by an application fee established in regulation. The
6 license of every person licensed under §§ 5-10-8 and 5-10-9 shall expire on the thirtieth (30th) day
7 of October of every other year following the date of license. This is determined on an odd-even
8 basis. On or before the first day of September of every year, the administrator of professional
9 regulation shall mail an application for send notification of the renewal of license to persons those
10 scheduled to be licensed that year on an odd or even basis as to the license number. Every person
11 who wishes to renew his or her license must file with the administrator of professional regulation
12 a renewal application duly executed together with the renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54.
13 Applications, accompanied by the fee for renewal, shall be filed with the division on or before the
14 fifteenth (15th) day of October in each renewal year. Upon receipt of the application and fee, the
15 administrator of professional regulation shall grant a renewal license effective October 1 and
16 expiring two (2) years later on September 30.
17(b) Every person who fails to renew his or her their license on or before September 30
18 following the date of issuance as provided in subsection (a) of this section may be reinstated by the
1 division upon payment of the current renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54.
2(c) The license shall be on the person at all times while performing the services for which
3 they are licensed.
4SECTION 2. Section 5-25-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-25 entitled "Veterinary
5 Practice" is hereby amended to read as follows:
65-25-12. Expiration and renewal of licenses.
7(a) The certificate of every person licensed as a veterinarian under the provisions of this
8 chapter expires on the first day of May of each even-numbered year. On or before the first day of
9 March of each two-year (2) period, the department shall mail an application send a reminder for
10 renewal of license to every person to whom a license has been issued or renewed during the current
11 licensure period. Every person so licensed who desires to renew his or her their license shall file
12 with the department a renewal application duly executed together with a renewal fee as set forth in
13 § 23-1-54 on or before the thirty-first first day of March May of each even-numbered year.
14(b) Upon receipt of an application, and payment of the renewal fee, the department shall
15 grant a renewal license effective the second day of May, and expiring on the first day of May of
16 the next even-numbered year.
17(c) Any person who allows his or her their license to lapse by failing to renew it on or
18 before the thirty-first first day of March May of the next even-numbered year, as provided in
19 subsection (a), may be reinstated by the department on payment of the current renewal fee plus an
20 additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54.
21(d) Any person using the title “veterinarian” during the time that his or her their license has
22 lapsed is subject to the penalties provided for violations of this chapter.
23(e) Every veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine within the state shall, in
24 connection with renewal of licensure, provide satisfactory evidence to the department that in the
25 preceding two-year period the veterinarian has completed a prescribed course of continuing
26 professional education established by an appropriate professional veterinary medicine association
27 and approved by rule or regulation of the department. The department may extend for only one six-
28 month (6) period, these education requirements if the department is satisfied that the applicant has
29 suffered hardship which prevented meeting the educational requirement.
30SECTION 3. Section 5-30-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-30 entitled "Chiropractic
31 Physicians" is hereby amended to read as follows:
325-30-12. Annual registration — Payment of fees.
33Annually, during the month of October in each year, every person granted a certificate to
34 practice chiropractic medicine shall register his or her their name, address, and place of business
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1 with the division of professional regulation of the department of health. The division shall keep a
2 book for that purpose record, and each person registering shall pay a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54
3 and shall receive a certificate of registration for the next succeeding fiscal year, unless the certificate
4 of practice has been suspended or revoked for cause, as provided in § 5-30-13. All fees for
5 examination, for certificate of exemption from examination, and for annual registration shall be
6 deposited as general revenues.
7SECTION 4. Sections 5-31.1-7 and 5-31.1-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-31.1
8 entitled "Dentists and Dental Hygienists" are hereby amended to read as follows:
95-31.1-7. Recertification — Continuing dental education.
