Bill Summary for Bill Number SB06-020

Date: 01/26/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB06-020

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 06-020 to the Committee on Appro	PASS

02:24 PM -- Senate Bill 06-020

Senator Hanna introduced Senate Bill 06-020 and explained that the bill authorizes the state to enter a multi-state nurse licensure compact. Senator Hanna stated that if the bill passes, nurses in Colorado will be able to practice in other states that are a party to compact without obtaining licensure within those states. She distributed a list of the states that have entered into the nursing compact (Attachment D). Senator Sandoval asked how nurses from other states who wish to practice in Colorado are currently able to obtain licenses. Senator Hanna stated that these nurses must apply for licensure, and that the process is lengthy. She stated that having a interstate compact would streamline the process. Senator Traylor asked how the state will be able to track nurses who have been disciplined in other states, and whether the compact will affect physician licensing. Senator Hanna explained that all party states will have access to information about disciplinary actions against nurses, and that the compact will only affect nurse licensure.

02:33 PM -- Paula Stearns, Colorado Nurses Association, testified in support of the bill and stated that the bill will promote an efficient licensing system. She stated that the bill will be helpful for rural nurses who live in one state and practice in another. She described the system created within the compact to identify those nurses who have had disciplinary action taken against them in other states.

02:37 PM -- Elsie Lacy, Colorado Health Care Association, testified in support of the bill. She stated that the bill will benefit nursing homes and assisted living facilities. She stated that the bill will help attract nurses from other states.

02:38 PM -- Katherine McCord, Centura Health, testified in support of the bill. She stated that the bill will help track nurses who have had disciplinary action taken against them in another state. She further stated that the bill will increase the mobility of nurses and will improve access to care for patients.

02:40 PM -- C.J. Cullinan, registered nurse, testified in support of the bill. She spoke to the difficulties nurses undergo to obtain nursing licenses when they move between states.

02:42 PM -- Matthew Flora, Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill. He testified that the department runs many facilities that employ nurses, and therefore the Department has an interest in promoting the availability of nurses in the state.

02:45 PM -- Rose McCool, Director, Division of Registrations within the Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified in support of the bill. She stated that it is important for the committee to understand that, if the bill passes, the division will not immediately have information regarding disciplinary actions taken against nurses in other states. She stated that all states that are a party to the compact will report information to a database. Employers will be able to access the database to determine if a nurse has had a disciplinary action in another state, but there is a $5 fee to access the database. Because nurses who are licensed under the compact are allowed to move freely between compact states, the division will not immediately be aware which nurses are practicing in the state. If an employer finds that a nurse has a disciplinary history in another state, they can report this information to the division. Members of the public may not have access to licensing information about all nurses practicing in the state unless they check the compact database. Ms. McCool testified that the division will have to educate members of the public about the changes to public information regarding nurse licenses as a result of the bill. Ms. McCool described the criteria nurses must meet to obtain licensure in Colorado. She responded to questions from the committee about the differences in licensing requirements in compact states, and whether those differences may bar a Colorado nurse from working in another compact state. Ms. McCool stated that Colorado will still maintain authority over its nursing licensing standards, but when Colorado enters the compact, Colorado cannot bar a nurse from another compact state from practicing in the state if they have not met Colorado's specific licensing standards. This may mean that two nurses practicing in the same state may be subject to different licensing requirements, depending upon whether they were licensed under the state's licensing rules or are practicing in the state as a result of the compact.

02:58 PM

Senator Hanna gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


BILL:	SB06-020
TIME:	02:58:14 PM
MOVED:	Hanna
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 06-020 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 7-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Johnson	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Sandoval	Yes
	Shaffer	Yes
	Traylor	Yes
	Hanna	Yes
	Hagedorn	Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS