BILL NUMBER:  S1019

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to prohibiting the
denial of employment of an MRI technologist solely based on their lack
of licensure and/or certification in x-ray or radiography


 PURPOSE :

This bill would defines "magnetic resonance imaging technologist" and
makes it unlawful to deny employment to any magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) technologist certified by a nationally recognized organization,
as a magnetic imaging technologist, solely on the basis that he or she
lacks licensure and/or certification in x-ray Or radiography.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 of this bill provides a definition for "magnetic resonance
imaging technologist".

Section 2 of this bill makes it unlawful to deny employment to any
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologist certified by a
nationally recognized organization, as a magnetic imaging
technologist, solely on the basis that he or she lacks licensure
              

and/or certification in x-ray or radiography.

Section 3 of this bill provides for an immediate effective date.

 EXISTING LAW :


 JUSTIFICATION :
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a technology used by physicians
and hospitals that uses magnetic signals, rather than X-rays to create
images of the human body. Unlike x-rays, MRI technologists do not use
ionizing radiation, however, this distinction is often not clear to
employers when seeking to hire magnetic resonance imaging
technologists, often resulting in those certified by nationally
recognized organizations in the field to be denied employment because
they lack licensure and/or certification in x-ray or radiology. This
in effect, has created a shortage of MRI technologists in many areas,
and a lack of competition in the marketplace providing these services.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :


 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediately.