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S.B. 146 Enrolled
AN ACT RELATING TO OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS; ESTABLISHING THE
STATE'S PARTICIPATION IN AN INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR NURSING
REGULATION; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND PROVIDING A
COORDINATION CLAUSE.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
58-31-6.5, as enacted by Chapter 297, Laws of Utah 1993
ENACTS:
58-31b-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
58-31b-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
58-31b-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
58-31b-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 58-31-6.5 is amended to read:
58-31-6.5. Exceptions from licensure.
(1) In addition to the exemptions from licensure in Section 58-1-307, the following
persons are exempt from licensure under this chapter and may, subject to the stated conditions and
limitations, engage in practices that may constitute the practice of nursing:
[
patient;
[
[
denomination[
(d) after July 1, 2000, a person licensed to practice nursing by a jurisdiction that has joined
the Nurse Licensure Compact to the extent permitted under Section 58-31b-102.
(2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(d), the division may, in accordance with Section
58-31b-102, limit or revoke practice privileges in this state of a person licensed to practice nursing
by a jurisdiction that has joined the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Section 2. Section 58-31b-101 is enacted to read:
58-31b-101. Title.
This chapter is known as the "Nurse Licensure Compact."
Section 3. Section 58-31b-102 is enacted to read:
58-31b-102. Nurse Licensure Compact.
The Nurse Licensure Compact is hereby enacted and entered into with all other jurisdictions
that legally join in the compact, which is, in form, substantially as follows:
(1) The party states find that:
(a) the health and safety of the public are affected by the degree of compliance with and the
effectiveness of enforcement activities related to state nurse licensure laws;
(b) violations of nurse licensure and other laws regulating the practice of nursing may result
in injury or harm to the public;
(c) the expanded mobility of nurses and the use of advanced communication technologies
as part of our nation's health care delivery system require greater coordination and cooperation
among states in the areas of nurse licensure and regulation;
(d) new practice modalities and technology make compliance with individual state nurse
licensure laws difficult and complex; and
(e) the current system of duplicative licensure for nurses practicing in multiple states is
cumbersome and redundant to both nurses and states.
(2) The general purposes of this compact are to:
(a) facilitate the states' responsibility to protect the public's health and safety;
(b) ensure and encourage the cooperation of party states in the areas of nurse licensure and
regulation;
(c) facilitate the exchange of information between party states in the areas of nurse
regulation, investigation, and adverse actions;
(d) promote compliance with the laws governing the practice of nursing in each jurisdiction;
and
(e) invest all party states with the authority to hold a nurse accountable for meeting all state
practice laws in the state in which the patient is located at the time care is rendered through the
mutual recognition of party state licenses.
As used in this compact:
(1) "Adverse action" means a home or remote state action.
(2) "Alternative program" means a voluntary, non-disciplinary monitoring program approved
by a nurse licensing board.
(3) "Coordinated Licensure Information System" means an integrated process for collecting,
storing, and sharing information on nurse licensure and enforcement activities related to nurse
licensure laws, which is administered by a non-profit organization composed of state nurse licensing
boards.
(4) "Home state" means the party state which is the nurse's primary state of residence.
(5) "Home state action" means any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action
permitted by the home state's laws which are imposed on a nurse by the home state's licensing board
or other authority including actions against an individual's license such as: revocation, suspension,
probation, or any other action which affects a nurse's authorization to practice.
(6) "Licensing board" means a party state's regulatory body responsible for issuing nurse
licenses.
(7) "Multistate licensure privilege" means current, official authority from a remote state
permitting the practice of nursing as either a registered nurse or a licensed practical/vocational nurse
in such party state.
(8) "Nurse" means a registered nurse or licensed practical/vocational nurse, as those terms
are defined by each party's state practice laws.
(9) "Party state" means any state that has adopted this compact.
(10) "Remote state" means a party state, other than the home state:
(a) where the patient is located at the time nursing care is provided; or
(b) in the case of the practice of nursing not involving a patient, in such party state where
the recipient of nursing practice is located.
(11) "Remote state action" means:
(a) any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action permitted by a remote state's laws
which are imposed on a nurse by the remote state's licensing board or other authority including
actions against an individual's multistate licensure privilege to practice in the remote state; and
(b) cease and desist and other injunctive or equitable orders issued by remote states or the
licensing boards thereof.
(12) "State" means a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of
Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(13) "State practice laws" means those individual party's state laws and regulations that
govern the practice of nursing, define the scope of nursing practice, and create the methods and
grounds for imposing discipline. "State practice laws" does not include the initial qualifications for
licensure or requirements necessary to obtain and retain a license, except for qualifications or
requirements of the home state.
(1) A license to practice registered nursing issued by a home state to a resident in that state
will be recognized by each party state as authorizing a multistate licensure privilege to practice as
a registered nurse in such party state. A license to practice licensed practical/vocational nursing
issued by a home state to a resident in that state will be recognized by each party state as authorizing
a multistate licensure privilege to practice as a licensed practical/vocational nurse in such party state.
