Senate Bill 2657

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-6-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A LICENSED CHIROPRACTOR SHALL BE A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 73-6-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-6-13. (1) Any adult * * * of good moral character who has (a) graduated from a school or college of chiropractic recognized by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, preceded by the successful completion of at least two (2) academic years at an accredited institution of higher learning, or accredited junior college, and (b) successfully completed parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the physical modality section of the examination prepared by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, shall be entitled to take the examination for a license to practice chiropractic in Mississippi. The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall keep on file a list of schools or colleges of chiropractic which are so recognized. No chiropractic school shall be approved unless it is recognized and approved by the council of chiropractic education, offers an accredited course of study of not less than four (4) academic years of at least nine (9) months in length, and requires its graduates to receive not less than forty (40) clock hours of instruction in the operation of x-ray machinery and not less than forty (40) clock hours of instruction in x-ray interpretation and diagnosis.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the State Board of Health shall prescribe rules and regulations for the operation and use of x-ray machines.

(3) The examination to practice chiropractic used by the board shall consist of testing on the statutes and the rules and regulations regarding the practice of chiropractic in the State of Mississippi.

(4) Reciprocity privileges for a chiropractor from another state shall be granted at the board's option on an individual basis and by a majority vote of the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners to an adult * * * of good moral character who (a) is currently an active competent practitioner for at least eight (8) years and holds an active chiropractic license in another state with no disciplinary proceeding or unresolved complaint pending anywhere at the time a license is to be issued by this state, (b) demonstrates having obtained licensure as a chiropractor in another state under the same education requirements which were equivalent to the education requirements in this state to obtain a chiropractic license at the time the applicant obtained the license in the other state, (c) satisfactorily passes the examination administered by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners * * *, and (d) meets the requirements of Section 73-6-1(3) pertaining to therapeutic modalities.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.