10(a) Effective beginning in the calendar year 2006, every Every dentist, dental hygienist, or
11 DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant licensed to practice within this state, on or
12 before the first day of May thirtieth of June in each even numbered year, shall apply to the Rhode
13 Island board of examiners in dentistry for a biennial license with the board. The applicant shall
14 include satisfactory evidence to the board of examiners in dentistry that, in the preceding two years,
15 the practitioner has completed a prescribed course of continuing dental or dental hygiene education
16 established by the appropriate dental or dental hygiene association and approved by rule or
17 regulation of the director or by the board of examiners in dentistry. If the applicant submits
18 satisfactory evidence to the board that he or she has completed a prescribed course of continuing
19 dental education, dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting education
20 and has complied with the provisions of § 5-31.1-6, the board shall issue the applicant a license
21 registration for a two-year (2) period commencing on July 1. The board may extend for only one
22 six-month (6) period those educational requirements if the board is satisfied that the applicant has
23 suffered hardship that prevented meeting the educational requirement. No license to practice
24 dentistry or dental hygiene in this state shall be refused, nor any license suspended or revoked,
25 except as:
26(1) Provided for in this chapter; and
27(2) For failure to provide satisfactory evidence of continuing dental, dental hygiene, or
28 DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting education as provided for in this section.
29(b) Licensees shall apply for recertification by submitting evidence of continuing dental,
30 dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting education on a biennial basis.
31 Application for biennial registration shall continue as provided in this section and § 5-31.1-21.
325-31.1-21. Biennial registration.
33(a) Effective beginning in the calendar year 2006, on On or before the first day of May in
34 each even-numbered year, the board shall mail send an application for biennial registration to every
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1 person to whom a license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial
2 surgery assisting in this state has been granted by the constituted licensing authority in the state.
3 Every licensed person who intends to engage in the practice of his or her profession during the
4 ensuing two (2) years shall register his or her their license by filing with the board that application,
5 executed together with any registration form and fee that is established by regulation by the director,
6 on or before the first day of June in each even-numbered year. Upon receipt of that application and
7 fee, the board shall issue a registration certificate, effective by July 1 and expiring two (2) years
8 following June 30, and that registration certificate shall render its holder a registered practitioner
9 of dentistry or dental hygiene for that registration period.
10(b) The registration certificate of all dentists, dental hygienists, or DAANCE-certified
11 maxillofacial surgery assistants whose renewals, accompanied by the prescribed fee, are not filed
12 on or before the first day of July automatically expire. The board may, in its discretion and upon
13 the payment by the dentist, dental hygienist, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant
14 of the current registration fee, plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54, reinstate any
15 certificate expired under the provisions of this section. All unexpended monies in the account of
16 the board of dentistry are transferred to the new board of dentistry as created by this chapter as of
17 June 2, 1988.
18(c) Dentists, dental hygienists, and DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistants not
19 intending to practice in this state may request, on a biennial basis, to be placed on inactive status.
20 Those requests must be made, in writing, to the dental administrator and must be accompanied by
21 fees as set forth in § 23-1-54. Persons on inactive status may be reinstated by paying the current,
22 annual-registration fee and must meet any requirements established by this chapter and as are
23 further prescribed by the rules and regulations.
24SECTION 5. Section 5-33.2-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-33.2 entitled "Funeral
25 Director/Embalmer and Funeral Service Establishments" is hereby amended to read as follows:
265-33.2-15. Annual renewal of licenses.
27All licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter must be renewed annually by their
28 holders, who shall pay to the division a yearly renewal fee for the renewal of a funeral
29 director/embalmer’s license, and additional fees for each funeral-establishment branch office
30 license and for the crematory license. These fees are as set forth in § 23-1-54. On or before the
31 fifteenth day of November in each year, the division shall mail send to each licensed funeral
32 director/embalmer and to each licensed funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch office,
33 and crematory an application for the renewal. Applications, accompanied by the fee for renewal,
34 shall be filed with the division on or before the thirty-first day of December in each year.
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1 Applications filed after the thirty-first of December and on or before the fifteenth of January must
2 be accompanied by a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 for funeral director/embalmers and funeral
3 establishments in addition to the previously established renewal fees. Any funeral
4 director/embalmer who acts or holds himself or herself themselves out as a funeral
5 director/embalmer after his or her their certificate has been lapsed shall be punished as provided in
6 this chapter. Any funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch office, or crematory that acts
7 or holds itself out as a funeral establishment after its license has lapsed shall be punished as
8 provided in this chapter.
9SECTION 6. Section 5-34-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-34 entitled "Nurses" is
10 hereby amended to read as follows:
115-34-19. Expiration and renewal of licenses.
