§ 48-249-1109 — Eligible members and holders

(a) Members and holders. A PLLC may have both members and holders of financial rights, and may issue both membership interests to members and financial rights to holders. (b) General eligibility. A PLLC may have persons who are not licensed to practice a profession described in the PLLC's articles in this state as members or holders of financial rights, only if the licensing authority that licenses the professionals who are members or holders of such a PLLC specifically so authorizes. Otherwise, a PLLC may have as members and holders of financial rights only the following: (1) Individuals who are authorized by law in this or another state to render a professional service described in the PLLC's articles; (2) General partnerships in which all the partners are qualified persons with respect to the PLLC and in which at least one (1) partner is authorized by law in this state to render a professional service described in the PLLC's articles; (3) Professional corporations and professional associations, whether domestic or foreign, authorized by law in this state to render a professional service described in the PLLC's articles; and/or (4) PLLCs, whether domestic or foreign, authorized by law in this state to render a professional service described in the PLLC's articles. (c) Licensing authority eligibility rules. If a licensing authority with jurisdiction over a profession considers it necessary to prevent violation of the ethical standards of the profession, the licensing authority may, by rule, restrict or condition, or revoke in part, the authority of PLLCs subject to its jurisdiction to have the members or holders of financial rights described in subsection (b). A rule promulgated under this section does not, of itself, make a member or holder of financial rights of a PLLC, at the time the rule becomes effective, a disqualified person. (d) Void interests. Any membership interest, governance rights or financial rights purported to be held by a person in violation of this section, or a rule promulgated under this section, is void. (e) Specified health care professionals. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the following health care professionals shall have a right to be members or holders of financial rights of the same PLLC: (A) Optometrists licensed under title 63, chapter 8, and ophthalmologists licensed under title 63, chapter 6 or 9; (B) Podiatrists licensed under title 63, chapter 3, and physicians licensed under title 63, chapter 6 or 9, except radiologists, pathologists and anesthesiologists; (C) Doctors of chiropractic licensed under title 63, chapter 4, and physicians licensed under title 63, chapter 6 or 9, except radiologists, pathologists and anesthesiologists; (D) Physician assistants licensed under title 63, chapter 19, part 1, and physicians licensed under title 63, chapter 6 or 9, except radiologists, pathologists, and anesthesiologists; and (E) Advance practice nurses licensed under title 63, chapter 7, part 1, and physicians licensed under title 63, chapter 6 or 9, except radiologists, pathologists and anesthesiologists. (2) The services rendered by these health care professionals are considered related and complementary to each other; provided, that nothing in this part shall be construed to alter the lawful scope of practice of a professional who is a member or holder of financial rights of a PLLC under this subsection (e); and provided, further, that nothing in this part shall be construed to allow any professional who is a member or holder of financial rights of a PLLC under this subsection (e) to conduct the professional's practice in a manner contrary to the standards of ethics applicable to the professional's profession. Such individual shall accurately state such individual's professional credentials on any advertisement to the public.

Legislative History

Acts 2005, ch. 286, § 1; 2006, ch. 620, § 56; 2008, ch. 747, § 1.