An Act To Allow Chiropractic Internships
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0849
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: DOORE, LAWRENCE, ALLEY, CAMPBELL, COLLINGS, FECTEAU, HANDY, MARTIN, MASTRACCIO, HERBIG
Amends: 32 MRSA §451

Legislative Document
No. 849
H.P. 623
House of Representatives, February 14, 2019
An Act To Allow Chiropractic Internships
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DOORE of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Senator LAWRENCE of York and
Representatives: ALLEY of Beals, CAMPBELL of Orrington, COLLINGS of Portland, 
FECTEAU of Biddeford, HANDY of Lewiston, MARTIN of Sinclair, MASTRACCIO of 
Sanford, Senator: HERBIG of Waldo.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §451, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A.  Chiropractic intern.  "Chiropractic intern" means a chiropractic student who 
has been issued a temporary license to provide chiropractic services under the provisions 
of subchapter 5.
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA c. 9, sub-c. 5 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 5
CHIROPRACTIC INTERNS
§561.  License
An individual may not provide chiropractic services as a chiropractic intern except as 
described under this subchapter.
1.  Application for licensure.  An applicant for a temporary license to practice 
chiropractic as a chiropractic intern pursuant to this subchapter shall complete an 
application on a form established by the board and pay a fee established by the board. An 
applicant for a temporary license shall:
A.  Identify the college or institution at which the applicant is a student sponsoring 
the applicant through a preceptorship arrangement;
B.  Identify the licensed chiropractic doctor who will provide supervision to the 
applicant, who must possess a valid, unrestricted license to practice chiropractic in 
the State and be approved by the sponsoring college or institution under paragraph A;
C.  Identify to the satisfaction of the board that adequate professional liability 
insurance provided by the sponsoring college or institution under paragraph A that 
covers the internship relationship is in effect;
D.  Provide evidence of having good moral character by means of a letter of good 
standing from the sponsoring college or institution under paragraph A and submit to a 
criminal background check as described in Title 20-A, section 6103; and
E.  Attest to having fully read and understood the requirements of this chapter and all 
rules established by the board pertaining to the legal practice of chiropractic in the 
State and agree to practice within the confines of state law.
The board may issue a nonrenewable temporary license, not to exceed 6 months, to 
practice chiropractic to an applicant meeting all of the conditions of this subsection. The 
temporary license must describe the place or setting where chiropractic services are 
provided. An applicant failing to provide documentation of the requirements of this 
subsection may not be granted a temporary license by the board. The board may by rule 
establish other requirements for temporary licensure of chiropractic interns.
2.  Exceptions to licensure.  The board may adopt rules to implement exceptions to 
licensure requirements for students practicing chiropractic as part of educational 
instruction in chiropractic.
§562.  Supervision requirements
1.  Supervision.  A chiropractic intern may not provide chiropractic services except 
under the supervision of the chiropractic doctor identified in section 561, subsection 1, 
paragraph B.  The chiropractic doctor shall be on the premises at all times and be readily 
available to instruct a chiropractic intern throughout the performance of the services the 
chiropractic intern is providing.
2.  Changes to supervision.  In the event the supervising chiropractic doctor under 
subsection 1 is unable to continue providing supervision to a chiropractic intern, the 
intern shall immediately notify the board and may not continue to practice chiropractic 
medicine until the board has approved the chiropractic intern to practice under the 
supervision of another licensed chiropractic doctor.
§563.  Title and display of license
1.  Title.  A chiropractic intern may not use any title or initials other than the term 
"chiropractic intern" with respect to the provision of chiropractic services.
2.  Display of temporary license.  A chiropractic intern shall conspicuously display 
the intern's temporary license while providing chiropractic services.
§564.  Rulemaking
The board may establish rules to implement this subchapter. Rules adopted pursuant 
to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 
2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a new temporary license for chiropractic interns.  The bill 
describes the supervision and credentialing requirements for licensure and the process by 
which an applicant may gain licensure.  The bill provides the Board of Chiropractic 
Licensure with rule-making authority.