12(a) The license of every person licensed under this chapter shall expire on the first day of
13 March of every other year following the date of license. On or before the first day of January of
14 every year, the director shall mail an application send a reminder for renewal of license to persons
15 scheduled to be licensed that year. Every person who wishes to renew his or her their license shall
16 file with the department a duly executed renewal application together with the renewal fee as set
17 forth in § 23-1-54.
18(b) Upon receipt of an application accompanied by payment of fees, the department shall
19 grant a renewal license effective March second and expiring two (2) years later on March first, and
20 that renewal license shall render the holder a legal practitioner of nursing for the period stated on
21 the certificate of renewal. Every person seeking renewal of a license pursuant to this section shall
22 provide satisfactory evidence to the department that in the preceding two (2) years the practitioner
23 has completed the ten (10) required continuing education hours as established by the department
24 through rules and regulations. The department may extend for only one six-month (6) period these
25 educational requirements if the department is satisfied that the applicant has suffered hardship that
26 prevented meeting the educational requirement.
27(c) Any person practicing nursing during the time his or her their license has lapsed shall
28 be considered an illegal practitioner and is subject to the penalties provided for violation of this
29 chapter.
30(d) A licensee whose license has expired by failure to renew may apply for reinstatement
31 according to the rules established by the board. Upon satisfaction of the requirements for
32 reinstatement, the board shall issue a renewal of license.
33SECTION 7. Section 5-37-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-37 entitled "Board of
34 Medical Licensure and Discipline" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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15-37-10. Biannual registration, physicians — Annual registration, hospitals.
2(a) Effective beginning in calendar year 2004, on or before the first day of March in each
3 year, the board shall mail an application send a reminder for biannual registration to every person
4 to whom a license to practice medicine in this state has been granted by the licensing authority in
5 the state. Every licensed person who intends to engage in the practice of his or her their profession
6 during the ensuing two-year (2) period shall register his or her their license by submitting to the
7 board, on or before June 1, the application, executed together with the registration form, and fee as
8 established by regulation by the director of the department of health. Upon receipt of the application
9 and fee, the board shall issue a registration certificate effective July 1 and expiring two (2) years
10 following on June 30. The registration certificate renders the holder a registered practitioner of
11 medicine for that registration period. Effective beginning in calendar year 2004, any references in
12 this chapter to annual registration or annual limited registration shall be interpreted to mean
13 biannual registration and biannual limited registration, respectively.
14(b) The registration certificate of all physicians whose renewals accompanied by the
15 prescribed fee are not completed and filed on or before the first day of July shall automatically
16 lapse. The board may, in its discretion and upon the payment by the physician of the current
17 registration fee plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54, reinstate any certificate lapsed under
18 the provisions of this section.
19(c) Hospitals shall, on or before the first day of December of each year, submit an
20 application and annual fee to the board as a condition of rendering hospital services in the state.
21 The form of application and fee shall be as the director, by regulation, establishes; provided, that
22 the ratio of payment between hospital per-bed licensing fees and the combined licensing and board
23 of medical licensure and discipline fees paid by physicians remain the same as the ratio that existed
24 as of January 1, 1987. All fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited as general
25 revenues.
26SECTION 8. Section 5-40-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-40 entitled "Physical
27 Therapists" is hereby amended to read as follows:
285-40-10. Continuing education requirements and expiration and renewal of licenses.
29(a) The certificate of every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire
30 on the first day of May of the next even year following the date of original licensure. On or before
31 the first day of March of each year, the department shall mail an application send a reminder for
32 renewal of license to every person to whom a license has been issued or renewed during the current
33 licensure period. Every licensed person who desires to renew his or her their license shall provide
34 satisfactory evidence to the department that in the preceding two (2) years the practitioner has
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1 completed the twenty-four (24) required continuing education hours as established by the
2 department through rules and regulations and shall file with the department a renewal application
3 executed together with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 on or before the thirty-first day of
4 March of each even year. The department may extend for only one six-month (6) period these
5 educational requirements if the department is satisfied that the applicant has suffered hardship that
6 prevented meeting the educational requirement.
7(b) Upon receipt of the renewal application, and payment of the renewal fee, the accuracy
8 of the application shall be verified and the department shall grant a renewal license effective the
9 second day of May, and expiring on the first day of May of the next even year.
10(c) Any person who allows his or her their license to lapse by failing to renew it on or
11 before the thirty-first day of March of the next even year, as provided in this section, may be
12 reinstated by the department on payment of the current renewal fee plus an additional fee as set
13 forth in § 23-1-54.
