MINUTES
Board Meeting Minutes
June 21, 2007
The Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy met on
Thursday, June 21, 2007 in Montgomery, Alabama for the
purpose of conducting Board Business. Those present were as
follows: Fred Hill, Chair; William Goetter, Member; and Ron
Stansell, Member. Those not present were: Linda Moore, Vice
Chair; and Vernon Johnson, Member. Also present were Paula
Scout McCaleb, Executive Director, Jessica Burdette,
Licensing Agent; Bettie Carmack, Assistant Attorney General;
and Jamie Coston, Clerk.
The meeting was called to order at approximately 10:04 A.M.
with a quorum present.
Public notice of this meeting was given on the Secretary of
State's web site in accordance with the Open Meetings Act
and was also advertised on the Board's web site.
A motion was made by William Goetter to approve the Minutes
from the March 8th Board Meeting as submitted; the motion
was seconded by Ron Stansell, and was passed unanimously by
the Board.
A motion was made by Ron Stansell to audit 20% of Licensees
during the first renewal period reducing the percentage to
10% in the second renewal period. The motion was seconded by
William Goetter and was passed unanimously.
A motion was made by William Goetter to approve changes made
and reviewed to the Rules and Regulations of the Alabama
State Board of Respiratory Therapy Chapters 798-X-3;
798-X-5; and 798-X-8, excluding the proposed changes made to
student employment grace period as follows:
798-X-3-.02 Terms of Office
(1) The term of office of those members first appointed
shall be as follows: Two respiratory therapists and the
hospital member, as determined by the Governor, shall serve
for terms of two years, and one respiratory therapist and
the physician member shall serve for terms of four years.
Thereafter, the term of all members shall be four years.
798-X-5-.01
(5) Persons eligible for licensure shall have 365 days after
the effective date of the adoption of the rules and
regulations to apply for the respiratory therapy license.
365 days after the effective date of the adoption of the
rules and regulations persons working as a respiratory
therapist, unless otherwise exempt, shall have a valid
respiratory therapy license.
798-X-5-.02 Licensure By Credential
The applicant for licensure by credential shall be at least
18 years old, be a high school graduate or have the
equivalent of a high school diploma, hold credentials as a
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or a Certified
Respiratory Therapist (CRT), as granted by NBRC or its
successor organization and shall submit:
(1) During the implementation period be granted a license
upon verification of credentials;a completed application
(2) After the implementation period, be granted a license
upon verification of credentials and showing proof of 24
hours of continuing education credits over the previous two
years meeting the requirements set forth by the Board;
andrequired fees
(3) Submit a completed application and required fees.and
proof of 24 hours of continuing education credit, meeting
Board requirements, earned over the previous two years.
798-X-5-.06 Licensure by Employment or Work Experience
(1) Applicants, lacking the RRT or CRT credential, who are
currently employed in respiratory therapy on the effective
date of the adoption of the rules and regulations shall:
(a) Be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate or
have the equivalent of a high school diploma;
(b) Provide evidence of employment in the administration of
respiratory therapy
on the effective date of the adoption of these rules and
regulation;
(c) Provide evidence of administration of respiratory
therapy under the direction of a physician in the State of
Alabama on the effective date of the adoption of these rules
and regulations;
(d) Submit a completed application and required fees; and
(e) Have 365 days after the initial date of implementation
to apply for the
respiratory therapy license, the opportunity to apply for a
license based on employment shall expire after this date.
(2) Holders of licenses under this section shall be eligible
to renew their licenses as are any other licensed
respiratory therapist.Respiratory therapists who were issued
licenses during implementation based on employment or work
experience shall be eligible to renew their licenses as are
any other licensed respiratory therapist.
798-X-5-.08
(4) Failure to renew prior to the expiration date of the
current license will result in an additional late fee.
Licenses may be renewed up to 90 days after expiration date.
Respiratory therapists will not be permitted to work as
respiratory therapists if their license has expired.
798-X-5-08
(10) Any license not renewed by within 90 days following the
expiration date shall lapse. Any individual who practices
with a lapsed license shall be subject to penalties
established under Chapter 798-X-7.
