STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5860--B
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. GOUNARDES, MURRAY, SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher
Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged,
bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said
committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to modernizing the
chiropractic scope of practice; and to repeal certain provisions of
such law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 6551 of the education law, as added by chapter 987
2 of the laws of 1971, paragraphs a and b of subdivision 2 as amended by
3 chapter 450 of the laws of 1983, and subdivision 3 as amended by chapter
4 683 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
5 § 6551. Definition of practice of chiropractic. 1. The practice of
6 the profession of chiropractic is defined as [detecting and correcting
7 by manual or mechanical means structural imbalance, distortion, or
8 subluxations in the human body for the purpose of removing nerve inter-
9 ference and the effects thereof, where such interference is the result
10 of or related to distortion, misalignment or subluxation of or in the
11 vertebral column. 2.] the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, detection
12 and/or correction by manual, mechanical or other means, subluxations in
13 the vertebral column and other articulations and the effects thereof;
14 and/or the ability to treat soft tissue or neuromusculoskeletal dysfunc-
15 tion for the restoration and maintenance of health.
16 2. a. The practice of chiropractic includes physical and functional
17 examination of patients, health assessment, work capability assessment,
18 handicap eligibility assessment, school and other sports assessment,
19 school attendance assessment, and spinal health assessment, analysis, or
20 to give consultation, advice, recommendations and counseling regarding
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05767-05-5
S. 5860--B 2
1 anatomy, physiology, neurology, general health matters, wellness and
2 health optimization by any means of communication, the use of x-ray and
3 diagnostic imaging studies using ionizing and non-ionizing imaging meth-
4 ods, adjustment, mobilization, manipulation, traction, and decom-
5 pression, and other procedures consisting of but not limited to, heat,
6 cold, light, air, water, sound, electricity, massage, manual therapies,
7 therapeutic exercise with or without assistive devices. Chiropractors
8 may use diagnostic clinical laboratory methods directly related to the
9 diagnosis and monitoring of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, including
10 those assessing nutritional or metabolic factors that impact musculosk-
11 eletal health, as approved by the department.
12 b. Chiropractic examination, diagnostic and treatment methods may also
13 include electrodiagnostic testing and manipulation under anesthesia when
14 appropriate education standards have been met and as approved by the
15 department as being appropriate to the practice of chiropractic.
16 c. The practice of the profession of chiropractic allows a licensed
17 chiropractor who has successfully completed a registered doctoral, post-
18 doctoral or continuing education certification program of a higher
19 education credential by an accrediting agency, which contains courses of
20 study in wellness care methods, nutrition, and dietary advice satisfac-
21 tory to the department; use of wellness care methods and the ability to
22 engage in nutritional counseling and dietary advice, including the
23 dispensing of food concentrates, food extracts, nutraceuticals, vita-
24 mins, minerals, and other nutritional supplements approved by the
25 department as being appropriate to, and as a part of, the practice of
26 chiropractic, as the above relates to the definition of the practice of
27 chiropractic in subdivision one of this section.
28 3. a. A license to practice as a chiropractor shall permit a chirop-
29 ractic practitioner in their professional discretion the ability to
30 take, order and use x-ray and diagnostic imaging studies but shall not
31 permit the holder thereof to use [radio-therapy, fluoroscopy, or any
32 form of ionizing radiation except X-ray which shall be used for the
33 detection of structural imbalance, distortion, or subluxations in the
34 human body] ionizing radiation sources for the purposes of radiotherapy.
35 b. The requirements and limitations with respect to the use of [X-ray]
36 diagnostic imaging studies by chiropractors shall be enforced by the
37 state commissioner of health and [he] the commissioner is authorized to
38 promulgate rules and regulations after conferring with the [board]
39 department to carry out the purposes of this subdivision.
40 c. Chiropractors shall retain for a period of three years all [X-ray
41 films] diagnostic images taken in the course of their practice, together
42 with the records pertaining thereto, and shall make such [films] images
43 and records available to the state commissioner of health or [his] their
44 representative on demand.
45 [3.] 4. Chiropractors may use diagnostic clinical laboratory methods
46 involving chemical or biological means which particular tests and
47 services shall be approved by the department as appropriate to the prac-
48 tice of chiropractic as defined in this section.
49 5. A license to practice chiropractic shall not permit the holder
50 thereof to treat for any infectious diseases such as pneumonia, any
51 communicable diseases listed in the sanitary code of the state of New
52 York, any of the cardio-vascular-renal or cardio-pulmonary diseases, any
53 surgical condition [of the abdomen such as acute appendicitis, or
54 diabetes], or any benign or malignant neoplasms; to operate; to reduce
55 fractures [or dislocations]; to prescribe, administer, dispense or use
56 in [his] their practice drugs or medicines[; or to use diagnostic or
S. 5860--B 3
1 therapeutic methods involving chemical or biological means except diag-
2 nostic services performed by clinical laboratories which services shall
3 be approved by the board as appropriate to the practice of chiropractic;
4 or to utilize electrical devices except those devices approved by the
5 board as being appropriate to the practice of chiropractic. Nothing
6 herein shall be construed to prohibit a licensed chiropractor who has
7 successfully completed a registered doctoral program in chiropractic,
8 which contains courses of study in nutrition satisfactory to the depart-
9 ment, from using nutritional counseling, including the dispensing of
10 food concentrates, food extracts, vitamins, minerals, and other nutri-
11 tional supplements approved by the board as being appropriate to, and as
12 a part of, his or her practice of chiropractic. Nothing herein shall be
13 construed to prohibit an individual who is not subject to regulation in
14 this state as a licensed chiropractor from engaging in nutritional coun-
15 seling.] or controlled substances or to administer or use anesthetics.
