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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

House Prescribes Order For Alternative Medicine

So many Idahoans are using unconventional forms of medicine, like acupuncture and herbal therapy, the state should start regulating the practices, lawmakers declared Wednesday.

The House overwhelmingly gave final legislative approval to a bill to register acupuncturists, homeopaths, naturopaths, massage therapists and herbal therapists. The bill, which already passed the Senate, now goes to the governor.

Practitioners sought the registration requirement, saying Idaho now has no way to stop unscrupulous practitioners.

Under the bill, a board will oversee the practitioners and all will be required to register and disclose their training. If they practice outside the practices for which they’re trained, they lose their registration.

Other bills receiving final legislative approval Wednesday included:

SB1359, making it a misdemeanor to intentionally make a false statement when applying for a domestic violence protection order.

SB1468, allowing nursing mothers to postpone jury service until their child is weaned.

SB1469, easing rules for adoption of foreign-born children. Among the changes: the child’s biological parents won’t have to be identified.

SB1412, allowing school districts to contract with a relative of a board member if the member doesn’t vote on the contract or bid specifications, and discloses the conflict. The measure, which has an emergency clause to put it into effect immediately, also allows other public officials’ relatives to contract with their agencies in some cases, if the same procedures are followed.

SB1514, requiring disclosure labels on charity collection containers to say how much of the donations actually go to the charity.

HB686, requiring anyone filing for a grocery tax credit to reside in Idaho.

, DataTimes