In order to obtain or retain a license, an applicant must meet the home state's qualifications for
licensure and license renewal as well as all other applicable state laws.
(2) Party states may limit or revoke the multistate licensure privilege of any nurse to practice
in their state and may take any other adverse actions under their applicable state laws necessary to
protect the health and safety of their citizens. If a party state takes such action, it shall promptly
notify the administrator of the Coordinated Licensure Information System. The administrator of the
Coordinated Licensure Information System shall promptly notify the home state of any such actions
by remote states.
(3) Every nurse practicing in a party state must comply with the state practice laws of the
state in which the patient is located at the time care is rendered. In addition, the practice of nursing
is not limited to patient care, but shall include all nursing practice as defined by the state practice
laws of a party state. The practice of nursing will subject a nurse to the jurisdiction of the nurse
licensing board and the courts, as well as the laws, in that party state.
(4) This compact does not affect additional requirements imposed by states for advanced
practice registered nursing. However, a multistate licensure privilege to practice registered nursing
granted by a party state shall be recognized by other party states as a license to practice registered
nursing if one is required by state law as a precondition for qualifying for advanced practice
registered nurse authorization.
(5) Individuals not residing in a party state shall continue to be able to apply for nurse
licensure as provided for under the laws of each party state. However, the license granted to these
individuals will not be recognized as granting the privilege to practice nursing in any other party
state unless explicitly agreed to by that party state.
(1) Upon application for a license, the licensing board in a party state shall ascertain, through
the Coordinated Licensure Information System, whether the applicant has ever held, or is the holder
of, a license issued by any other party state, whether there are any restrictions on the multistate
licensure privilege, and whether any other adverse action by any state has been taken against the
license.
(2) A nurse in a party state shall hold licensure in only one party state at a time, issued by
the home state.
(3) A nurse who intends to change primary state of residence may apply for licensure in the
new home state in advance of such change. However, new licenses will not be issued by a party
state until after a nurse provides evidence of change in primary state of residence satisfactory to the
new home state's licensing board.
(4) When a nurse changes primary state of residence by:
(a) moving between two party states, and obtains a license from the new home state, the
license from the former home state is no longer valid;
(b) moving from a non-party state to a party state, and obtains a license from the new home
state, the individual state license issued by the non-party state is not affected and will remain in full
force if so provided by the laws of the non-party state;
(c) moving from a party state to a non-party state, the license issued by the prior home state
converts to an individual state license, valid only in the former home state, without the multistate
licensure privilege to practice in other party states.
In addition to the General Provisions described in Article III, the following provisions apply:
(1) The licensing board of a remote state shall promptly report to the administrator of the
Coordinated Licensure Information System any remote state actions including the factual and legal
basis for such action, if known. The licensing board of a remote state shall also promptly report any
significant current investigative information yet to result in a remote state action. The administrator
of the Coordinated Licensure Information System shall promptly notify the home state of any such
reports.
(2) The licensing board of a party state shall have the authority to complete any pending
investigations for a nurse who changes primary state of residence during the course of such
investigations. It shall also have the authority to take appropriate action(s), and shall promptly report
the conclusions of such investigations to the administrator of the Coordinated Licensure Information
System. The administrator of the Coordinated Licensure Information System shall promptly notify
the new home state of any such actions.
(3) A remote state may take adverse action affecting the multistate licensure privilege to
practice within that party state. However, only the home state shall have the power to impose
adverse action against the license issued by the home state.
(4) For purposes of imposing adverse action, the licensing board of the home state shall give
the same priority and effect to reported conduct received from a remote state as it would if such
conduct had occurred within the home state. In so doing, it shall apply its own state laws to
determine appropriate action.
(5) The home state may take adverse action based on the factual findings of the remote state,
so long as each state follows its own procedures for imposing such adverse action.
(6) Nothing in this compact shall override a party state's decision that participation in an
alternative program may be used in lieu of licensure action and that such participation shall remain
non-public if required by the party state's laws. Party states must require nurses who enter any
alternative programs to agree not to practice in any other party state during the term of the alternative
program without prior authorization from such other party state.
Notwithstanding any other powers, party state nurse licensing boards shall have the authority
to:
(1) recover from the affected nurse the costs of investigations and disposition of cases
resulting from any adverse action taken against that nurse;
(2) issue subpoenas for both hearings and investigations which require the attendance and
testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence. Subpoenas issued by a nurse licensing board
in a party state for the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and/or the production of evidence from
another party state, shall be enforced in the latter state by any court of competent jurisdiction,
according to the practice and procedure of that court applicable to subpoenas issued in proceedings
pending before it. The issuing authority shall pay any witness fees, travel expenses, mileage, and
other fees required by the service statutes of the state where the witnesses and/or evidence are
located;
(3) issue cease and desist orders to limit or revoke a nurse's authority to practice in their
state; and
(4) promulgate uniform rules and regulations as provided for in Article VIII(3).
