House File 658 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY FORD Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act related to the completion of cultural competency 2 instruction by health professionals and students enrolled in 3 health=related degree programs. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 2579HH 83 6 kh/nh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 260C.14, Code 2009, is amended by 1 2 adding the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 23. Include cultural competency 1 4 instruction in all health education courses and in all 1 5 health=related certificate or degree programs. 1 6 Sec. 2. Section 261.9, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 1 7 1, Code 2009, is amended to read as follows: 1 8 "Accredited private institution" means an institution of 1 9 higher learning located in Iowa which is operated privately 1 10 and not controlled or administered by any state agency or any 1 11 subdivision of the state and which meets the criteria in 1 12 paragraphs "a" and "b" and all of the criteria in paragraphs 1 13 "d" through"g""h", except that institutions defined in 1 14 paragraph "c" of this subsection are exempt from the 1 15 requirements of paragraphs "a" and "b": 1 16 Sec. 3. Section 261.9, subsection 1, Code 2009, is amended 1 17 by adding the following new paragraph: 1 18 NEW PARAGRAPH. h. Includes cultural competency 1 19 instruction in all health education courses and in all 1 20 health=related certificate or degree programs. 1 21 Sec. 4. Section 262.9, Code 2009, is amended by adding the 1 22 following new subsection: 1 23 NEW SUBSECTION. 32. Require the institutions of higher 1 24 learning under its control to include cultural competency 1 25 instruction in all health education courses and in all 1 26 health=related degree programs. 1 27 Sec. 5. Section 272C.2, Code 2009, is amended by adding 1 28 the following new subsection: 1 29 NEW SUBSECTION. 6. The rules issued by each health care 1 30 licensing board for continuing education requirements as a 1 31 condition of license renewal shall require cultural competency 1 32 instruction in all continuing education courses and programs 1 33 approved by the licensing board. A health care licensing 1 34 board may waive a continuing education requirement related to 1 35 instruction in cultural competency if the applicant for 2 1 licensure or license renewal demonstrates to the satisfaction 2 2 of the board that the applicant has attained the substantial 2 3 equivalent of the requirement through completion of similar 2 4 instruction as part of a health=related certificate or degree 2 5 program successfully completed at an accredited postsecondary 2 6 institution. 2 7 EXPLANATION 2 8 This bill requires community colleges and regents 2 9 universities, and accredited private institutions which 2 10 received state moneys, to include cultural competency 2 11 instruction in all health education courses and in all 2 12 health=related degree programs, and in the case of community 2 13 colleges and accredited private institutions, in 2 14 health=related certificate programs. The bill also requires 2 15 all health care licensing boards to require the instruction in 2 16 all continuing education courses and programs approved by the 2 17 licensing board. 2 18 However, the bill permits a health care licensing board to 2 19 waive the continuing education requirement if the applicant 2 20 for licensure or license renewal demonstrates to the 2 21 satisfaction of the board that the applicant has attained the 2 22 substantial equivalent of the requirement through completion 2 23 of similar instruction as part of a health=related certificate 2 24 or degree program successfully completed at an accredited 2 25 postsecondary institution. 2 26 LSB 2579HH 83 2 27 kh/nh/8