A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the north carolina naturopathic doctors licensure act.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 55B‑2(6) reads as rewritten:
"§ 55B‑2.  Definitions.
As used in this Chapter, the following words shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
…
(6)	The term "professional service" means any type of personal or professional service of the public which requires as a condition precedent to the rendering of such service the obtaining of a license from a licensing board as herein defined, and pursuant to the following provisions of the General Statutes: Chapter 83A, "Architects"; Chapter 84, "Attorneys‑at‑Law"; Chapter 93, "Public Accountants"; and the following Articles in Chapter 90: Article 1, "Practice of Medicine," Article 2, "Dentistry," Article 6, "Optometry," Article 7, "Osteopathy," Article 8, "Chiropractic," Article 9A, "Nursing Practice Act," with regard to registered nurses, Article 11, "Veterinarians," Article 12A, "Podiatrists," Article 18A, "Practicing Psychologists," Article 18C, "Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure," Article 18D, "Occupational Therapy," Article 22, "Licensure Act for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists," Article 24, "Licensed Professional Counselors"; and Article 43, "Naturopathic Doctors"; Chapter 89C, "Engineering and Land Surveying"; Chapter 89A, "Landscape Architects"; Chapter 90B, "Social Worker Certification and Licensure Act" with regard to Licensed Clinical Social Workers as defined by G.S. 90B‑3; Chapter 89E, "Geologists"; Chapter 89B, "Foresters"; and Chapter 89F, "North Carolina Soil Scientist Licensing Act"."
SECTION 2.  Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"Article 43.
"Naturopathic Doctors.
"§ 90‑730.  Short title.
This Article may be cited as the "North Carolina Naturopathic Doctors Licensure Act."
"§ 90‑731.  Intent; purpose.
(a)	Intent. – The General Assembly finds that a significant number of residents of the State of North Carolina choose complementary and alternative health care and declares that naturopathic treatment is a distinct health care profession that affects the public health, safety, and welfare and provides for choices in health care. The General Assembly concludes that licensure is in the current interest of North Carolina citizens to aid in protecting citizens from deception, fraud, and damage to their health status. Licensure can provide a process in which citizens may more confidently rely on the level of skill, education, and competency possessed by licensed persons.
(b)	Purpose. – The purpose of this Article is to provide standards for the licensure of naturopathic doctors desiring to practice naturopathic medicine in this State and to ensure the maintenance of professional competence and acceptable standards of practice.
"§ 90‑732.  Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Article:
(1)	Approved program of naturopathic medicine. – A program that meets all of the following conditions:
a.	A program that provides graduate level full‑time didactic and supervised clinical training that is accredited, or has achieved candidacy status for accreditation, by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education Program or its federally recognized successor agency.
b.	A program that is offered by an institution of higher education that is accredited by a regional or national institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education.
c.	If the program is offered in the United States, a program that awards the degree of Doctor of Naturopathy or Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. If the program is offered in Canada, a program that awards the degree or diploma of Doctor of Naturopathy or Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and is offered by an institution of higher education that has provincial approval for participation in government‑funded student aid programs.
(2)	Board. – The North Carolina Medical Board.
(3)	Criminal history. – A history of conviction of a State or federal crime, whether a misdemeanor or felony.
(4)	Integrative medicine. – As defined in G.S. 90‑1.1(3).
(5)	Natural medicines. – Any herbal, nutritional, supplemental, or other nonprescription remedies.
(6)	Naturopathic medicine. – A system of natural health care that employs treatment using natural therapies and diagnostic techniques for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health and the prevention of disease, including the following:
a.	Administering or providing any of the following for preventive and therapeutic purposes: natural medicines, natural therapies, natural topical medicines, hydrotherapy, dietary therapy, and naturopathic physical modalities.
b.	Using diagnostic procedures, including physical and orificial examination, but excluding endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and any other diagnostic or therapeutic endoscopy.
c.	Ordering and interpreting laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging, but excluding electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, electroencephalograms, nuclear imagings, MRIs, CT scans, and other tests that should be conducted and interpreted by a physician licensed under Article 1 of this Chapter.