14(d) Any person using the title “physical therapist” or “physical therapist assistant” during
15 the time that his or her their license has lapsed is subject to the penalties provided for violations in
16 this chapter.
17SECTION 9. Section 5-40.1-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-40.1 entitled
18 "Occupational Therapy" is hereby amended to read as follows:
195-40.1-12. Renewal of licenses — Inactive status.
20(a) Upon the recommendation of the board, the director shall issue to applicants who have
21 satisfactorily met the licensure requirements of this chapter, a license to practice occupational
22 therapy in this state. The license, unless sooner suspended or revoked, shall expire on the thirty-
23 first (31st) day of March, of each even year (biennially).
24(1) On or before the first (1st) day of March of each even year, the administrator of the
25 division shall mail an application send a reminder for renewal of license to every individual to
26 whom a license has been issued or renewed during the current licensure period.
27(2) Every licensed individual who desires to renew his or her their license shall file with
28 the division a renewal application executed together with the evidence of continuing education
29 requirements as delineated in subsection (a)(3) and the renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 made
30 payable by check to the general treasurer, state of Rhode Island, on or before the thirty-first (31st)
31 day of March of each even year.
32(3) On application for renewal of license, occupational therapists and occupational therapy
33 assistants must show proof of participation in twenty (20) hours biennially in presentations, clinical
34 instruction, publications, research, in-service programs, American Occupational Therapy
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1 Association-recognized conferences, university courses, and/or self-study courses.
2(4) Upon receipt of a renewal application and payment of fee, the director shall, upon the
3 recommendation of the board, grant a renewal license effective the thirty-first (31st) day of March
4 for a period of two (2) years, unless sooner suspended or revoked.
5(5) Any individual who allows his or her their license to lapse by failing to renew it on or
6 before the thirty-first (31st) day of March of the next even year as provided in subsections (a)(1),
7 (a)(2), and (a)(3), may be reinstated by the director upon receiving a receipt from the division for
8 payment of the current renewal fee plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 made payable by
9 check to the general treasurer, state of Rhode Island.
10(6) An individual using the title “occupational therapist” or “occupational therapy
11 assistant” during the time his or her their license has lapsed is subject to the penalties provided for
12 violation of those regulations and this chapter.
13(b) An individual licensed as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant in
14 this state who does not intend to engage in the practice of occupational therapy within this state
15 during any year, may upon request to the division, have his or her their name transferred to an
16 inactive status and shall not be required to register biennially or pay any fee as long as he or she
17 they remains remain inactive. Any individual whose name has been transferred to an inactive status
18 pursuant to this section, may be restored to active status to practice occupational therapy without a
19 penalty fee, upon the filing of an application for licensure renewal, the licensure renewal fee as set
20 forth in § 23-1-54 made payable by check to the general treasurer of the state of Rhode Island, and
21 any other information that may be requested by the division.
22SECTION 10. Section 5-44-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-44 entitled
23 "Psychologists" is hereby amended to read as follows:
245-44-15. Expiration and renewal of licenses — Continuing education — Lapsed
25 license.
26(a) The license of every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire
27 on the first day of July of the next even-numbered year following the issuance of his or her their
28 license.
29(b) On or before the first day of May of each even-numbered year, the department shall
30 mail an application send a reminder for renewal of license to every person to whom a license has
31 been issued or renewed during the cycle.
32(c) Every licensed person who desires to renew his or her their license shall file with the
33 department a renewal application, executed, together with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54,
34 on or before the first day of June 30th in each even-numbered year. Upon receipt of a renewal
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1 application and payment of the renewal fee, the accuracy of the application shall be verified and
2 the department may grant a renewal license effective July 1st and expiring the June 30th in each
3 even-numbered year.
4(d) Every licensed psychologist who desires to continue licensure as a licensed
5 psychologist shall present satisfactory evidence to the board and approved by rule or regulation of
6 the board that the licensed psychologist has completed a prescribed course of continuing licensed
7 psychological education.
8(e) Any person who allows his or her their license to lapse, by failing to renew it on or
9 before June 1st 30th in each even-numbered year, as provided in this section, may be reinstated by
10 the department on payment of the current renewal fee, plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-
11 54. Any person using the title “psychologist” or offering services defined as the practice of
12 psychology under this chapter during the time his or her their license has lapsed is subject to the
13 penalties provided for violation of this chapter.
