S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7020--B
Cal. No. 1243
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 24, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education -- recom-
mitted to the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with Senate
Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported
favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report,
ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining
its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requirements for
certain clinical laboratory practitioners
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 8600 of the education law, as added by chapter 204
of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
§ 8600. Introduction. This article defines the practice of clinical
laboratory technology and provides for the licensing of clinical labora-
tory technologists [and], cytotechnologists, AND HISTOTECHNOLOGISTS and
for the certification of clinical laboratory technicians and [histologi-
cal technicians] HISTOTECHNICIANS. The general provisions for all
professions contained in article one hundred thirty of this title shall
apply to this article.
§ 2. Subdivision 2 of section 8601 of the education law, as amended by
chapter 204 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
2. A "clinical laboratory practitioner" means clinical laboratory
technologists, cytotechnologists, HISTOTECHNOLOGISTS, clinical laborato-
ry technicians, and [histological technicians] HISTOTECHNICIANS as such
terms are defined in this subdivision, who practice clinical laboratory
technology in a licensed clinical laboratory. For the purposes of this
article, a licensed clinical laboratory does not include a laboratory
operated by any licensed physician, dentist, podiatrist, midwife or
certified nurse practitioner who performs laboratory tests or proce-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11276-13-2
S. 7020--B 2
dures, personally or through his or her employees, solely as an adjunct
to the treatment of his or her own patients.
(a) "Clinical laboratory technologist" means a clinical laboratory
practitioner who, pursuant to established and approved protocols of the
department of health, performs clinical laboratory procedures and exam-
inations and any other tests or procedures conducted by a clinical labo-
ratory, including maintaining equipment and records, and performing
quality assurance activities related to examination performance, and
which require the exercise of independent judgment and responsibility,
as determined by the department.
(b) "Cytotechnologist" means a clinical laboratory practitioner who,
pursuant to established and approved protocols of the department of
health, performs cytological procedures and examinations and any other
such tests including maintaining equipment and records and performing
quality assurance activities related to examination performance, and
which require the exercise of independent judgment and responsibility,
as determined by the department.
(c) "HISTOTECHNOLOGIST" MEANS A CLINICAL LABORATORY PRACTITIONER WHO
PURSUANT TO ESTABLISHED AND APPROVED PROTOCOLS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH PERFORMS SLIDE BASED HISTOLOGICAL ASSAYS, TESTS, AND PROCEDURES
AND ANY OTHER SUCH TESTS CONDUCTED BY A CLINICAL HISTOLOGY LABORATORY,
INCLUDING MAINTAINING EQUIPMENT AND RECORDS AND PERFORMING QUALITY
ASSURANCE ACTIVITIES RELATING TO PROCEDURE PERFORMANCE ON HISTOLOGICAL
TESTING OF HUMAN TISSUES, AND WHICH REQUIRES THE EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT
JUDGMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
(D) "Clinical laboratory technician" means a clinical laboratory prac-
titioner who performs clinical laboratory procedures and examinations
pursuant to established and approved protocols of the department of
health, which require limited exercise of independent judgment and which
are performed under the supervision of a clinical laboratory technolo-
gist, laboratory supervisor, or director of a clinical laboratory.
[(d)] (E) ["Histological technician"] "HISTOTECHNICIAN" means a clin-
ical laboratory practitioner who pursuant to established and approved
protocols of the department of health performs slide based histological
assays, tests, and procedures and any other such tests conducted by a
clinical histology laboratory, including maintaining equipment and
records and performing quality assurance activities relating to proce-
dure performance on histological testing of human tissues and which
requires limited exercise of independent judgment and is performed under
the supervision of a laboratory supervisor, designated by the director
of a clinical laboratory or under the supervision of the director of the
clinical laboratory.
[(e)] (F) "Director of a clinical laboratory" means a director as that
term is defined in section five hundred seventy-one of the public health
law.
