HB541 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsor

Steve McMillan

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Licensing of

Summary

HB541 would create a state licensing board to regulate and license acupuncture and oriental medicine practitioners in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It would establish the Alabama Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to license and regulate acupuncture and oriental medicine techniques. The board would set licensing rules, determine qualifications (age, character, English, lawful presence, exams or national certification), and require annual license renewals with continuing education. It would allow reciprocity for practitioners licensed in other states or countries and impose penalties for practicing without a license or violating board rules. The act would take effect on July 1, 2013, with related funding and constitutional considerations noted.

Who It Affects

• Prospective and current acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners in Alabama would need to obtain a state license, meet education, examination, and character requirements, and renew licenses annually.
• Alabama residents seeking acupuncture or oriental medicine services would be affected by the existence of a state-regulated system with ethics rules, disciplinary actions, and a licensed pool of practitioners.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to license and regulate acupuncture and oriental medicine techniques.
• Board composition: four members appointed by the Governor (three licensed or credentialed practitioners and one public member); sets terms and handles vacancies.
• Defines acupuncture and acupuncturist and the modalities included, as determined by board rules.
• Board duties include regulating and licensing practitioners, issuing licenses, renewals, denials, restrictions, suspensions, or revocations.
• Licensing requirements: applicant must be at least 21, of good moral character, proficient in English, legally present in the U.S., and pass board-prescribed exams or hold current national certification; reciprocity may apply for those licensed elsewhere.
• Reciprocity: the board may issue licenses to individuals licensed in another state or country if they meet specified conditions and recognition is reciprocal or meets board requirements.
• Licenses renew annually; continuing education may be required as a condition of renewal.
• Examinations: the board may require competency exams; rules will be adopted for administration and subject matter; the board may appoint licensed acupuncturists to assist with exams.
• Fees: sets application/license fee up to $200, annual renewal up to $150, and reissuance up to $50; additional examination fees and late renewal fees may apply.
• Disciplinary authority: the board may suspend, restrict, revoke, or deny licenses for fraud, failure to meet continuing education, impersonation, ethics violations, felony convictions, endangering clients, mental incompetence, exceeding scope of practice, or other violations.
• Notice and hearing procedures: disciplinary actions require notice and a hearing with possible subpoenas; appeals proceed under the Administrative Procedure Act; decisions can take effect after a period unless appealed.
• Titles and specialization: the board may recognize areas of specialization and designate practice titles and abbreviations (e.g., LAc, DOM, OMD).
• Practice without a license after July 1, 2013 is unlawful and a Class C misdemeanor; injunctions can be issued to stop unlicensed practice.
• Injunctions and penalties: the board may seek civil penalties up to $1,000 plus attorney fees up to $400; penalties may be included in the same judgment as the injunction.
• Records and funding: the board must maintain records and a roster; funds go to the State Treasury and are used to support the board; fees paid are nonrefundable except in specified circumstances.
• Constitutional note: the bill acknowledges local-funding considerations but is designed to fit within exceptions allowing it to take effect without a 2/3 local-funding vote; effective date is July 1, 2013.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Acupuncture