32-2504. Powers and duties;
subcommittees



(L10, Ch. 172, sec. 2. Eff. 1/1/11)



A. The board shall:


1. As its primary duty, protect the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified,
impaired or unprofessional physician assistants.


2. License and regulate physician assistants pursuant to this chapter.


3. Order and evaluate physical, psychological, psychiatric and competency testing
of licensees and applicants the board determines is necessary to enforce this chapter.


4. Review the credentials and the abilities of applicants for licensure whose
professional records or physical or mental capabilities may not meet the requirements of
this chapter.


5. Initiate investigations and determine on its own motion if a licensee has
engaged in unprofessional conduct or is or may be incompetent or mentally or physically
unable to safely perform health care tasks.


6. Establish fees and penalties pursuant to section 32-2526.


7. Develop and recommend standards governing the profession.


8. Engage in the full exchange of information with the licensing and disciplinary
boards and professional associations of other states and jurisdictions of the United
States and foreign countries and a statewide association for physician assistants.


9. Direct the preparation and circulation of educational material the board
determines is helpful and proper for its licensees.


10. Discipline and rehabilitate physician assistants pursuant to this chapter.


11. Certify physician assistants for fourteen day prescription privileges for
schedule II or schedule III controlled substances if the physician assistant:


(a) Within the preceding three years of application, completed forty-five hours in
pharmacology or clinical management of drug therapy or at the time of application is
certified by a national commission on the certification of physician assistants or its
successor.


(b) Met any other requirement established by board rule.


B. The board may make and adopt rules necessary or proper for the administration of
this chapter.


C. The chairperson may establish subcommittees consisting of board members and
define their duties as the chairperson deems necessary to carry out the functions of the
board.


D. Board employees, including the executive director, temporary personnel and
professional medical investigators, are immune from civil liability for good faith
actions they take to enforce this chapter.


E. In performing its duties pursuant to subsection A of this section, the board may
receive and review staff reports on complaints, malpractice cases and all investigations.