14SECTION 11. Section 5-54-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-54 entitled "Physician
15 Assistants" is hereby amended to read as follows:
165-54-11. Issuance and annual renewal of certificates of licensure.
17(a) The board shall recommend to the director for registration those individuals who meet
18 the criteria for licensure as stated in this chapter. Upon that recommendation, the director shall
19 issue a certificate of licensure as a physician assistant.
20(b) The certificate of licensure shall expire biannually on the thirtieth (30th) day of June.
21 On or before the first day of March in each year, the administrator shall mail an application send a
22 reminder for a renewal certificate to every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter, and
23 every person who desires his or her their certificate to be renewed shall file with the division the
24 renewal application together with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 on or before the first day
25 of June in every other year. Upon receipt of the renewal application and payment of fee, the
26 accuracy of the application shall be verified and the administrator shall grant a renewal certificate
27 effective July 1st and expiring June 30th two years hence, unless the certificate is sooner suspended
28 for cause as provided in § 5-54-12.
29SECTION 12. Section 5-63.2-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-63.2 entitled "Mental
30 Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists" is hereby amended to read as follows:
315-63.2-17. Expiration and renewal of license.
32(a) Every clinical mental health counselor and marriage and family therapist who desires
33 to continue licensure as a licensed clinical mental health counselor and licensed marriage and
34 family therapist shall present satisfactory evidence to the board and approved by rule or regulation
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1 of the board that the licensed clinical mental health counselor and licensed marriage and family
2 therapist has completed a prescribed course of continuing education. The license of every person
3 licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire on the first day of July of the next even
4 year following the date of his or her license their; provided, that no license shall expire prior to July
5 1, 1998. On or before the first day of May in each even year, commencing in the year 1998, the
6 administrator shall mail an send a reminder application for renewal of license to every person to
7 whom a license is issued or renewed during the current year, and every licensed person who desires
8 to renew his or her their license shall file with the division the renewal application executed. This
9 application shall include verification of prescribed continuing education requirements, together
10 with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54, on or before the first day of June in each even year.
11 Upon receipt of the application and payment of the fee, the accuracy of the application shall be
12 verified and the administrator of professional regulation shall grant a renewal license effective July
13 1st and expiring twenty-four (24) months later.
14(b) Any person who allows his or her their license to lapse, by failing to renew it on or
15 before June 1st 30th in each year, as provided in this section, shall be reinstated by the administrator
16 of professional regulation on payment of the current renewal fee plus an additional fee as set forth
17 in § 23-1-54; and verification of prescribed continuing education requirements. Any person using
18 the title “clinical mental health counselor” and/or “marriage and family therapist” during the time
19 his or her their license has lapsed shall be subject to the penalties provided for violation of this
20 chapter; provided, that if a person has allowed his or her their licensure to lapse for four (4) years
21 or more, he or she shall be reinstated at the discretion of the board.
22SECTION 13. Section 5-86-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-86 entitled "Licensing of
23 Applied Behavior Analysts" is hereby amended to read as follows:
245-86-13. Expiration and renewal of licenses — Continuing education — Lapsed
25 license.
26(a) The license of every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire
27 on the first (1st) day of July of the next even-numbered year following the issuance of his or her
28 license.
29(b) On or before the first day of May of each even-numbered year, the department shall
30 mail an application send notification of the for renewal of license to every person to whom a license
31 has been issued or renewed during the cycle.
32(c) Every licensed person who desires to renew his or her their license shall file with the
33 department a renewal application, executed, together with a renewal fee of one hundred and fifty
34 dollars ($150), on or before the first (1st) thirtieth day of June in each even-numbered year. Upon
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1 receipt of a renewal application and payment of the renewal fee, the accuracy of the application
2 shall be verified and the department may grant a renewal license effective July 1st and expiring the
3 June 30th in each even-numbered year.
4(d) Every licensed person who desires to continue licensure as a licensed applied behavior
5 analyst, licensed applied behavior assistant analyst, or psychologist with equivalent experience
6 shall present satisfactory evidence to the board and approved by rule or regulation of the board that
7 the licensed applied behavior analyst, licensed applied behavior assistant analyst, or psychologist
8 with equivalent experience, has completed a prescribed course of continuing applied behavior
9 analysis education.
