NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. In provisions concerning an application for a license, provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may establish, by rule, fees to be charged for the purpose of implementing and enforcing the provisions of the Act, including the fees necessary to implement the Nurse Licensure Compact. Provides that, on or after the effective date of the Nurse Licensure Compact, the Department may set the required fees to apply for a multistate license, upgrade from a single state license to a multistate license, and renew a multistate license. Provides that the initial application fee for a multistate license shall be no less than $150 and the biennial multistate license renewal fee shall be no less than $125. Provides that the Nurse Licensure Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact. Provides that an employer who employs nurses, as defined in the Article, shall provide the nurses under its employment with the opportunity to obtain the required continuing education hours. Requires that nurses subject to the Nurse Licensure Compact complete 20 hours of approved continuing education per every 2-year license renewal cycle. Provides that the Nurse Licensure Compact does not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse. Adds provisions concerning employer attestations.