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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 9, 2024 04:07 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Lisa M. Boscola |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Allowing Pennsylvania to Fully Implement Interstate Licensure Compacts |
| Over the last decade, Pennsylvania has enacted several pieces of legislation aimed at streamlining multi-state health care licensure, enhancing access to care, and ensuring patient safety. Unfortunately, ongoing issues raised by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding information sharing for purposes of criminal background checks have kept Pennsylvania from fully participating in multistate licensure compacts. That has left licensees out of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, the Nurse Licensure Compact, the Physical Therapy Compact, and the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. Soon, I will introduce legislation to address the FBI’s concerns and allow Pennsylvania to fully implement its licensure compacts. Under my legislation, health care practitioners applying for a new license or a compact license will be required to undergo an FBI background check in addition to the state background check through the Pennsylvania State Police. The process for licensure renewals will be unchanged. I have heard countless stories from constituents about the opportunities missed and harm to care caused by the delayed implementation of these compacts. This legislation was born out of extensive conversations between state and federal officials to ensure health care practitioners can work in Pennsylvania and beyond. Please join me sponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as SB1165