Legislation enacted to modify or create licensure acts for various professions and occupations is described below. Included in the description is a new licensing act, SB 597(1), which licenses mortgage brokers.

SB 25 (Long/Fields): Requires that a standard of clear and convincing evidence be met before the Commissioner of Health may take certain disciplinary action against licensed plumbing and mechanical contractors and journeymen. The bill prohibits state and municipal inspectors from issuing citations for work exempt from the requirement for a permit under the International Plumbing Code. The bill also requires welding work which is regulated by the Department of Labor to meet certain code standards. Persons who install, replace, or repair floor furnaces and wall heaters must be licensed as a plumbing or mechanical journeyman or contractor. The bill repeals a provision which deemed the BOCA Code applicable to plumbing work where no ordinance or regulation of a governmental subdivision applied and applicable to public restrooms in all cases.

SB 59 (Robinson/Settle): Changes the credentialing process for physician assistants from certification to licensure.

SB 222 (Stipe/Paulk): Requires that a standard of clear and convincing evidence be met before the Board of Chiropractic Examiners may take certain disciplinary action against chiropractic physicians. The Board may issue a confidential letter of concern to a chiropractic physician when evidence of possible errant conduct does not warrant formal action by the Board. The term "spinal manipulation" is defined.

SB 275 (Monson/Paulk): Sets out conditions under which a certified registered nurse anesthetist is authorized to order, select, obtain and administer certain prescriptive drugs. A minimum of eight units of continuing education must be completed for biennial renewal of this authorization.

SB 281 (Smith/Steidley): Requires a new applicant for a bail bondsman license to have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Conditions under which a professional bondsman license is transferable to a spouse are broadened. Persons convicted of or who plea guilty or nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude may not be licensed as a bail bondsman. For certain traffic offenses, bail may be set in an amount up to $1,000 for a person who has a pervious history of failing to appear according to the terms of a bond.

SB 301 (Maddox/Bonny): Authorizes the Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle and Parts Commission to serve as a dispute resolution panel for binding arbitration in contract controversies between a licensed used motor vehicle dealer and a customer upon written agreement of both parties executed after a dispute arises.

SB 308 (Muegge/Pope (Clay): Requires that a standard of clear and convincing evidence be met before the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners may take certain disciplinary actions against veterinarians.

SB 512 (Henry/Askins): Makes several changes to the licensing act for security guards which include provisions to allow CLEET to immediately suspend a license if a licensee's actions present a danger to the licensee or the public and to require additional testing for continuation or reinstatement of a license if a licensee exhibits an inability to exercise reasonable judgment, skill, or safety. Information pertaining to mental instability, illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, and misdemeanor domestic violence charges is required of an applicant. The standard of clear and convincing evidence is required for disciplinary action against licensees.

SB 597 (Ford/Thornbrugh): Requires mortgage brokers to be licensed by the Department of Consumer Credit. Under the bill, mortgage brokers are required to deposit funds for third-party services in a trust account and may use these funds only for payment for third-party services. Service providers must be paid within 30 days after completion of their services. A mortgage broker must also provide written disclosure to the borrower of all fees and costs that the borrower is required to pay.

HB 1144 (Beutler/Littlefield): Exempts from the Electrical License Act the installation, maintenance, repair or replacement of water supply pumps, provided such work is performed from the output side of a fused disconnect or breaker box.

HB 1248 (Roach/Fisher): Amends the licensing act for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants by adding a licensed physical therapist assistant and a lay person to the Physical Therapy Committee. The bill allows a person who has been educated through a program of physical therapy sponsored by the armed services to be licensed as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant if the education is substantially equivalent to accredited educational programs. The bill also allows persons educated outside of the United States to be licensed as a physical therapist if they meet certain qualifications and have participated in an interim supervised clinical practice prior to licensure unless their participation has been waived. Completion of continuing education, as established by rule of the Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, is required for renewal of a license as a physical therapists or physical therapist assistant.

HB 1466 (Bastin/Herbert): Makes several clean-up changes to the licensing act for podiatrists. The bill requires the standard of clear and convincing evidence be met before the Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners may take disciplinary action against licensees. Sanctions which may be imposed are expanded to include an administrative fine not to exceed $1,000 for each separate violation, censure or reprimand, probation, restriction of practice, payment of costs associated with a disciplinary proceeding, and the issuance of a confidential letter of concern. The bill amends the law regarding unlawful practice of the healing arts to exempt a physician's trained assistant when under the supervision and control of the physician. The bill also amends the licensing act for osteopathic physicians by authorizing the Board of Osteopathic Examiners to impose an administrative fine, capped at $1,000 for each separate violation, and issue confidential letters of concern.

HB 1908 (Liotta/Campbell): Defines as junk dealers persons who purchase, handle, or transfer vehicles for purposes of crushing, baling, shredding, flattening, recycling and reselling as bulk. The bill requires that junk dealers obtain a sales tax permit from the Tax Commission before doing business and deletes the requirement that junk dealers must also obtain a license from the Tax Commission. The bill requires junk dealers to maintain information on the purchase of motor vehicles and to verify ownership by title, verified bill of sale, or other proof of ownership.

HB 2007 (Bastin/Herbert): Authorizes the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission to conduct an evidentiary hearing to determine eligibility of a claim against the Oklahoma Real Estate Education and Recovery Fund.

HB 2090 (Glover/Robinson): Amends the State Dental Act to allow the State Dental Board to hold meetings by teleconference. The bill clarifies provisions relating to election of Board members and changes the term "work authorization" to "laboratory prescription". The bill specifies the terms of a settlement agreement, requires the Board to give final approval to a settlement agreement which contains certain sanctions, and requires the review panel to dismiss a compliant if no determination is made.

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