(7)	Naturopathic doctor. – A person licensed to practice naturopathic medicine under this Article.
(8)	Unethical acts or practices. – Prohibited behaviors under this Article, including the following actions:
a.	Obtaining or attempting to obtain any fee by fraud or misrepresentation.
b.	Employing directly or indirectly any suspended or unlicensed person to perform any work covered by this Article.
c.	Using, causing, or promoting the use of any advertisement matter, promotional literature, testimonial, guarantee, warranty, label brand insignia, or any other representation, however disseminated or published, that is misleading, deceiving, improbable, or untruthful.
d.	Willfully harming any person in the course of delivery of the professional services provided under this Article.
e.	Charging a fee for treatment or services not rendered.
f.	Guaranteeing the result of any treatment or services.
"§ 90‑733.  Practice of naturopathic medicine; scope of practice.
(a)	Practice of Naturopathic Medicine. – A naturopathic doctor is a licensed health care provider having the same responsibilities as other licensed doctors regarding public health laws, reportable diseases and conditions, communicable disease control and prevention, and the recording of vital statistics. In diagnosing and treating an individual, a naturopathic doctor may employ the following therapies, modalities, procedures, or remedies consistent with naturopathic education and training:
(1)	Dispense, administer, and advise the use of natural remedies derived from or substantially similar in molecular structure or function to natural sources for preventive and therapeutic purposes, including food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and their extracts, and all dietary supplements and nonprescription drugs as defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C.A. § 301, et seq.
(2)	Order and perform physical examinations.
(3)	Order, perform, and interpret laboratory examinations and diagnostic imaging studies, except as prohibited in G.S. 90‑732(6).
(4)	Perform hot or cold hydrotherapy, naturopathic physical modalities, electromagnetic energy, and therapeutic exercise.
(5)	Perform health education and health counseling.
(6)	Utilize routes of administration, including oral, nasal, auricular, ocular, rectal, vaginal, and transdermal.
(7)	Perform repair and care incidental to superficial wounds and abrasions and apply topical and local anesthetics and antimicrobials.
(8)	Remove foreign bodies located in the superficial tissues.
(b)	Prohibitions. – A naturopathic doctor may not perform any of the following functions unless otherwise licensed by this State to do so:
(1)	Prescribe, dispense, or administer any legend drug, except as authorized by this Article.
(2)	Practice or attempt to practice as a medical physician, osteopath, acupuncturist, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, chiropractor, dietitian or nutritionist, psychologist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, physical therapist, or any other health care professional not authorized by this Article.
(3)	Use any anesthetics.
(4)	Perform procedures using a laser device.
(5)	Perform surgical procedures.
(6)	Administer ionizing radioactive substances for therapeutic purposes.
(7)	Perform chiropractic adjustments.
(8)	Perform acupuncture.
(9)	Perform any acts of prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, or interconceptional care as defined under G.S. 90‑178.2, except in collaboration with a practitioner licensed under Article 1 of this Chapter.
(10)	Treat malignancies, except in collaboration with a practitioner licensed under Article 1 of this Chapter.
(11)	Engage in any unethical acts or practices as defined in G.S. 90‑732(8).
"§ 90‑734.  Notification to patients required.
A naturopathic doctor shall provide to each client a notice indicating in at least 14‑point font that the naturopathic doctor is not a medical doctor but is licensed in the State of North Carolina as a doctor of naturopathy. The notice shall be signed by the client upon the client's initial visit, and a copy of the signed notice shall be maintained in the client's medical file. The naturopathic doctor shall encourage clients to obtain the services of a medical doctor licensed under Article 1 of this Chapter with whom the naturopathic doctor can collaborate on the client's health care decisions.
"§ 90‑735.  License required; exemptions.
(a)	License Required. – On or after January 1, 2014, no person shall practice or offer to practice as a naturopathic doctor, perform naturopathic medicine, or use any card, title, or abbreviation to indicate that the person is a naturopathic doctor unless the person has been licensed under the provisions of this Article. Persons licensed under this Article have the exclusive right to use the titles "Naturopathic Doctor," "Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine," "Doctor of Naturopathy," "Naturopathic Medicine," "Naturopath," or the abbreviations "D.N.," "N.D.," "ND," and "D.N.M."
