Report of Regents Professional Practice Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Professional Practice Committee held its scheduled meeting on April 18, 2016.  Regent Kathleen M. Cashin, Regent Elizabeth S. Hakanson, and Regent Eileen Mead were also present, but did not vote on any case or action.

ACTION ITEMS

Professional Discipline Cases

Your Committee recommends that the reports of the Regents Review Committees, including rulings, findings of fact, determinations as to guilt, and recommendations, by unanimous or majority vote, contained in those reports which have been distributed to you, be accepted in 3 cases. In addition, your Committee recommends, upon the recommendation of the Committee on the Professions, that 56 consent order applications and 3 surrender applications be granted. [PPC EXS (A) 1-3]

These recommendations are made following the review of 62 cases involving eight licensed practical nurses, eight pharmacists, seven registered professional nurses, five veterinarians, four dentists, four pharmacies, three certified public accountants, three licensed practical nurses who are also registered professional nurses, two architects, two chiropractors, two licensed clinical social workers, two physical therapists, three veterinary technicians, one audiologist, one certified interior designer, one clinical laboratory technologist, one licensed mental health counselor, one physical therapy PLLC, and one professional engineer.

Restorations

Your Committee recommends the following:

That the application of Celestine Amaefule for the restoration of his license to practice as a physician in New York State be denied.  [PPC EXS (A) 4]

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

Madam Chancellor and Colleagues: Your Professional Practice Committee recommends, and we move, that the Board of Regents act affirmatively upon each recommendation in the written report of the Committee's deliberations at its meeting on April 18, 2016, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Your Committee discussed several topics of interest, including:

Deputy Commissioner's Report/Update [Oral Report] –

• Full Board Consent Agenda Items

  • Board (Re)Appointments

  • Licensing Petitions

Licensure of Professional Geologists and Continuing Education for Land Surveyors – The proposed amendments establish, among other things, the licensure requirements for applicants for licensure as professional geologists, which include professional education, experience and examination requirements.  The proposed amendments also extend the expiration date for the mandatory continuing education requirement for land surveyors to conform the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to the statute. (Discussion)

Licensing Examination Requirements for Certified Shorthand Reporters – Due to Department resource issues, the Department created and administered certified shorthand reporting licensure examination has not keep pace with the technology available to the shorthand reporting profession.  The proposed amendment addresses this situation by removing the Department created and administered five part licensing examination requirement and replacing it with language that permits the Department to accept a passing score on an examination determined by the State Board for Certified Shorthand Reporting to be acceptable for licensure as a certified shorthand reporter. (Discussion)