SB 682 — Health professions; universal licensure, requirements.

SESSION INTRODUCEDSENATE 24104198DSUBSTITUTE I24106513D SENATE BILL NO.

682 OfferedAMENDMENT JanuaryIN 18,THE 2024NATURE NOF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health (Patron Prior to Substitute––Senator Suetterlein) A BILL to amenddirect the CodeSecretary of VirginiaHealth byand addingHuman Resources and the Secretary of Labor to convene a sectionwork numberedgroup 54.1-2408.5,to relatingreview universal licensure recognition for all regulated health care professions in report.monwealth and any changes needed in statute or regulation to healThaccomplish professions;such recognition;

universalBe licensure;it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

requ––––––––––convene Ra Patron––Suetterleinwork ––––––––––group, Oin Referredcoordination with the Department of Health Professions, to Committeereview onuniversalll Educationlicensure andrecognition Healthfor Dall ––––––––––regulated Behealth itcare enactedprofessions byin the GeneralCommonwealth Assemblyand ofany Virginia:changes needed in statute or regulation to accomplish such recognition.

UIn 1.forming the work group, the S representative staff from such boards, representatives of the Medical Society of Virginia, the Virginia Nurses Association, the Virginia Pharmacy Association, the Virginia Dental Association, and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, and other Virginia stakeholder groups deemed necessary any recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and theAl report Senate Committee on Education and Health by October 1, 2024.

ThatT theE CodeS ofU VirginiaB isS amendedT by: adding a section numbered 54.1-2408.5 as follows:

CI §T 54.1-2408.5.U T E S 2 1

Universal license recognition.

possession, or jurisdiction of the United States.tates jurisdiction" means any state, territoryE B.

The health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions shall, upon application by an individual licensed or certified in a United States jurisdiction, recognize licenses or certifications issued by such state as fulfillment for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth if the following conditions are met:

1.

The applicant holds a license or certification that is in good standing, current, and active in another United States Jurisdiction to practice the same profession or occupation;

2.

Such licensure or certification required the individual to pass an examination;

educational standards to those required in the Commonwealth for the same license or certification type;lent 4.

No restriction has been placed on any license or certification ever held by the applicant in another United States jurisdiction or by the federal government;

8 5.

No state, territory, or country has convicted the applicant of any crime involving moral turpitude or that constitutes a felony in the Commonwealth;

6.

The applicant provides a report from a national clearinghouse, if such a clearinghouse exists for that profession, or if that information is tracked for that profession, that provides full and complete information on any disciplinary actions taken in other jurisdictions;

and is not currently the subject of a pending disciplinary action or investigation by their licensingon jurisdiction;

and 8.

The applicant pays all fees required by the applicable board.

B.

The health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions may require evidence :

35 of active practice in the licensed or certified profession of up to three years prior to application.

36 C.

The health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions shall, upon application / 37 by an individual, recognize work experience in another state as fulfillment of qualifications for licensure 38 or certification in the Commonwealth if the following conditions are met:

government certification to regulate a profession or occupation, but the Commonwealth uses al license or professional or occupational license or certification to regulate a profession or occupation with a similar scope of practice, as determined by the board;

2.

The individual has worked in the profession or occupation for at least three years;

3.

The individual passes any examination required by the applicable board for licensure or certification;

and 4.

The individual satisfies the conditions outlined in subdivisions A 4, 5, 6, and 7.

D.

The health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions may require an pass a jurisprudential examination specific to relevant state laws and administrative rules that regulate such profession or occupation if such an examination is required of other applicants for the same license or certification.

E.

This section shall not apply to licenses for any doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy licensed pursuant to Chapter 29 (§ 54.1-2900 et seq.) of Title 54.1 or any dentist licensed pursuant to Chapter 27 (§ 54.1-2700 et seq.) of Title 54.1.

F.