10(e) Any person who allows his or her their license to lapse, by failing to renew it on or
11 before June 1st in each even-numbered year, as provided in this section, may be reinstated by the
12 department on payment of the current renewal fee, plus an additional fee of forty dollars ($40.00).
13 Any person using the title licensed applied behavior analyst or licensed applied behavior assistant
14 analyst or psychologist with equivalent experience offering services defined as the practice of
15 behavior analysis under this chapter during the time his or her their license has lapsed is subject to
16 the penalties provided for violation of this chapter.
17SECTION 14. Section 23-74-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-74 entitled "Unlicensed
18 Health Care Practices" is hereby amended to read as follows:
1923-74-1. Definitions and applicability.
20(a) As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
21(1) “Director” or “director of health” means the director of the department of health or the
22 director’s designee;
23(2) “Unlicensed health care client” means an individual who receives services from an
24 unlicensed health care practitioner;
25(3) “Unlicensed health care practices” means the broad domain of unlicensed healing
26 methods and treatments, including, but not limited to: (i) acupressure; (ii) Alexander technique;
27 (iii) aroma therapy; (iv) ayurveda; (v) cranial sacral therapy; (vi) crystal therapy; (vii) detoxification
28 practices and therapies; (viii) energetic healing; (ix) rolfing; (x) Gerson therapy and colostrum
29 therapy; (xi) therapeutic touch; (xii) herbology or herbalism; (xiii) polarity therapy; (xiv)
30 homeopathy; (xv) nondiagnostic iridology; (xvi) body work; (xvii) reiki; (xviii) mind-body healing
31 practices; and (ixx) naturopathy; and (xx) Qi Gong energy healing. “Unlicensed health care
32 practices” do not include surgery, x-ray radiation, prescribing, administering, or dispensing legend
33 drugs and controlled substances, practices that invade the human body by puncture of the skin,
34 setting fractures, any practice included in the practice of dentistry, the manipulation or adjustment
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1 of articulations of joints, or the spine, also known as chiropractic medicine as defined in chapter 30
2 of title 5, the healing art of acupuncture as defined in chapter 37.2 of title 5, or practices that are
3 permitted under § §§ 5-37-15 or § 5-34-31(6), 5-95-3(9) and (11) or any other new or existing
4 licensed scopes of practice within the department of health.
5(4) “Unlicensed health care practitioner” means a person who:
6(i) Is not licensed by a health-related licensing board or the director of health; or holds a
7 license issued by a health-related licensing board or the department of health in this state, but does
8 not hold oneself out to the public as being licensed or registered by the director or a health-related
9 licensing board when engaging in unlicensed health care;
10(ii) Has not had a license issued by a health-related licensing board or the director of health
11 revoked or suspended without reinstatement unless the right to engage in unlicensed health care
12 practices has been established by order of the director of health;
13(iii) Is engaging in unlicensed health care practices; and
14(iv) Is providing unlicensed health care services for remuneration or is holding oneself out
15 to the public as a practitioner of unlicensed health care practices.
16(b) This chapter does not apply to, control, prevent, or restrict the practice, service, or
17 activity of lawfully marketing or distributing food products, including dietary supplements as
18 defined in the federal Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act [see 21 U.S.C. § 321(ff)],
19 educating customers about those products, or explaining the uses of those products. Under Rhode
20 Island law, an unlicensed health care practitioner may not provide a medical diagnosis.
21(c) A health care practitioner, licensed or registered by the director or a health-related
22 licensing board, who engages in unlicensed health care while practicing under the practitioner’s
23 license or registration, shall be regulated by and be under the jurisdiction of the applicable health-
24 related licensing board with regard to the unlicensed health care practices.
25(d) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, persons in Rhode Island are authorized to
26 practice as unlicensed health care practitioners and receive remuneration for their services.
27SECTION 15. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
   RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- BARBERS, HAIRDRESSERS,
  COSMETICIANS, MANICURISTS, AND ESTHETICIANS
  ***
1This act would allow electronic notifications modernize language for notifications,
2 synchronize renewal dates for certain license-types, streamline licensing requirements across
3 several license-types, and update the unlicensed health care practices statute.
4This act would take effect upon passage.
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