(b)	Exemptions. – Nothing in this Article shall be construed to prohibit or affect any of the following:
(1)	The practice of a profession by an individual who is licensed, certified, or registered under other laws of this State and is performing services within the authorized scope of practice.
(2)	The practice of naturopathic medicine by a person employed by the federal government while the person is engaged in the performance of duties prescribed by laws and regulations of the United States.
(3)	The practice of naturopathic medicine by a student or resident completing a clinical requirement for graduation from a naturopathic training program approved by the Board so long as the practice is performed under the supervision of a physician licensed under Article 1 of this Chapter and the clinical requirement does not exceed one year.
(c)	Unlawful Act. – A person who violates this section is guilty of a Class I felony. The Board may make application to superior court for an order enjoining a violation of this section. Upon a showing by the Board that a person has violated or is about to violate this section, the court may grant an injunction, restraining order, or take other appropriate action.
"§ 90‑736.  Powers of the Board.
The Board shall have the following powers and duties:
(1)	Administer and enforce the provisions of this Article.
(2)	Adopt rules as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Article.
(3)	Establish, examine, and determine the qualifications and fitness of applicants for licensure and renewal of licensure.
(4)	Issue, renew, deny, suspend, or revoke licenses and conduct any disciplinary actions authorized by this Article.
(5)	Collect fees for licensure, licensure renewal, and other services deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this Article.
(6)	Establish and approve continuing education requirements for persons licensed under this Article.
(7)	Employ and fix the compensation of personnel that the Board determines is necessary to carry out the provisions of this Article and incur other expenses necessary to perform the duties of the Board.
(8)	Adopt a seal containing the name of the Board for use on all licenses and official reports issued by the Board.
(9)	Institute corrective measures, as necessary, to rehabilitate naturopathic doctors or limit their practice.
(10)	Investigate persons engaging in practices that violate the provisions of this Article.
"§ 90‑737.  Qualifications for licensure; renewal; reinstatement.
(a)	Licensure. – Upon application to the Board and payment of the required fees, an applicant may be licensed under this Article as a naturopathic doctor if the applicant meets all of the following qualifications and conditions:
(1)	Is of good moral and ethical character.
(2)	Is a graduate of an approved program of naturopathic medicine as defined in G.S. 90‑732(1).
(3)	Meets one of the following two conditions:
a.	Has successfully passed a competency‑based national naturopathic licensing examination administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners as recognized by the Board.
b.	Has successfully passed a competency‑based examination approved by the Board and by the North American Board of Naturopathic Medical Education.
(4)	Submits any other documentation the Board deems necessary to determine the applicant's fitness for licensure under this Article. This documentation may include successful completion of a Board approved examination on State laws and rules related to naturopathic medicine.
(b)	Renewal. – A license expires every year on the date it is issued unless it is renewed. Failure to renew a license within 30 days of the date the license expires shall result in automatic forfeiture of the right to practice naturopathic medicine in this State until such time that the license has been reinstated. To renew a license, a licensee shall meet all of the following conditions:
(1)	Submit an application for license renewal.
(2)	Pay the required fees.
(3)	Complete at least 30 hours of continuing education each year as approved by the Board.
(c)	Reinstatement. – A licensed naturopathic doctor who has allowed the license to lapse by failure to renew within the time allowed under subsection (b) of this section may apply for reinstatement. The Board may reinstate the applicant's license if the applicant pays the required fees, furnishes a statement of the reason for failure to apply for renewal before the deadline, and complies with any other requirements established in rules adopted by the Board. If the license has lapsed for two years or longer, the Board may require the applicant to satisfactorily complete a refresher course approved by the Board or to provide proof of active licensure within the past two years in another jurisdiction.
"§ 90‑738.  Reciprocity.
