HARRISBURG, PA – June 12, 2024 – Senator Lisa M. Boscola proudly announced the unanimous passage of her bill, Senate Bill 1165, by the House Professional Licensure Committee today. This significant legislation addresses crucial issues surrounding professional licensure, particularly in the healthcare sector.
The bill would require Pennsylvania-based nurses, physicians, and other eligible workers who want to work under multi-state compacts to undergo fingerprinting as part of a criminal background check by the Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI. This is a necessary component for full implementation of health care compacts, currently pending in the Commonwealth.
This latest step forward is pivotal in allowing for the full implementation of the Nurse Licensure Compact, championed by Sen. Boscola and signed into law by Governor Wolf as Act 68 of 2021. The nurse compact has only been partially implemented since September of 2023, allowing only registered nurses and licensed practical nurses from other states with a multistate license to work in Pennsylvania.
Following the House Committee vote, Senator Boscola expressed her enthusiasm about the bill’s progress, stating, “I am thrilled to see SB1165 take an additional step forward with unanimous support from the House Professional Licensure Committee. This show of support in the House reflects our shared goal to modernize licensure processes and enhancing accessibility within the healthcare sector.”
The legislation now heads to the full House for consideration. Boscola believes this legislation will be considered soon, as the Governor has indicated support for this fix, making it a priority.
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