[(f)] (G) "Laboratory supervisor" means an individual who, under the
general direction of the laboratory director, supervises technical
personnel and reporting of findings, performs tests requiring special
scientific skills, and, in the absence of the director, is responsible
for the proper performance of all laboratory procedures.
§ 3. Section 8602 of the education law, as added by chapter 755 of the
laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
§ 8602. Practice of clinical laboratory technology [and], cytotechnol-
ogy AND HISTOTECHNOLOGY and use of the titles "licensed clinical labora-
tory technologist" [and], "licensed cytotechnologist" AND "LICENSED
HISTOTECHNOLOGIST". No person shall practice AS A clinical laboratory
S. 7020--B 3
[technology] TECHNOLOGIST, CYTOTECHNOLOGIST OR HISTOTECHNOLOGIST, or
hold himself or herself out as a clinical laboratory technologist, or a
cytotechnologist, OR A HISTOTECHNOLOGIST in this state unless he or she
is licensed or exempt pursuant to this article.
§ 4. Section 8603 of the education law, as amended by chapter 204 of
the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
§ 8603. Practice as a clinical laboratory technician and [histological
technician] HISTOTECHNICIAN and the use of the titles "clinical labora-
tory technician" and ["histological technician"] "HISTOTECHNICIAN". No
person shall practice as a clinical laboratory technician or as a
[histological technician] HISTOTECHNICIAN or hold himself or herself out
as a clinical laboratory technician or a [histological technician]
HISTOTECHNICIAN in this state unless he or she is certified or exempt
pursuant to this article, provided that an individual licensed as a
clinical laboratory technologist, cytotechnologist, HISTOTECHNOLOGIST,
or clinical laboratory technician may practice the profession of [histo-
logical technician] HISTOTECHNICIAN.
§ 5. Section 8604 of the education law, as amended by chapter 204 of
the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
§ 8604. State board for clinical laboratory technology. A state board
for clinical laboratory technology shall be appointed by the board of
regents upon the recommendation of the commissioner for the purpose of
assisting the board of regents and the department on matters of profes-
sional licensing and professional conduct in accordance with section
sixty-five hundred eight of this title. The board shall be composed of
twelve members, four of whom shall be licensed clinical laboratory tech-
nologists, two of whom shall be licensed cytotechnologists, one of whom
shall be a certified clinical laboratory technician, one of whom shall
be a LICENSED HISTOTECHNOLOGIST OR certified [histological technician]
HISTOTECHNICIAN, two members of the public, one representative of the
diagnostic/manufacturing industry, and one director of a clinical labo-
ratory who shall be a physician. An executive secretary to the board
shall be appointed by the board of regents upon the recommendation of
the commissioner. The clinical laboratory practitioner members of the
initial board need not be licensed prior to their appointment but shall
have met all other requirements of licensing except the filing of an
application, the passing of a satisfactory exam and paying a fee.
§ 6. Section 8605 of the education law, as added by chapter 755 of the
laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
§ 8605. Requirements for a license as a clinical laboratory technolo-
gist or cytotechnologist. To qualify for a license as a clinical labora-
tory technology practitioner under one of the titles defined in subdivi-
sion two of section eighty-six hundred one of this article, an applicant
shall fulfill the particular requirements of a subdivision of this
section applicable to the license and title sought by the applicant:
