HB190 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy WoodRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Chiropractic Examiners, Board of, licensing of chiropractors, fees, grace period for renewal, reinstatement, installment payments of fines, board member's qualifications, Secs. 34-24-140, 34-24-161, 34-24-165, 34-24-166, 34-24-176, 34-24-177 am'd; Sec. 34-24-172 repealed

Summary

HB190 updates the Board of Chiropractic Examiners' rules on licensure, renewal, discipline, and fines, adds a public member, and repeals an older license restoration provision.

What This Bill Does

It reorganizes the board structure to include a public consumer member and emphasize diversity, updates licensure requirements and fee-setting authority, and strengthens renewal, reinstatement, and payment provisions. It also creates a background-check requirement for reinstatement and renewal, allows installation of fines in installments, establishes an impaired-practitioner wellness program, and repeals the existing license restoration provision.

Who It Affects

• Licensed chiropractors and chiropractic applicants in Alabama, who would face new board qualifications, potential changes to licensure/renewal fees, mandatory continuing education, background checks, and the possibility of disciplinary action or suspension.
• Consumers and the public, who would benefit from increased board oversight, a public consumer member, enhanced protections through an impaired-practitioner program, and confidential handling of wellness and disciplinary information.

Key Provisions

• Creates a nine-member State Board of Chiropractic Examiners with eight active chiropractors and one Governor-appointed consumer member; ensures diversity and requires the consumer member not to be a chiropractor or a close family member.
• Establishes election processes for board members and outlines vacancy procedures, including use of an independent agency and mail ballots with run-off rules if no majority.
• Empowers the board to hire staff and investigators, issue subpoenas, and publish an annual directory of licensees.
• Sets licensure standards: requires national exams (parts 1 and 2) or board-approved equivalents, plus board examinations; allows licensure of out-of-state applicants with comparable standards; imposes degree requirements for graduates after 2010; caps license issuance fees at a board-defined amount; provides replacement licenses and name-change procedures with fees.
• Requires licensees to display a clearly identifiable sign at practice entrances.
• Revises renewal and reinstatement: licenses renew September 30 with a grace period to December 31; imposes late renewal penalties; allows reinstatement after paying back fees and a reinstatement fee; provides retirement options with reduced ongoing fees and possible refresher coursework for reactivation.
• Authorizes waivers or reductions of annual fees for disability, active military duty, or retirement; requires rules to govern these waivers.
• Implements fingerprint-based background checks for reinstatement and renewal, with costs borne by applicants and confidential handling of results.
• Creates an inactive license option for those practicing in another state, with half the active-license fee; outlines process to return to active practice and potential refresher requirements.
• Strengthens disciplinary provisions: grounds for denial or discipline (including fraud, unprofessional conduct, addiction, criminal convictions, improper advertising, unauthorized practice, and prior discipline in other states); penalties include license revocation/suspension, probation, fines (up to $8,000 per count), and other sanctions.
• Allows emergency suspension of licenses when public safety requires action; permits medical/mental fitness evaluations with costs paid by the licensee; promotes early identification, treatment, and rehabilitation of impaired chiropractors through a wellness program and related activities.
• Requires fines to be paid before license renewal; permits installment payments if allowed by order, with potential refunds if fines are reduced on appeal.
• Repeals Section 34-24-172 (restoration of licenses) and replaces it with updated reinstatement and renewal provisions.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after approval.

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

Subjects

Chiropractic Examiners, State Board of