The Board may grant, upon application and payment of fees, a license to a person who resides in this State and has been licensed to practice as a naturopathic doctor in another state or a Canadian province if both of the following conditions are met:
(1)	The standards for licensure in the state or province in which the naturopathic doctor is licensed are substantially equivalent to those provided in this Article.
(2)	The applicant provides proof of licensure in good standing in all states and provinces in which the applicant has been licensed.
"§ 90‑739.  Fees.
The Board may impose the following fees:
(1)	Application and examination.	$200.00
(2)	License.	$400.00
(3)	License renewal.	$300.00
(4)	Late renewal.	$200.00
(5)	Reinstatement.	$1,000.00
(6)	Reasonable charges for duplication services and material.
(7)	Criminal history record check fee equal to the amount imposed by the Department of Justice to conduct the criminal history record check requested by the Board.
"§ 90‑740.  Disciplinary authority.
(a)	Authority. – The Board may impose probationary conditions upon a licensee, or it may deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew a license, if the licensee or applicant does any of the following:
(1)	Engages in any act or practice in violation of any of the provisions of this Article or of any of the rules adopted by the Board or aids, abets, or assists any other person in the violation of the provisions of this Article or rules adopted by the Board.
(2)	Gives false information to or withholds information from the Board in procuring or attempting to procure a license.
(3)	Has been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to a crime that indicates that the person is unfit or incompetent to practice as a naturopathic doctor or that indicates the person has deceived or defrauded the public. A felony conviction shall result in the automatic revocation of a license issued by the Board unless the Board determines otherwise pursuant to rules adopted by the Board.
(4)	Has been declared mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(5)	Habitually uses or is addicted to drugs or intoxicating liquors to the extent that it the usage or addiction affects the licensee's professional competency. If a licensee violates this subdivision, the Board may require the licensee to undergo a mental or physical examination by physicians designated by the Board before or after the licensee has been charged. The results of the examination shall be admissible as evidence in a hearing before the Board.
(6)	Has demonstrated gross negligence, incompetency, or misconduct in the performance of naturopathic medical treatment.
(7)	Has had a health care provider license denied, restricted, revoked, or suspended by another state or jurisdiction.
(8)	Fails to consent to a criminal history record check.
(9)	Fails to respond, within a reasonable time, to inquiries from the Board concerning any matter affecting the individual's license to practice naturopathic medicine.
(10)	Fails to complete continuing education requirements within the time prescribed.
(b)	Hearing. – Denial, refusal to renew, suspension, or revocation of a license or imposition of probationary conditions upon a licensee may be ordered by the Board after a hearing held in accordance with Article 3A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes and rules adopted pursuant to this Article. An application may be made to the Board for reinstatement of a revoked license if the revocation has been in effect for not less than two years.
(c)	Records. – The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings. The Board may, in a closed session, receive evidence regarding the treatment of a patient who has not expressly or impliedly consented to the public disclosure of the treatment when necessary for the protection of the rights of the patient or of the accused naturopathic doctor and the full presentation of relevant evidence. All records, papers, investigative files, investigative reports, and other documents containing information gathered or received by the Board as a result of investigations, inquiries, or interviews conducted in connection with an application for licensure, a complaint, or a disciplinary matter are not considered public documents within the meaning of Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. If a record, paper, or other document containing information collected and compiled by the Board is admitted into evidence in a hearing held by the Board, it shall then be a public record within the meaning of Chapter 132 of the General Statutes.
(d)	Confidential Information. – The Board may release confidential or nonpublic information about a licensee to any health care licensure board in this State or another state relating to the issuance, denial, suspension, revocation, or voluntary surrender of the license, including the reasons for the action or any investigative report prepared by the Board. The Board shall notify the naturopathic doctor within 30 days after the information is released. The Board shall furnish to the naturopathic doctor a summary of the information being released. However, if the naturopathic doctor requests, in writing, within 30 days from the date of notice, a copy of the information being released, the Board shall give to the naturopathic doctor a copy of all the information being released. Notice or copies shall not be provided by the Board if the information relates to an ongoing criminal investigation by a law enforcement agency or any Department of Health and Human Services personnel with enforcement or investigative responsibilities.
