PRINTER'S NO. 1232
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1176
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY CEPHAS, DALEY, SANCHEZ, D. WILLIAMS, HANBIDGE,
FREEMAN, PARKER, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, ISAACSON, A. DAVIS,
GUZMAN, SCHLOSSBERG, HOWARD, SIMS, LEE, KINSEY, BULLOCK,
McCLINTON, WHEATLEY AND KIM, APRIL 14, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, APRIL 14, 2021
AN ACT
Amending Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed))
of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for
administration.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 63 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a part to read:
PART III
ADMINISTRATION
Chapter
61. Training
CHAPTER 61
TRAINING
Sec.
6101. Definitions.
6102. Continuing education.
6103. Regulations.
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§ 6101. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Cultural competence." The ability to understand,
communicate with and effectively interact with people of
different races, ethnicities and cultures relating to health and
the delivery of health care.
"Department." The Department of State of the Commonwealth.
"Health-related State board." As follows:
(1) Any of the following:
(i) The State Board of Chiropractic.
(ii) The State Board of Dentistry.
(iii) The State Board of Massage Therapy.
(iv) The State Board of Medicine.
(v) The State Board of Nursing.
(vi) The State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home
Administrators.
(vii) The State Board of Occupational Therapy,
Education and Licensure.
(viii) The State Board of Optometry.
(ix) The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
(x) The State Board of Pharmacy.
(xi) The State Board of Physical Therapy.
(xii) The State Board of Podiatry.
(xiii) The State Board of Psychology.
(xiv) The State Board of Examiners in Speech-
Language Pathology and Audiology.
(xv) The State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and
Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.
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(2) The term does not include the State Board of
Veterinary Medicine.
"Implicit bias." A belief or set of associations about a
group or an individual based upon physical characteristics,
race, ethnicity, gender, age, religious creed or sexual
orientation, which can result in the inaccurate attribution of
particular qualities to the group or individual.
§ 6102. Continuing education.
(a) Requirement.--The department shall require each person
applying for a license or certification issued by a health-
related State board to complete training regarding implicit bias
and cultural competence in accordance with the continuing
education requirements of the health-related State board. At a
minimum, the training must include the understanding of implicit
bias, including, but not limited to, practical techniques to
mitigate implicit bias and improve cultural competence.
(b) Documentation.--Each person applying for a license or
certification issued by a health-related State board shall
submit documentation acceptable to the health-related State
board of the completion of the training under subsection (a).
§ 6103. Regulations.
The department shall promulgate regulations regarding the
following:
(1) The competencies that must be achieved through the
curriculum and delivery of the training specified under
section 6102(a) (relating to continuing education).
(2) The minimum number of credit hours necessary for the
training specified under section 6102(a).
Section 2. This act shall apply to a license or
certification issued by a health-related State board on or after
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the date of the promulgation of the regulations under 63 Pa.C.S.
§ 6103.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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