16 Chiropractors may use topical analgesic substances and anesthetic balms,
17 salves or emollients or advise on over the counter substances.
18 § 2. Section 6552 of the education law, as added by chapter 987 of the
19 laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
20 § 6552. Practice of chiropractic and use of title "chiropractor" or
21 "doctor of chiropractic". Only a person licensed [or exempt] or other-
22 wise authorized under this article [shall] to practice chiropractic [or]
23 may use the title "chiropractor" or "doctor of chiropractic".
24 § 3. Section 6553 of the education law, as added by chapter 987 of the
25 laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
26 § 6553. State board for chiropractic. A state board for chiropractic
27 shall be appointed by the board of regents on recommendation of the
28 commissioner for the purpose of assisting the board of regents and the
29 department on matters of professional licensing and professional conduct
30 in accordance with section sixty-five hundred eight of this title. The
31 board shall be composed of not less than [seven] eight members, includ-
32 ing [at least four licensed] seven chiropractors[, one licensed physi-
33 cian who is a doctor of medicine, one licensed physician who is a doctor
34 of osteopathy, and one educator who holds a doctorate or equivalent
35 degree in either anatomy, physiology, pathology, chemistry or microbiol-
36 ogy] licensed in this state and one public member. An executive secre-
37 tary to the board shall be appointed by the board of regents on recom-
38 mendation of the commissioner.
39 § 4. Section 6554 of the education law, as added by chapter 987 of the
40 laws of 1971, subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 994 of the laws of
41 1971, subdivision 6 as amended by chapter 669 of the laws of 2022, and
42 subdivision 8 as amended by chapter 62 of the laws of 1989, is amended
43 to read as follows:
44 § 6554. Requirements for a professional license. To qualify for a
45 license as a chiropractor, an applicant shall fulfill the following
46 requirements:
47 (1) Application: file an application with the department;
48 (2) Education: have received an education, including [two] three years
49 or ninety semester hours of credit or equivalent trimester or quarter
50 hours of credit of preprofessional college study and completion of a
51 [four-year resident program in chiropractic,] program of chiropractic
52 education of not less than four academic years, or the equivalent there-
53 of in accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
54 (3) Experience: have experience satisfactory to the board and in
55 accordance with the commissioner's regulations[:];
S. 5860--B 4
1 (4) Examination: pass examinations satisfactory to the board and in
2 accordance with the commissioner's regulations[, in clinical chiroprac-
3 tic analysis, the practice of chiropractic, X-ray as it relates to
4 chiropractic analysis, and examinations satisfactory to the department
5 in anatomy, physiology, pathology, chemistry, microbiology, diagnosis,
6 and the use and effect of X-ray] for the practice of chiropractic;
7 (5) Age: be at least twenty-one years of age;
8 (6) Citizenship or immigration status: be a United States citizen or a
9 noncitizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United
10 States;
11 (7) Character: be of good moral character as determined by the depart-
12 ment; and
13 (8) Fees: pay a fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars to the depart-
14 ment for [admission to a department conducted examination and for] an
15 initial license, [a fee of eighty-five dollars for each reexamination, a
16 fee of one hundred fifteen dollars for an initial license for persons
17 not requiring admission to a department conducted examination,] and a
18 fee of one hundred fifty-five dollars for each triennial registration
19 period.