1. Licensure as a clinical laboratory technologist.
(a) Application: file an application with the department;
(b) Education: have received an education, including a bachelor's
degree in clinical laboratory technology from a program registered by
the department or determined by the department to be the substantial
equivalent OR A CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM ACCREDITED BY A
NATIONAL ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, or have
received a bachelor's degree that includes a minimum number of credit
hours in the sciences and received appropriate clinical education in an
accredited clinical laboratory technology program or a program to be
determined by the department to be the substantial equivalent;
S. 7020--B 4
(B-1) ALTERNATIVES TO EDUCATION:
(I) IN LIEU OF REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDI-
VISION THE DEPARTMENT MAY ACCEPT:
(1) CURRENT CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATION BY A NATIONAL
CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; OR
(2) CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY LICENSURE IN A JURISDICTION ACCEPT-
ABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT;
(II) IN LIEU OF REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDI-
VISION THE DEPARTMENT MAY ACCEPT, A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN A NATURAL
SCIENCE OR A CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE AND COURSEWORK ACCEPTABLE TO
THE DEPARTMENT AND:
(1) TWO YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN A CLINICAL LABORATORY WHILE LICENSED AS A
CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN IN NEW YORK OR ANOTHER JURISDICTION
ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; OR
(2) TWO YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN A CLINICAL LABORATORY WHILE CERTIFIED AS
A CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN BY A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION ORGANIZA-
TION ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT.
(c) Examination: pass an examination satisfactory to the board and in
accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
(d) Age: be at least eighteen years of age;
(e) Character: be of good moral character as determined by the depart-
ment; and
(f) Fees: pay a fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars for an initial
license and a fee of one hundred seventy dollars for each triennial
registration period.
2. Licensure as a cytotechnologist.
(a) Application: file an application with the department;
(b) Education: have received an education, including a bachelor's
degree in cytotechnology from a program registered by the department or
determined by the department to be the substantial equivalent, or have
received a bachelor's degree that includes a minimum number of credit
hours in the sciences and received appropriate clinical education in an
accredited cytotechnology program or a program determined by the depart-
ment to be the substantial equivalent;
(B-1) ALTERNATIVES TO EDUCATION: IN LIEU OF REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN
PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION THE DEPARTMENT MAY ACCEPT:
(I) CURRENT CYTOTECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATION BY A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION
ORGANIZATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; OR
(II) CYTOTECHNOLOGY LICENSURE IN A JURISDICTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE
DEPARTMENT.
(c) Examination: pass an examination acceptable to the board and in
accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
(d) Age: be at least eighteen years of age;
(e) Character: be of good moral character as determined by the depart-
ment; and
(f) Fees: pay a fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars for an initial
license and a fee of one hundred seventy dollars for each triennial
registration period.
§ 7. Subdivision 2 of section 8606 of the education law, as added by
chapter 755 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
2. Education: have received an education, including an associate's
degree from an approved clinical laboratory technician program regis-
tered by the department or determined by the department to be the
substantial equivalent, OR AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE CLINICAL LABORATORY
TECHNICIAN PROGRAM ACCREDITED BY A NATIONAL ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION
ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT, OR AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE PROGRAM IN A
S. 7020--B 5
NATURAL SCIENCE OR A CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE AND COURSEWORK ACCEPTA-
BLE TO THE DEPARTMENT AND A CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN PROGRAM
ACCREDITED BY A NATIONAL ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE
DEPARTMENT;
§ 8. Section 8606 of the education law is amending by adding a new
subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
2-A. ALTERNATIVES TO EDUCATION: IN LIEU OF REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN
SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION THE DEPARTMENT MAY ACCEPT:
(A) CURRENT CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION BY A NATIONAL
CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; OR
(B) CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN LICENSURE IN A JURISDICTION ACCEPT-
ABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT.
§ 9. Section 8606-a of the education law, as added by chapter 204 of
the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
§ 8606-a. Requirements for certification as a [histological techni-
cian] HISTOTECHNICIAN. For certification as a [histological technician]
HISTOTECHNICIAN under this article, an applicant shall fulfill the
following requirements:
1. Application: file an application with the department;
2. Education: have received an education, including an associate's
degree from an approved [histological technician] HISTOTECHNICIAN
program registered by the department or determined by the department to
be the substantial equivalent, or have received an associate's degree
that includes a minimum number of credit hours in the sciences and
received appropriate clinical education in a [histological technician]
HISTOTECHNICIAN program approved by the department or a program to be
determined by the department to be the substantial equivalent OR A
HISTOTECHNICIAN PROGRAM ACCREDITED BY A NATIONAL ACCREDITING ORGANIZA-
TION ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT;
2-A. ALTERNATIVES TO EDUCATION: IN LIEU OF REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN
SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION THE DEPARTMENT MAY ACCEPT:
(A) CURRENT HISTOTECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION BY A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION
ORGANIZATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; OR
(B) HISTOTECHNICIAN LICENSURE IN A JURISDICTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE
DEPARTMENT.
3. Examination: pass an examination satisfactory to the board and in
accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
4. Age: be at least eighteen years of age;
5. Character: be of good moral character as determined by the depart-
ment; and
6. Fees: pay a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars for an initial
certification and a fee of one hundred twenty dollars for each triennial
registration period.
§ 10. The education law is amended by adding a new section 8606-b to
read as follows:
§ 8606-B. REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE AS A HISTOTECHNOLOGIST. FOR
CERTIFICATION AS A HISTOTECHNOLOGIST UNDER THIS ARTICLE, AN APPLICANT
SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
1. APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT;
2. EDUCATION: HAVE COMPLETED ONE OF FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
(A) A BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAM IN HISTOTECHNOLOGY REGISTERED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OR DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO BE THE SUBSTANTIAL EQUIV-
ALENT, OR A HISTOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM ACCREDITED BY A NATIONAL ACCREDITING
ORGANIZATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; OR
(B) A BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAM IN A NATURAL SCIENCE OR A LABORATORY
SCIENCE AND A MINIMUM NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPART-
S. 7020--B 6
MENT, AND APPROPRIATE CLINICAL EDUCATION IN A HISTOTECHNOLOGIST PROGRAM
ACCREDITED BY A NATIONAL ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE
DEPARTMENT OR A PROGRAM REGISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR DETERMINED BY
THE DEPARTMENT TO BE THE SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENT; OR
(C) CURRENT HISTOTECHNOLOGIST CERTIFICATION BY A NATIONAL CERTIF-
ICATION ORGANIZATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT; OR
(D) HISTOTECHNOLOGIST LICENSURE IN A JURISDICTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE
DEPARTMENT;
3. ALTERNATIVES TO EDUCATION: IN LIEU OF REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN
SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION THE DEPARTMENT MAY ACCEPT, A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE IN A NATURAL SCIENCE OR A CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE AND COURSE-
WORK ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT AND:
(A) TWO YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN A CLINICAL LABORATORY WHILE LICENSED AS A
HISTOTECHNICIAN IN NEW YORK OR ANOTHER JURISDICTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE
DEPARTMENT; OR
(B) TWO YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN A CLINICAL LABORATORY WHILE CERTIFIED AS
A HISTOTECHNICIAN BY A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION ACCEPTABLE TO
THE DEPARTMENT.
4. EXAMINATION: PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD AND IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS;
5. AGE: BE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE;
6. CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART-
MENT; AND
7. FEES: PAY A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR AN INITIAL
LICENSE AND A FEE OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY DOLLARS FOR EACH TRIENNIAL
REGISTRATION PERIOD.
§ 11. Subdivision 1 and paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 2 of
section 8608 of the education law, subdivision 1 as amended and para-
graphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 2 as added by chapter 147 of the laws
of 2018, are amended to read as follows:
1. Limited permit. On the recommendation of the board, the department
may issue a limited permit to practice as a clinical laboratory practi-
tioner to an applicant who has met all requirements for licensure as a
clinical laboratory technologist or cytotechnologist, HISTOTECHNOLOGIST,
or certification as a clinical laboratory technician or [histological
technician] HISTOTECHNICIAN, except those relating to the examination
and provided that the individual is under the general supervision of the
director of a clinical laboratory, as determined by the department. This
limited permit shall be valid for a period of not more than [one year,
and may be renewed, at the discretion of the department, for one addi-
tional year] TWO YEARS AND SHALL NOT BE RENEWABLE.