798-X-.14
(3) To verify student status for employmentStudents shall
submit verification of employment forms to the Board prior
to working in respiratory therapy., Directors of Directors
of accredited respiratory therapy educational programs in
Alabama shall provide current lists of students enrolled in
their programs., or complete "Student Verification Forms" or
submit In the case of students enrolled outside of Alabama,
the students shall arrange for a letter certifying a
student's eligibility for employment based on enrollment in
a their student status from an accredited respiratory
therapy educational program. An out-of-state educational
program may supply a current list of students as a
substitute for letters.
(4) Directors of respiratory therapy educational programs
shall provide notice to the Board when a student's
enrollment is terminated within 60 days of such termination.
798-X-5-.15
(e) Statutory charges for returned checks shall be paid by
the applicant or licensee within ten business days from
receipt of notice to remit full payment pursuant to Ala.
Code § 13A-9-13.1 (b) (2) and pay the maximum fee allowed by
Ala. Code § 8-8-15.
(7) The Board shall set fees and charges annually. At the
firsteach September meeting of the Board each calendar year,
the previous schedule of fees and charges shall be
automatically readopted unless the Board proposes a revised
schedule.
798-X-8-.02
(5) Respiratory therapy related educational offerings as
described in 798-X-8-.02(4) approved by the following
organizations and their affiliates listed below will be
acceptable for continuing education credit provided the
courses meet minimum time requirements for contact hours as
stated in 798-X-8.01(4) and provided these organizations and
their affiliates maintain records documenting educational
programs and rosters of licensed respiratory therapists who
attended their programs. Such documentation shall be
retained for three (3) years and made available to the Board
upon request.
(a) American Medical Association under Physician Category I
(b) American Thoracic Society
(c) American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
Rehabilitation
(d) American Heart Association
(e) American Lung Association
(f) American Hospital Association
(g) American Nurses Association
(h) American College of Chest Physicians
(i) American Society of Anesthesiologists
(j) American Academy of Pediatrics
(l) American College of Emergency Physicians
(m) American College of Physicians
(n) Other professional or educational organizations approved
by the Board
(o) Alabama hospitals.
(p) Respiratory therapy programs accredited by CoARC.
798-X-8-.03 Standards for Providers
(1) Hospitals, other healthcare facilities, or professional
organizations, or respiratory therapy educational programs
accredited by CoARC, who
choose to apply, may be granted provider status by the Board
or Board designee. Provider status may be active for the
initial licensure period as designated in other sections of
these rules with April 30, 2008 as the initial expiration
date and may be renewed upon expiration. Failure to provide
respiratory therapy educational programs as specified by the
Board or described in these rules and regulations may be a
basis for withdrawal of provider status at any time.
The motion was seconded by Ron Stansell and passed
unanimously approved by the Board.
At approximately 11:06 a.m. the Board recognized Heather
Atkinson and her representative, Stuart Smith. Heather
Atkinson appeared before the Board to appeal the Board's
previous decision to deny her application.
At approximately 11:18 a.m. a motion was made by Ron
Stansell to enter into Executive Session to consider the
general reputation and character, physical condition,
professional competence, and mental health of Heather
Atkinson, in accordance with Section VII(1) of the Open
Meetings Act. The motion was seconded by William Goetter.
The Chair called for a vote of the Board: Voting Aye: Ron
Stansell, William Goetter, and Fred Hill; Voting Nay: 0;
motion passed. The Chair announced that the Board would
reconvene in approximately 5 minutes.
At approximately 11:25 a.m. a motion was made by William
Goetter to reconvene in open session. The motion was
seconded by Ron Stansell and passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Ron Stansell to accept Heather
Atkinson's application for licensure and grant her
Respiratory Therapy License without stipulations. The motion
was seconded by William Goetter and passed unanimously.
The time being 11:38 a.m. and there being no further Board
Business, William Goetter made a motion to adjourn. The
motion was seconded by Ron Stansell and passed unanimously.
The next tentative Board Meeting was announced by the Chair
for September 13, 2007 at the Board Office in Montgomery.
Respectfully Submitted,
_______________________________
Fred Hill, Chair
_______________________________
Linda Moore, Vice Chair
_______________________________
Paula McCaleb, Executive Director
_______________________________
Jessica Burdette, Recording Secretary