Session of 1999
SENATE BILL No. 189
By Committee on Public Health and Welfare
2-1
9 AN ACT concerning the Kansas healing arts act; qualifications for licen-
10 sure by examination; defining accredited schools or colleges of the
11 healing arts; amending K.S.A. 65-2873 and 65-2874 and repealing the
12 existing sections; also repealing K.S.A. 65-2875 and 65-2876.
13
14 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
15 Section 1. K.S.A. 65-2873 is hereby amended to read as follows: 65-
16 2873. (a) Each applicant for a license by examination to practice any
17 branch of the healing arts in this state shall:
18 (1) Present to the board evidence of proficiency in the basic sciences
19 issued by the national board of medical examiners, the board of examiners
20 of osteopathic physicians and surgeons or the national board of chiro-
21 practic examiners or such other examining body as may be approved by
22 the board or in lieu thereof pass such examination as the board may
23 require in the basic science subjects;
24 (2) present proof that the applicant has completed any postsecondary
25 educational requirements established by rules and regulations of the
26 board and is a graduate of an accredited healing arts school or college;
27 and
28 (3) pass an examination prescribed and conducted by the board cov-
29 ering the subjects incident to the practice of the branch of healing art for
30 which the applicant applies.
31 (b) Any person seeking a license to practice medicine and surgery
32 shall present proof that such person has completed acceptable postgrad-
33 uate study as may be required by the board by regulations.
34 (c) The board may authorize an applicant who does not meet the
35 requirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) to take the examination
36 for licensure if the applicant:
37 (1) Has completed three years of postgraduate training as approved
38 by the board;
39 (2) is a graduate of a school which has been in operation for not less
40 than 15 years and the graduates of which have been licensed in another
41 state or states which has standards similar to Kansas; and
42 (3) meets all other requirements for taking the examination for licen-
43 sure of the Kansas healing arts act.
44 (d) In addition to the examination required under paragraph (3) of
45 subsection (a), if the applicant is a foreign medical graduate the applicant
46 shall pass an examination given by the educational commission for foreign
47 medical graduates.
48 (e) No person licensed to practice and actively engaged in the prac-
49 tice of the healing arts shall attach to such person's name any title, or any
50 word or abbreviation indicating that such person is a doctor of any branch
51 of the healing arts other than the branch of the healing arts in which such
52 person holds a license but shall attach to such person's name the degree
53 or degrees to which such person is entitled by reason of such person's
54 diploma.
55 Sec. 2. K.S.A. 65-2874 is hereby amended to read as follows: 65-
56 2874. (a) An accredited school of medicine for the purpose of this act
57 shall be a school or college which requires the study of medicine and
58 surgery in all of its branches, which the board shall determine to have a
59 standard of education substantially equivalent to the university of Kansas
60 school of medicine. All such schools shall be approved by the board.
61 (b) An accredited school of osteopathic medicine and surgery for the
62 purpose of this act shall be a school or college which the board shall
63 determine to meet the July, 1998, standards for accreditation of schools
64 of osteopathic medicine and surgery by the bureau of professional edu-
65 cation of the American osteopathic association. All such schools shall be
66 approved by the board.
67 (c) An accredited school or college of chiropractic for the purpose of
68 this act shall be a school or college which the board shall determine to
69 meet the January, 1998, standards for accreditation of chiropractic pro-
70 grams and institutions by the council on chiropractic education. All such
71 schools shall be approved by the board.
72 (d) The board shall adopt rules and regulations establishing the cri-
73 teria which a school shall satisfy in meeting the standard established under
74 subsection (a), (b) or (c). The criteria shall establish the minimum stan-
75 dards in the following areas:
76 (1) Admission requirements;
77 (2) basic science coursework;
78 (3) clinical coursework;
79 (4) qualification of faculty;
80 (5) ratio of faculty to students;
81 (6) library;
82 (7) clinical facilities;
83 (8) laboratories;
84 (9) equipment;
85 (10) specimens;
86 (11) financial qualifications; and
87 (12) accreditation by independent agency.
88 (c) (e) The board may send a questionnaire developed by the board
89 to any school for which the board does not have sufficient information to
90 determine whether the school meets the requirements of this statute or
91 rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this statute. The questionnaire
92 providing the necessary information shall be completed and returned to
93 the board in order for the school to be considered for approval.
94 (d) (f) The board is authorized to contract with investigative agencies,
95 commissions or consultants to assist the board in obtaining information
96 about schools. In entering such contracts the authority to approve schools
97 shall remain solely with the board.
98 Sec. 3. K.S.A. 65-2873, 65-2874, 65-2875 and 65-2876 are hereby
99 repealed.
100 Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
101 publication in the statute book.