Legislative Update from PA Legislative Services: Discussion of Senate Bill 115, Nurse Licensure Compact for PA nurses

HARRISBURG (May 13) - The last day of the session week for the state Senate wasn’t much different than the two other days of session with regard to final passage votes: a light schedule, with mostly unanimous votes.

 Wednesday's only non-unanimous final vote cast by the chamber – a 32-16 vote - was for Senate Bill 115, which would enter Pennsylvania into the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and allow registered nurses (RNs) to obtain multistate licenses and practice in other NLC states.

 Currently, there are 35 states in the NLC including neighboring states Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia. According to bill prime sponsor Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, the NLC is an updated licensure solution for the 21st century that allows nurses to have one multistate license with the ability to practice in all compact states via telemedicine or in person. The NLC offers a flexible and adaptable solution to streamlining care while maintaining the public’s protection at the state level, said Boscola, adding that nurses who practice in a compact state must meet 11 uniform licensure requirements, including state and federal criminal background checks. 

 “Joining the Nurse Licensure Compact is essential to this Commonwealth,” Boscola said. “The need for the Commonwealth to become a member of this compact is critical – it’s critical yes for pandemics and disasters – but it’s critical in the long run for our state’s residents. It’s critical to maintain the growing demand of nurses now and in the long term.”

 Similarly worded legislation won unanimous Senate approval last session, but what’s most interesting about the vote is that many of the 12 ‘no’ votes were cast by lawmakers who initially sponsored the bill. 

 That appears to be due to concerns that have recently been raised about issues related to nurse staffing within some hospitals and health systems, and those legislators voting against SB115 expressed a desire to address those matters using SB115.

 Boscola acknowledged those concerns, indicating they are valid, but argued SB115 is needed, widely supported - including by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association - and the bill isn’t the proper vehicle to address those concerns. She said a separate piece of legislation focused specifically on staffing issues would be more appropriate, allowing that legislation to go through the committee process. Boscola added the opposition to SB115 is also only looking at the hospital side of the equation, whereas SB115 affects far more than the hospital setting of health care for nurses throughout the state.

 Wednesday’s SB115 vote coincided with International Nurses Day – a day that celebrates the nursing profession and the contributions it has made and continues to make – with May 12 being the anniversary of the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is credited with founding modern nursing.

 “It’s coincidental but truly fitting that today this body considers this bill and takes the next steps forward looking toward our nursing profession and helping modernize this profession,” said Boscola.