A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT Amending the Electrolysis Practice Act to authorize the Board of electrolysis Examiners to hold and use funds, to clarify continuing education requirements, and to affect certain fees.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 88A‑7 is repealed.
SECTION 2.  G.S. 88A‑8 reads as rewritten:
"§ 88A‑8.  Custody and use of funds; contributions, etc.
The Board may accept grants, contributions, devises, and gifts. The Board may authorize expenditures deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this Chapter, and all expenses shall be paid upon the warrant of the Board treasurer or executive director. The Board treasurer or executive director shall deposit funds received by the Board in one or more funds in banks or other financial institutions carrying deposit insurance and authorized to do business in North Carolina. Interest earned on such funds may remain in the funds account and may be expended as authorized by the Board to carry out the provisions of this Chapter."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 88‑9 reads as rewritten:
"§ 88A‑9.  Expenses and fees.
(a)	All salaries, compensation, and expenses incurred or allowed for the purpose of carrying out the purposes of this Chapter shall be paid by the Board exclusively out of the fees received by the Board as authorized by this Chapter, or funds received pursuant to G.S. 88A‑8. No salary, expense, or other obligations of the Board may be charged against the General Fund of the State. Neither the Board nor any of its officers or employees may incur any expense, debt, or other financial obligation binding upon the State.
(b)	All fees may be calculated by the Board in amounts sufficient to pay the costs of administration of this act, but in no event may they exceed the following:
(1)	Application for licensure as an electrologist 	$150.00
(1a)	Initial license 	150.00
(1b)	Examination  	125.00
(1c)	Reexamination ……………………………………………………………100.00
(2)	Licensure of electrology renewal 		150.00
(3)	Application for licensure as an electrology 
		instructor	150.00
(4)	Licensure of electrology instructor renewal		150.00
(5)	Application for certification as a 
		Board‑approved school of electrology	 250.00
(5a)	Application for licensure as laser hair practitioner	150.00
(5b)	Licensure of laser hair practitioner renewal	150.00
(5c)	Application for licensure as laser hair practitioner instructor	150.00
(5d)	Licensure of laser hair practitioner instructor renewal	150.00
(5e)	Application for certification as a Board‑approved school of
		laser, light source, or pulsed‑light treatments	250.00
(5f)	Certificate of Board‑approved school of laser, light source,
		or pulsed‑light renewal	400.00
(6)	Certificate of Board‑approved school of
		electrology renewal 	250.00
(6a)	Certification of out‑of‑state schools 		150.00
(6b)	Certification of out‑of‑state schools renewal 		100.00
(6c)	Office inspection or reinspection 	100.00
(6d)	License by reciprocity 	150.00
(7)	Late renewal charge 		125.00
(8)	Reinstatement of expired license or certification		250.00
(9)	Reactivation of license 	200.00
(10)	Duplicate license or certification	25.00
(11)	Checks refused by the payor depository institution 
		or from an account with insufficient funds…………………………   25.00."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 88‑11.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 88A‑11.1.  Requirements for licensure as a laser hair practitioner; limitations on licensed laser hair practitioners.
(a)	Any person seeking licensure by the Board as a laser hair practitioner shall have met the following requirements at the time the license is requested:
(1)	Be an electrologist licensed under this Chapter.
(2)	Completed a minimum 30‑hour laser, light source, or pulsed‑light treatment certification course approved by the Board and in accordance with rules adopted by the Board. The Board may waive this requirement if the person seeking licensure provides adequate documentation of experience performing laser hair removal prior to October 1, 2007. (3)	Be currently using or anticipate using laser, light source, or pulsed‑light devices that the person has been certified by a Board‑approved school to operate.
(b)	When the Board determines that an applicant has met all the requirements for licensure, and has submitted the initial license fee required in G.S. 88A‑9(b), the Board shall issue a license to the applicant.
(c)	Each laser hair practitioner shall practice laser, light source, or pulsed‑light treatments under the supervision of a physician licensed under Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. The physician shall be readily available, but not required to be on site when the laser, light source, or pulsed‑light treatments are being performed. However, the authority to regulate laser practitioners shall remain with the Board.
(d)	A laser hair practitioner shall not dispense or administer medication or provide advice regarding the use of medication, whether prescription or over‑the‑counter, in connection with laser, light source, or pulsed‑light treatments.
(e)	All laser hair practitioners shall use laser, light source, or pulsed‑light devices approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration and comply with all applicable federal and State regulations, rules, and laws. Any licensed laser hair practitioner violating this subsection shall have his or her license revoked by the Board.
(f)	Only a licensed physician may use laser, light source, or pulsed‑light devices for ablative procedures."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 88A‑13 reads as rewritten:
"§ 88A‑13.  Continuing education.
(a)	The Board shall approve all continuing education required as a condition of license renewal. The Board may offer continuing education to the licensees under this act.
(b)	Upon request, the Board may grant approval to a continuing education program or course upon finding that the program or course offers an educational experience designed to enhance the practice of electrology or laser hair removal under this act.
(c)	The Board shall maintain and distribute, as appropriate, records of the educational course work successfully completed by each licensee, including the subject matter and the number of hours of each course.(d)	Laser hair practitioners, electrologists, or persons licensed in both practice areas are required to complete a total of 10 hours of continuing education annually to maintain their licenses pursuant to rules adopted by the Board. Of the 10 continuing education hours required in this section, laser hair practitioners shall complete at least one hour in the subject matter of laser." 
SECTION 6.    G.S. 88A‑15 reads as rewritten:
"§ 88A‑15.  Exemptions from licensure.
The following individuals shall be permitted to practice electrology without a license:
(1)	Any physician licensed in accordance with Article 1 and Article 11 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes.
(2)	A student at an approved school of electrology when electrolysis is performed in the course of study.
(3)	A person demonstrating on behalf of a manufacturer or distributor any electrolysis equipment or supplies, if such demonstration is performed without charge.
(4)	An employee of a hospital licensed under Chapter 131E of the General Statutes and working under the supervision of a physician licensed under Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes who is certified by the American Board of Dermatology or the American Board of Medicine."
SECTION 7.  G.S. 88A‑17.1(a) reads as rewritten:
"§ 88A‑17.1.  Requirements for licensure as a laser hair practitioner instructor.
(a)	Any person who desires licensure as a laser practitioner instructor pursuant to this Chapter shall meet the following requirements:
(1)	Submit an application on a form approved by the Board.
(2)	Be an electrologist licensed under this Chapter or a physician licensed under Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes.
(3)	Have practiced laser and light‑based treatments actively for at least five years immediately before applying for licensure or is deemed qualified to be an instructor by the Board upon providing adequate documentation of experience as a laser or light‑based hair removal educator prior to October 1, 2007.
(4)	Have at least 100 hours of training in laser and light‑based treatments."
SECTION 8.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2012.