(a) On the recommendation of the board, the department may issue a
provisional permit to practice as a clinical laboratory practitioner to
an applicant who is employed in a clinical laboratory for the purpose of
enabling the applicant to complete the education requirements and/or to
pass the exam required for licensure as a clinical laboratory technolo-
gist or [histological technician] HISTOTECHNICIAN and provided that the
individual is under the general supervision of the director of a clin-
ical laboratory, as determined by the department, and provided further
that the applicant meets the requirements outlined in paragraph (b) of
this subdivision. This provisional permit shall be valid for a period of
not more than [one year, and may be renewed, at the discretion of the
department, for one additional year] TWO YEARS AND SHALL NOT BE RENEWA-
BLE.
(b) To qualify for a provisional permit, the applicant shall:
(i) file [an] A PROVISIONAL PERMIT application with the department;
S. 7020--B 7
(ii) have at least one of the following enumerated qualifications:
(A) be licensed as a clinical laboratory technologist, or the equiv-
alent as determined by the department, in another jurisdiction or
possess a current certification in [a] clinical laboratory technology
from a national certification organization acceptable to the department;
or
(B) have received both an education, including a bachelor's degree in
the biological, chemical, or physical sciences, and training in a clin-
ical laboratory, provided that such education and training are accepta-
ble to the department; or
(C) have received a bachelor's degree in the biological, chemical, or
physical sciences or in mathematics, and have served as a research
assistant in a research laboratory, under the direction of the director
or the principal researcher of such research laboratory, working on the
research and development of any procedures and examinations to be
conducted by a laboratory, as defined in title five of article five of
the public health law, on material derived from the human body which
provides information for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a
disease or assessment of a human medical condition; or
(D) for those seeking a provisional permit as a [histological techni-
cian] HISTOTECHNICIAN, have received an education, including an associ-
ate's degree that includes a minimum number of credit hours in the
sciences, provided that such education is acceptable to the department;
(iii) be at least eighteen years of age;
(iv) be of good moral character as determined by the department; [and]
(v) pay a fee of [three hundred forty-five] FIFTY dollars for a provi-
sional permit [provided that the fee for a provisional permit as a
histological technician shall be two hundred forty-five dollars.];
(VI) FILE A LICENSURE APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT; AND
(VII) PAY THE LICENSURE FEE AS OUTLINED IN SECTION EIGHTY-SIX HUNDRED
SIX OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 12. Subdivision 1 of section 8609 of the education law, as amended
by chapter 204 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
1. the practice, conduct, activities, or services by any person
licensed or otherwise authorized to practice medicine within the state
pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one-B of this title, or by any
person registered to perform services as a physician assistant or
specialist assistant within the state pursuant to article one hundred
thirty-one-B of this title, or by any person licensed to practice
dentistry within the state pursuant to article one hundred thirty-three
of this title, or by any person licensed to practice podiatry within the
state pursuant to article one hundred forty-one of this title, or by any
person certified as a nurse practitioner within the state pursuant to
article one hundred thirty-nine of this title, or by any person licensed
to perform services as a respiratory therapist or respiratory therapy
technician under article one hundred sixty-four of this title, or any
person licensed to practice midwifery within the state pursuant to arti-
cle one hundred forty of this title, or a person licensed to practice
nursing pursuant to article one hundred thirty-nine of this title, or a
person licensed to practice pursuant to article thirty-five of the
public health law; provided, however, that no such person shall use the
titles licensed CLINICAL laboratory technologist, LICENSED cytotechnolo-
gist, LICENSED HISTOTECHNOLOGIST, [or] certified CLINICAL laboratory
technician, OR CERTIFIED HISTOTECHNICIAN, unless licensed or certified
under this article; or
S. 7020--B 8
§ 13. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day
after it shall have become a law; provided however, that section ten of
this act shall take effect eighteen months after it shall have become a
law. Effective immediately, the state education department is author-
ized to promulgate regulations that may be required and to take other
measures necessary to implement this act prior to the aforementioned
effective dates, including acceptance and processing of applications for
licensing.