OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE ADVISORY BOARD:  REPEAL

House Bill 4125 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Al Pscholka

Committee:  Health Policy                                                                (Enrolled as PA 260 of 2013)

Complete to 2-13-13

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4125 AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE 2-12-13

The bill would eliminate the Michigan Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board.

Specifically, House Bill 4125 would amend Public Act 162 of 1969 to repeal Sections 2, 3, and 4.  The sections to be repealed, respectively, created the Board and established the manner of appointment, terms, and number of Board members; election of officers, powers, and duties; and transaction of business, rules and regulations, and recommendations.

The Advisory Board, which this bill would eliminate, is not the same as the Michigan Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery.  The Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery functions as the professional licensing board for Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O.) in the state and would not be affected by any provisions of this bill.

House Bill 4125 is a reintroduction of House Bill 5604 from last session.  That bill was passed by the House of Representatives.

MCL 390.662, 390.663, and 390.664

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Public Act 162 of 1969 authorized the establishment of a school of osteopathic medicine to be located at an existing campus of a state university or college that already had a school or college of medicine.  The act also created the Michigan Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board, an entity whose duty was to "advise the board of control on all matters of pertinence to the school of osteopathic medicine."  Among other things, the Board recommended regulations for the operation of the school, recommended tuition and other fees, and recommended "the appointment or removal of such personnel as the interests of the school and the generally accepted principles of academic tenure permit or require."

Last year, Executive Order 2011-5 called for the Office of Regulatory Reinvention, within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, to make recommendations regarding changes to the state's existing occupational regulatory climate.  Among many recommendations, the Occupational Licensing Advisory Rules Committee recommended the elimination of the Michigan Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board.  According to the recommendation, the Board was functional in the developmental years of the School of Osteopathic Medicine but no longer serves a "useful purpose." 

The College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University, with additional locations at the Detroit Medical Center in downtown Detroit and the Macomb University Center in Clinton Township, is the state's only osteopathic school of medicine.

[For the complete text of the ORR's recommendations, see:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/lara/ORR_Occupational_Licensing_Recommendations_382437_7.pdf]

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact on state government.

POSITIONS:

The Michigan Osteopathic Association indicated support for the bill.  (2-12-13)

Michigan State University indicated support for the bill.  (2-12-13)

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Reform (LARA) indicated support for the bill.  (2-12-13)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kyle Jen

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.