North Dakota gets licensure!

Gene McGill of The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians put out the following announcement today (Friday, April 15):
It is my pleasure to inform you that North Dakota will become the 16th state to license naturopathic doctors. Yesterday, on a conference committee report, the Senate voted unanimously in support of SB 2271. Today, the House followed with an 80 to 10 vote in favor. The bill awaits either Governor Jack Dalrymple's signature or the expiration of a five-day waiting period to become law. The Governor has been touring flood-ravaged sections of the state, so we expect the bill to become law following the end of the waiting period.
 
The bill also creates an integrative health board that will serve as an incubator for small groups of health-care professionals seeking licensure, but whose size would not support boards of their own. 
 
Congratulations to Beth Allen, ND, for her amazing work on this of legislation! She worked tirelessly throughout the entire process (and those who have worked on legislation in your own state understand the meaning of tireless) in presenting testimony, defending the right of NDs to practice, and working the halls of the state House and Senate.

Special thanks to Senator Margaret Sitte (R) and Senator Tim Mathern (D), who worked hand-in-hand in building a bipartisan coalition to push this legislation through.

Congratulations, again, to the 16th licensed state, North Dakota!