20 § 5. Section 6555 of the education law, as amended by chapter 537 of
21 the laws of 1983, is amended to read as follows:
22 § 6555. Exempt persons. [Nothing in this article shall be construed
23 to affect or prevent a student enrolled in a college of chiropractic in
24 this state from engaging in all phases of clinical practice under super-
25 vision of a licensed chiropractor or physician in a curriculum regis-
26 tered by the department.] The following persons under the following
27 limitations may practice chiropractic within the state without a
28 license:
29 1. A student enrolled in any accredited college of chiropractic engag-
30 ing in all phases of clinical practice under supervision of a licensed
31 chiropractor or physician in a curriculum registered by the department;
32 or
33 2. A student who is performing a clinical externship or preceptorship
34 in a chiropractic office or clinic setting and who is enrolled in a
35 chiropractic school which meets the standards satisfactory to the
36 department, provided such practice is under the direct supervision of a
37 licensed chiropractor for a maximum period of twelve months; or
38 3. Any chiropractor authorized to practice chiropractic while travel-
39 ling from another state or country in which such chiropractor is
40 licensed, to provide chiropractic services during any emergency services
41 associated with any rescue, recovery or humanitarian relief effort
42 provided such practice is pursuant to a state disaster emergency
43 declared by the governor pursuant to section twenty-eight of the execu-
44 tive law; or
45 4. A chiropractor who is not a resident of this state who is legally
46 qualified to practice in their state and who is travelling from another
47 state for the purpose of providing chiropractic services for a specific
48 purpose or event provided that such duration shall not exceed thirty
49 days or the duration of the specified event; or
50 5. Any chiropractor who is licensed in another state or country and
51 who is meeting or communicating with a chiropractor licensed in this
52 state, for purposes of consultation, provided such practice is limited
53 to such consultation; or
54 6. Any chiropractor who is licensed in another state or country, who
55 is visiting a chiropractic school or teaching facility in this state to
56 receive chiropractic instruction for a period not to exceed six months
S. 5860--B 5
1 or to conduct chiropractic instruction, provided such practice is limit-
2 ed to such instruction and is under the general supervision of a
3 licensed chiropractor; or
4 7. Any chiropractor who is authorized by a foreign government to prac-
5 tice in relation to its diplomatic, consular or maritime staffs,
6 provided such practice is limited to such staffs; or
7 8. Any commissioned chiropractic officer who is serving in the United
8 States armed forces or public health service or any chiropractor who is
9 employed in the United States Veterans Administration, provided such
10 practice is limited to such service or employment.
11 § 6. Section 6556 of the education law is REPEALED and a new section
12 6556 is added to read as follows:
13 § 6556. Limited permits. Permits limited as to eligibility, practice
14 and duration, shall be issued by the department to eligible applicants,
15 as follows:
16 1. Eligibility: The following persons shall be eligible for a limited
17 permit:
18 a. A person who fulfills all requirements for a license as a chiro-
19 practor except those relating to the examination;
20 b. A licensed foreign chiropractor who meets guidelines developed in
21 accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
22 c. A licensed foreign chiropractor or a foreign intern who is in this
23 country on a non-immigration visa for the continuation of chiropractic
24 study who meets guidelines developed in accordance with the commission-
25 er's regulations and has received two years of training at a United
26 States accredited chiropractic school;
27 d. Any graduate of a chiropractic school which meets standards satis-
28 factory to the department, provided such practice is under the general
29 supervision of a licensed chiropractor for a maximum period of twelve
30 months from date of graduation.
31 2. Limit of practice. A permittee shall be authorized to practice
32 chiropractic only under the supervision of a licensed chiropractor and
33 only in a licensed chiropractic office or clinical setting.
34 3. Duration. A limited permit shall be valid for one year. A limited
35 permit may be renewed annually at the discretion of the department.
36 4. Fees. The fee for each limited permit and for each renewal shall be
37 one hundred five dollars.
38 § 7. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6557 to read
39 as follows:
40 § 6557. Special provisions. 1. Non-liability of licensed chiropractors
41 for first aid or emergency treatment. Notwithstanding any inconsistent
42 provision of any general, special or local law, any licensed chiroprac-
43 tor who voluntarily and without the expectation of monetary compensation
44 renders first aid or emergency treatment at the scene of an accident or
45 other emergency, outside a hospital, doctor's office or any other place
46 having proper and necessary chiropractic equipment, to a person who is
47 unconscious, ill or injured, shall not be liable for damages for inju-
48 ries alleged to have been sustained by such person or for damages for
49 the death of such person alleged to have occurred by reason of an act or
50 omission in the rendering of such first aid or emergency treatment
51 unless it is established that such injuries were or such death was
52 caused by gross negligence on the part of such chiropractor. Nothing in
53 this section shall be deemed or construed to relieve a licensed chiro-
54 practor from liability for damages for injuries or death caused by an
55 act or omission on the part of a chiropractor while rendering profes-
56 sional services in the normal and ordinary course of their practice.
S. 5860--B 6
1 2. This article shall not be construed to affect or prevent the
2 following:
3 a. The furnishing of any assistance in an emergency;
4 b. The chiropractor from being a primary portal of entry healthcare
5 provider.
6 3. There shall be no monetary liability on the part of, and no cause
7 of action for damages shall arise against, any person, partnership,
8 corporation, firm, society, or other entity on account of the communi-
9 cation of information in the possession of such person or entity, or on
10 account of any recommendation or evaluation, regarding the qualifica-
11 tions, fitness, or professional conduct or practices of a chiropractor,
12 to any governmental agency, chiropractic society, a hospital as defined
13 in article twenty-eight of the public health law, a hospital as defined
14 in subdivision ten of section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law, or a
15 health maintenance organization organized under article forty-four of
16 the public health law or article forty-three of the insurance law,
17 including a committee of an individual practice association or medical
18 group acting pursuant to a contract with a health maintenance organiza-
19 tion. The foregoing shall not apply to information which is untrue and
20 communicated with malicious intent.
21 § 8. This act shall take effect eighteen months after it shall have
22 become a law.