"§ 90‑741.  Criminal history record check of applicants and licensees.
(a)	Criminal History Record Check. – The Board may require a criminal history record check for a person who is either licensed under this Article or applying for licensure under this Article. The Board is responsible for providing to the North Carolina Department of Justice the fingerprints of the person to be checked, a form signed by the person consenting to the criminal record check and the use of fingerprints and other identifying information required by the State or National Repositories, and any additional information required by the Department of Justice. The Board shall keep all information obtained pursuant to this section confidential.
(b)	Conviction. – If a criminal history record check reveals one or more convictions, the Board shall deny licensure. However, if a criminal history record check reveals one or more misdemeanor convictions, the convictions shall not automatically bar licensure. The Board shall consider all of the following factors regarding the misdemeanor conviction:
(1)	The level of seriousness of the crime.
(2)	The date of the crime.
(3)	The age of the person at the time of the conviction.
(4)	The circumstances surrounding the commission of the crime, if known.
(5)	The nexus between the criminal conduct of the person and the job duties of the position to be filled.
(6)	The person's prison, jail, probation, parole, rehabilitation, and employment records since the date the crime was committed.
(7)	The subsequent commission of a crime by the person.
(c)	Denial of Licensure. – If the Board denies, revokes, or suspends a license based on information obtained in a criminal history record check, the Board shall disclose to the person the information contained in the criminal history record check that is relevant to the Board's actions. The Board may not provide a copy of the criminal history record check to the person. A person has the right to appear before the Board to appeal the Board's decision. An appearance before the Board shall constitute an exhaustion of administrative remedies in accordance with Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.
(d)	Limited Immunity. – The Board, its officers and employees, acting in good faith and in compliance with this section, shall be immune from civil liability for its actions based on information provided in a person's criminal history record check.
"§ 90‑742.  Reports; immunity from suit.
(a)	Report. – A person who has reasonable cause to suspect misconduct or incapacity of a licensee, or who has reasonable cause to suspect that a person is in violation of this Article, may report the relevant facts to the Board. Upon receipt of a charge, or upon its own initiative, the Board may give notice of an administrative hearing or may, after diligent investigation, dismiss unfounded charges. A person who, in good faith, makes a report pursuant to this section is immune from any criminal prosecution or civil liability resulting from making the report.
(b)	Immunity. – The Board and its staff are immune from any criminal prosecution or civil liability for exercising, in good faith, the powers and duties given to the Board under this Article.
"§ 90‑743.  Private cause of action for unauthorized practice.
If any person knowingly violates this section, fraudulently holds himself or herself out as a licensed naturopath, or knowingly aids and abets another person to commit the unauthorized practice of naturopathy, in addition to any other liability imposed pursuant to this Article or any other applicable law, and a person is damaged by the unlawful acts set out in this section, the person so damaged is entitled to maintain a private cause of action to recover damages and reasonable attorneys' fees from the person causing the damage.
"§ 90‑744.  Third‑party reimbursement.
Nothing in this Article shall be construed to require direct third‑party reimbursement to persons licensed under this Article."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 90‑2(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	There is established the North Carolina Medical Board to regulate the practice of medicine and surgery for the benefit and protection of the people of North Carolina. The Board shall consist of 14 members.
(1)	Seven of the members shall be duly licensed physicians recommended by the Review Panel and appointed by the Governor as set forth in G.S. 90‑3.
(2)	The remaining seven members shall all be appointed by the Governor as follows:
a.	One shall be a duly licensed physician who is a doctor of osteopathy or a full‑time faculty member of one of the medical schools in North Carolina who utilizes integrative medicine in that person's clinical practice or a member of The Old North State Medical Society. This Board position shall not be subject to recommendations of the Review Panel pursuant to G.S. 90‑3.
b.	Three shall be public members, and these Board positions shall not be subject to recommendations of the Review Panel pursuant to G.S. 90‑3. A public member shall not be a health care provider nor the spouse of a health care provider. For the purpose of Board membership, "health care provider" means any licensed health care professional, agent or employee of a health care institution, health care insurer, health care professional school, or a member of any allied health profession. For purposes of this section, a person enrolled in a program as preparation to be a licensed health care professional or an allied health professional shall be deemed a health care provider. For purposes of this section, any person with significant financial interest in a health service or profession is not a public member.
