Report of Regents Professional Practice Committee to The Board of Regents

Regents Committee on Professional Practice
Regent Norwood, Co-Chair, Regent Cottrell, Co-Chair, Regent Cea, Regent Collins, Regent Reyes, Regent Wills, Regent Catania, Regent Hale, Regent Pratts, and Regent Mannion.

The Professional Practice Committee held its scheduled meeting on December 10, 2024. All members were present except for Regent James E. Cottrell and Regent Catherine Collins, who were excused. Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., Vice Chancellor Judith Chin, Regent Roger Tilles, Regent Susan W. Mittler, Regent Shino Tanikawa, and Regent Seema Rivera, also attended the meeting, but did not vote on any action.

ACTION ITEMS

Professional Discipline Cases [PPC EXS (A) 2 – 3]

The Committee recommends, upon the recommendation of the Committee on the Professions, that 26 consent order applications and 9 surrender applications be granted.

These recommendations are made following the review of 35 cases involving seven registered professional nurses, three licensed practical nurses, two architects, two certified public accountants, two massage therapists, two pharmacists, two professional engineers, two veterinarians, one chiropractor, one licensed master social worker, one licensed master social worker who is also a licensed clinical social worker, one occupational therapist, one pharmacy, one public accountancy professional service corporation, one registered professional nurse who is also a nurse practitioner in Adult Health, one registered professional nurse who is also a nurse practitioner in Psychiatry who is also a nurse practitioner in Pediatrics, and one veterinary technician.

Restoration [PPC EXS (A) 4 – 5]

The Committee recommends, five to three, that the application of Philip DiBenedetto for the restoration of his license to practice as a registered professional nurse in New York State be denied.

The Committee unanimously recommends that the application of David Wasserman for the restoration of his license to practice as an Architect in New York State be granted.

Long-Term Clinical Clerkships [PPC EXS (A) 6]

The Committee recommends that the applications for Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and University of Queensland to place students in long-term clinical clerkships in New York be approved, in accordance with and subject to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Long-term Clinical Clerkships.

Proposed Amendment of Sections 52.26 and 61.13 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Application of Topical Fluoride Varnish by Dental Assistants [PPC (A) 1]
Department staff presented, for emergency action, proposed amendments to sections 52.26 and 61.13 of the Commissioner’s regulations to implement Chapter 457 of the Laws of 2024 (Chapter 457), which adds registered dental assistants to the list of health care professions who are authorized to apply topical fluoride varnish to patients of all ages. Emergency Action was necessary because Chapter 457 became immediately effective when the Governor signed it into law on November 15, 2024. 

The Committee recommends that sections 52.26 and 61.13 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended as, submitted, effective December 10, 2024, as an emergency action, upon the finding of the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the public health and general welfare in order to timely implement the provisions of Chapter 457 of the Laws of 2024, which became effective November 15, 2024.

The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

The Professional Practice Committee recommends, and we move, that the Board of Regents act affirmatively upon each recommendation in the written report of the Committee's deliberations at its meeting on December 10, 2024, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Proposed Amendment of Sections  59.12, 59.13, 79-7.1, 79-7.2, 79-7.3, and 79-7.4 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and Repeal of and Addition of New Sections 52.27 and 79-7.5 to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Requirements for Licensure as an Athletic Trainer [PPC (D) 1]
Department staff presented proposed amendments to the Commissioner’s regulations regarding requirements for licensure and continuing education for athletic trainers to conform such regulations to, and to implement, Chapter 733 of the Laws of 2023.

Deputy Commissioner David Hamilton reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda.