Rhode Island General Laws 5-32-21. Practice of laser hair removal
(a) A person licensed as an electrologist before July 1, 2019, who has practiced laser hair removal under the supervision of a medical director for not less than two (2) years and has conducted at least one thousand (1,000) laser hair removal treatments, whichever is later, with no disciplinary complaints that were found to be actionable by the department resulting in the suspension of a license, shall be permitted to practice electrology and laser hair removal without medical director oversight. The department may reinstate the requirement to perform laser hair removal under the supervision of a medical director for a period of two (2) years as part of a disciplinary settlement; provided, however, that the department shall not require the medical director to be located on-site, but shall be available for consultation.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-32-21
- Electrologist: means a person who is licensed by the department of health to perform electrolysis and/or laser hair removal. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-32-1
- Electrolysis: means the method of removing hair from the human body by the application of an electrical current or any form of energy to the hair-papilla or hair germination by means of a needle or any other instrument or device to cause decomposition, coagulation, dehydration, or other form of tissue destruction, to permanently disable the hair follicle from producing hair. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-32-1
- in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
- Laser: means the acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-32-1
- Laser hair removal: means using laser light to perform hair removal or reduction or electrolysis performed with laser light. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-32-1
- Medical director: means a Rhode Island licensed physician. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-32-1
- Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
- United States: include the several states and the territories of the United States. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-8
(b) A person licensed as an electrologist after July l, 2019, shall practice laser hair removal only under the supervision of a medical director, who shall not be required to be located on-site, but who shall be available for consultation. A licensed electrologist, upon completion of two (2) years of practice under the supervision of a medical director, may submit an application to the department certifying the following:
(1) Completion of two (2) years of laser hair removal treatment of patients under the oversight of a medical director;
(2) Completion of one thousand (1,000) patient laser hair removal treatments; and
(3) American Electrology Association Board certification.
An electrologist meeting the foregoing criteria shall be exempt from the requirement to practice laser hair removal under the supervision of a medical director. The department may reinstate the requirement to perform laser hair removal under the supervision of a medical director for a period of two (2) years as part of a disciplinary settlement; provided, however, that the medical director shall not be required to be located on-site, but shall be available for consultation.
(c) All equipment used for laser hair removal shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the United States Food and Drug Administration.
(d) An electrologist shall maintain a complete record of receipt, transfer, and disposal for each device used for electrolysis and laser hair removal, which shall be in writing or capable of reproduction in written form, and shall, at a minimum, contain the following data:
(1) Manufacturer’s name;
(2) Model and serial number of the device;
(3) Date of the receipt, transfer, or disposal;
(4) Name and address of the person the device was received from, transferred to, or to whom the device was transferred for disposal; and
(5) Name of the person recording the information.
History of Section.
P.L. 2019, ch. 94, § 3; P.L. 2019, ch. 129, § 3.