c.	One shall be a physician assistant as defined in G.S. 90‑18.1 or a nurse practitioner as defined in G.S. 90‑18.2 as recommended by the Review Panel pursuant to G.S. 90‑3.
d.	Two shall be naturopathic doctors licensed to practice naturopathic medicine under Article 43 of this Chapter."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 90‑18(c) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(c)	The following shall not constitute practicing medicine or surgery as defined in this Article:
…
(21)	The practice of naturopathic medicine by a licensed naturopathic doctor under the provisions of Article 43 of this Chapter."
SECTION 5.  Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 114 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 114‑19.33.  Criminal history record checks for naturopathic doctors.
(a)	The Department of Justice may provide to the North Carolina Medical Board from the State and National Repositories of Criminal Histories the criminal history of an applicant for licensure by the Board or a licensee of the Board. The Judicial Department shall provide to the Department of Justice, along with the request, the fingerprints of the applicant or licensee, a form signed by the applicant or licensee consenting to the criminal history record check and use of fingerprints and other identifying information required by the State and National Repositories, and any additional information required by the Department of Justice. The fingerprints of the applicant or licensee shall be forwarded to the State Bureau of Investigation for a search of the State's criminal history record file, and the State Bureau of Investigation shall forward a set of fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. The Judicial Department shall keep all information obtained pursuant to this section confidential.
(b)	The Department of Justice may charge a fee to offset the cost incurred by it to conduct a criminal history record check under this section. The fee shall not exceed the actual cost of locating, editing, researching, and retrieving the information."
SECTION 6. Article 43 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read: 
"§ 90‑735.1.  North Carolina Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Board.
(a)	Board. – The North Carolina Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Board is created. The Board consists of seven members serving for staggered terms. The initial Board members shall be appointed on or before January 1, 2017, as follows:
(1)	The General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, shall appoint two naturopathic doctors who are licensed under this Article. One member shall serve a term of one year, and one member shall serve a term of three years.
(2)	The General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall appoint two naturopathic doctors who are licensed under this Article. One member shall serve a term of one year, and one member shall serve a term of two years.
(3)	The Governor shall appoint two physicians licensed under Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes, at least one of whom shall be involved in the practice of integrative medicine or who teaches integrative medicine at a medical school. Both of these members shall serve a term of three years.
(4)	The Governor shall appoint for a two‑year term a public member who is not a licensed health care professional and is not employed in a health care profession.
Upon the expiration of the terms of the initial Board members, each member is appointed for a term of three years beginning on January 1 of each year. A member serves until the member's successor is appointed. No member shall serve on the Board for more than two consecutive terms.
(b)	Vacancies. – A member of the Board serves at the pleasure of the authority that appointed the member. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. An appointee to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term and until the appointee's successor has been duly appointed.
(c)	Removal. – The Board may remove any of its members for neglect of duty, incompetence, or unprofessional conduct. A member subject to disciplinary proceedings as a licensee shall be disqualified from participating in the official business of the Board until the charges have been resolved.
(d)	General Administration. – A Board member may not receive compensation but may receive reimbursement as provided in G.S. 93B‑5. The officers of the Board include a chair, a secretary, and any other officer deemed necessary by the Board to carry out the purposes of this Article. All officers shall be elected annually by the Board at its first meeting held after appointments to the Board are made. The Board shall hold a meeting within 45 days of the appointment of new Board members. All officers shall serve one‑year terms and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified. No person shall chair the Board for more than one year. The Board may adopt rules governing the calling, holding, and conducting of regular and special meetings. A majority of Board members constitutes a quorum."
SECTION 7.  G.S. 90‑732(2) reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑732. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Article:
…
(2)	Board. – The North Carolina Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Board.
…."
SECTION 8.  Sections 6 and 7 of this act become effective January 1, 2017. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.