A bill that could remove barriers preventing Pennsylvania from fully participating in interstate compacts that allow nurses to practice in other states won unanimous approval from a state Senate committee on Tuesday.
House Bill 2381 would require the state licensing board to: Provisional Regulations It is necessary to implement an interstate compact to recognize the licensure of professionals from other states. This bill was passed by the state legislature and The vote was 177 to 25. In June.
Tuesday’s vote by the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensing Committee sends the bill to the full Senate for consideration.
Representative Brandon Markosek The bill’s lead sponsor, Rep. George H. Bush (D-Allegheny), said the bill would create flexibility for nurses and other health care workers, especially those in military families, to find work when and where they need it. The temporary regulations will expire three years after they are enacted.
a Second invoice The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), would address issues with criminal background checks for Pennsylvania nurses who want to work in other states.
For about a year now, nurses licensed in Pennsylvania’s neighboring states (except New York) have been able to work in Pennsylvania if they obtained multi-state licensure in their home state.
Pennsylvania passed a bill in 2021 that would allow Pennsylvania nurses to work in other states, but a communication breakdown between the Department of State and the FBI has created a barrier to full reciprocity, the secretary of state said. Al Schmidt He made the remarks before the House Appropriations Committee in February.
The impasse also affects a similar agreement allowing Pennsylvania-licensed doctors to practice in other states, which has been in limbo since a law allowing Pennsylvania to participate was passed in 2016.
Boscola’s bill passed the Senate by a 46-4 vote in June. It awaits final approval in the House, which is scheduled to reconvene on Sept. 23 but won’t vote until Oct. 1.
