Bill to eliminate term limits from Physician Assistant Advisory Council goes to governor

Members of the Physician Assistant Advisory Council may no longer be restricted in their service.

Rep. Joe McDonald

Sponsored by Rep. Joe McDonald (R-Delano) and Sen. Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake), HF3536/SF2865* was passed by the House 123-3 Monday. It now goes to the governor. The Senate passed the bill 67-0 on May 1.

“Physician assistants are experts in their fields. Current law only allows them to serve two executive terms,” McDonald said.

The council is statutorily charged with advising the Board of Medical Practice regarding, among other things, physician assistant licensure standards, enforcement of grounds for discipline, distribution of information regarding physician assistant licensure standards and complaints and recommendations to the board regarding disciplinary matters and proceedings concerning applicants and licensees.

In a committee meeting on the bill earlier this year, McDonald said the council is one of several that advises the medical board, but it is the only one that currently has term limits.

“It makes no sense,” McDonald said, adding the bill would bring “uniformity” to the advisory committees.