(1) All party states shall participate in a cooperative effort to create a coordinated data base
of all licensed registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses. This system will include
information on the licensure and disciplinary history of each nurse, as contributed by party states,
to assist in the coordination of nurse licensure and enforcement efforts.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all party states shall promptly report adverse
actions, any significant current investigative information yet to result in adverse action, denials of
applications, and the reasons for such denials, to the Coordinated Licensure Information System.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all party states contributing information to
the Coordinated Licensure Information System may designate information that may not be shared
with non-party states or disclosed to other entities or individuals without the express permission of
the contributing state.
(4) The compact administrators, acting jointly with each other and in consultation with the
administrator of the Coordinated Licensure Information System, shall formulate necessary and
proper procedures for the identification, collection, and exchange of information under this compact.
(1) The head of the nurse licensing board, or his/her designee, of each party state shall be
the administrator of this compact for his/her state.
(2) The compact administrator of each party state shall furnish to the compact administrator
of each other party state any information and documents including, but not limited to, a uniform data
set of investigations, identifying information, licensure data, and disclosable alternative program
participation information to facilitate the administration of this compact.
(3) Compact administrators shall have the authority to develop uniform rules to facilitate and
coordinate implementation of this compact. These uniform rules shall be adopted by party states
under the authority invested under Article VI(4).
No party state or the officers or employees or agents of a party state's nurse licensing board,
the administrator of the Coordinated Licensure Information System, or any other authority or
administrator who acts in accordance with the provisions of this compact shall be liable on account
of any act or omission in good faith while engaged in the performance of their duties under this
compact. Good faith in this article shall not include willful misconduct, gross negligence, or
recklessness.
(1) This compact shall enter into force and become effective as to any state when it has been
enacted into the laws of that state. Any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a
statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until six months after the
withdrawing state has given notice of the withdrawal to the executive heads of all other party states.
(2) No withdrawal shall affect the validity or applicability by the licensing boards of states
remaining party to the compact of any report of adverse action occurring prior to the withdrawal.
(3) Nothing contained in this compact shall be construed to invalidate or prevent any nurse
licensure agreement or other cooperative arrangement between a party state and a non-party state that
is made in accordance with the other provisions of this compact.
(4) This compact may be amended by the party states. No amendment to this compact shall
become effective and binding upon the party states unless and until it is enacted into the laws of all
party states.
(1) This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The
provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this
compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States or the
applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity
of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person,
or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the
constitution of any state party thereto, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the
remaining party states and in full force and effect as to the party state affected as to a severable
matter.
(2) In the event party states find a need for settling disputes arising under this compact:
(a) the party states may submit the issues in dispute to an arbitration panel which will be
comprised of an individual appointed by the compact administrator in the home state; an individual
appointed by the compact administrator in the remote state(s) involved; and an individual mutually
agreed upon by the compact administrators of all the party states involved in the dispute; and
(b) the decision of a majority of the arbitrators shall be final and binding.
Section 4. Section 58-31b-103 is enacted to read:
58-31b-103. Rulemaking authority.
The division may adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter.
Section 5. Section 58-31b-104 is enacted to read:
58-31b-104. Executive administrator of the Board of Nursing.
The head of the nurse licensing board, as that term is used in the compact in reference to the
Board of Nursing created in Section 58-31-3, means the executive administrator of the Board of
Nursing.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act takes effect on January 1, 2000.
Section 7. Coordination clause.
If this bill and H.B. 351, Nurse Practice Act Amendments, both pass, it is the intent of the
Legislature that, in preparing the database for publication, the Office of Legislative Research and
General Counsel shall:
(1) Renumber S.B. 146 to Chapter 31c.
(2) Insert the amendments in Section 58-31-6.5 in S.B. 146 into Section 58-31b-308 in H.B.
351 and renumber the subsections so that Section 58-31b-308 in H.B. 351 reads as follows:
" 58-31b-308. Exemptions from licensure.
(1) In addition to the exemptions from licensure in Section 58-1-307, the following persons
may engage in acts included within the definition of the practice of nursing, subject to the stated
circumstances and limitations, without being licensed under this chapter:
(a) friends, family members, foster parents, or legal guardians of a patient performing
gratuitous nursing care for the patient;
(b) persons providing care in a medical emergency;
(c) persons engaged in the practice of religious tenets of a church or religious denomination;
and
(d) after July 1, 2000, a person licensed to practice nursing by a jurisdiction that has joined
the Nurse Licensure Compact to the extent permitted by Section 58-31c-102.
(2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(d), the division may, in accordance with Section
58-31c-102, limit or revoke practice privileges in this state of a person licensed to practice nursing
by a jurisdiction that has joined the Nurse Licensing Compact."
(3) Change the reference in Section 58-31b-103 in S.B. 146 from "Section 58-31-3" to
"Section 58-31b-201."
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