A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to encourage the provision of medical services to indigent persons by providing for a Retired Limited volunteer license and by broadening the applicability of a limited volunteer license.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 90‑12.1A reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑12.1A.  Limited volunteer license.
(a)	The Board may issue a " limited volunteer license" to an applicant who:
(1)	Has a license to practice medicine and surgery in another state; and
(2)	Produces a letter from the state of licensure indicating the applicant's license is active and in good standing.
			
(d)	The Board shall issue a limited license under this section within 30 days after an applicant provides the Board with information satisfying the requirements of this section.
(e)	The holder of a limited license under this section may practice medicine and surgery only at clinics that specialize in the treatment of indigent patients. The holder of the limited license may not receive compensation for services rendered at clinics specializing in the care of indigent patients.
(e1)	The holder of a limited volunteer license shall practice medicine and surgery within this State for no more than 30 days per calendar year.
(f)	The holder of a limited license issued pursuant to this section who practices medicine or surgery at places other than clinics that specialize in the treatment of indigent patients shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than twenty‑five dollars ($25.00) nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for each offense. The Board, in its discretion, may revoke the limited license after due notice is given to the holder of the limited license.
(g)	The Board may, by rule, require an applicant for a limited license under this section to comply with other requirements or submit additional information the Board deems appropriate."
SECTION 2.  Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 90‑12.1B. Retired limited volunteer license.
(a)	The Board may issue a "retired limited volunteer license" to an applicant who is a physician and who has allowed his or her license to practice medicine and surgery in this State or another state to become inactive.
(b)	A physician holding a limited license under this section shall comply with the continuing medical education requirements pursuant to rules adopted by the Board.
(c)	The holder of a limited license under this section may practice medicine and surgery only at clinics that specialize in the treatment of indigent patients. The holder of the limited license may not receive compensation for services rendered at clinics specializing in the care of indigent patients.
(d)	The Board shall issue a limited license under this section within 30 days after an applicant provides the Board with information satisfying the requirements of this section.
(e)	The holder of a limited license issued pursuant to this section who practices medicine or surgery at places other than clinics that specialize in the treatment of indigent patients shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than twenty‑five dollars ($25.00) nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for each offense. The Board, in its discretion, may revoke the limited license after due notice is given to the holder of the limited license.
(f)	The Board may, by rule, require an applicant for a limited license under this section to comply with other requirements or submit additional information the Board deems appropriate."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 90‑13.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑13.1.  License fees.
(a)	Each applicant for a license to practice medicine and surgery in this State under either G.S. 90‑9.1 or G.S. 90‑9.2 shall pay to the North Carolina Medical Board an application fee of three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00).
(b)	Each applicant for a limited license to practice in a medical education and training program under G.S. 90‑12.01 shall pay to the Board a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(c)	An applicant for a limited volunteer license under G.S. 90‑12.1A or G.S. 90‑12.1B shall not pay a fee.
(d)	A fee of twenty‑five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid for the issuance of a duplicate license.
(e)	All fees shall be paid in advance to the North Carolina Medical Board, to be held in a fund for the use of the Board.
(f)	For the initial and annual licensure of an anesthesiologist assistant, the Board may require the payment of a fee not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00)."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 90‑13.2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑13.2.  Registration every year with Board.
(a)	Every person licensed to practice medicine by the North Carolina Medical Board shall register annually with the Board within 30 days of the person's birthday.
(b)	A person who registers with the Board shall report to the Board the person's name and office and residence address and any other information required by the Board, and shall pay an annual registration fee of one hundred seventy‑five dollars ($175.00), except those who have a limited license to practice in a medical education and training program approved by the Board for the purpose of education or training shall pay a registration fee of one hundred twenty‑five dollars ($125.00), those who have a retired limited volunteer license pursuant to G.S. 90‑12.1B shall pay an annual registration fee of twenty‑five dollars ($25.00), and those who have a limited volunteer license pursuant to G.S. 90‑12.1A shall pay no annual registration fee. However, licensees who have a limited license to practice for the purpose of education and training under G.S. 90‑12.01 shall not be required to pay more than one annual registration fee for each year of training.
(c)	A physician who is not actively engaged in the practice of medicine in North Carolina and who does not wish to register the license may direct the Board to place the license on inactive status.
(d)	A physician who is not actively engaged in the practice of medicine in North Carolina and who does not wish to register the license may direct the Board to place the license on inactive status.
(e)	A physician who fails to register as required by this section shall pay an additional fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) to the Board. The license of any physician who fails to register and who remains unregistered for a period of 30 days after certified notice of the failure is automatically inactive. The Board shall retain jurisdiction over the holder of the inactive license.
(f)	Except as provided in G.S. 90‑12.1B, a person whose license is inactive shall not practice medicine in North Carolina nor be required to pay the annual registration fee.
(g)	Upon payment of all accumulated fees and penalties, the license of the physician may be reinstated, subject to the Board requiring the physician to appear before the Board for an interview and to comply with other licensing requirements. The penalty may not exceed the maximum fee for a license under G.S. 90‑13.1."
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.