HF 2498 — A bill for an act enacting the interstate podiatric medical licensure compact.

(4)(3) HoldsSuccessfully acomplete specialty certification from a specialtypodiatric boardresidency recognizedprogram approved by the council on podiatric medical education,education. (5) Possesses a full and unrestricted license to engage in the practice of podiatric medicine issued by a member board.

(4) Holds a specialty certification from a specialty board recognized by the council on podiatric medical education.

(5) Possesses a full and unrestricted license to engage in the practice of podiatric medicine issued by a member board.

(7) Has never held a license authorizing the practice of podiatric medicine subjected to discipline by a licensing agency in any state, federal, or foreign jurisdiction, excluding any action related to the nonpayment of fees related tto o a llicense. i c e n s e .

"^Practice“Practice of podiatric medicine"medicine” means that clinical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of human disease, injury, or condition requiring a podiatric physician to obtain and maintain a license in compliance with the podiatric medical House File 2498, p.

o,o. ^Rule^ means a written statement by the interstate commission promulgated pursuant to subsection 12 of the compact that is of general applicability, implements, interprets, or prescribes a policy or provision of the compact, or an organizational, procedural, or practice requirement of the interstate commission, and has the force and effect of statutory law in a member state, and includes the amendment, repeal, or suspension of an existing rule.

“Rule” means a written statement by the interstate commission promulgated pursuant to subsection 12 of the compact that is of general applicability, implements, interprets, or prescribes a policy or provision of the compact, or an organizational, procedural, or practice requirement of the interstate commission, and has the force and effect of statutory law in a member state, and includes the amendment, repeal, or suspension of an existing rule.

"^"State"“State” means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States.

g,q. '*'State of principal license'' means a member state where a podiatric physician holds a license to practice podiatric medicine and which has been designated by such a podiatric physician for purposes of registration and participation in the compact.

“State of principal license” means a member state where a podiatric physician holds a license to practice podiatric medicine and which has been designated by such a podiatric physician for purposes of registration and participation in the compact.

a,a. A podiatric physician must meet the eligibility requirements as defined in subsection 2, paragraph , to receive an expedited licensure under the terms and provisions of the compact.

b, A podiatric physician whomust does not meet the eligibility requirements ofas defined in subsection 2, paragraph ^m",“m”, may obtain a license to practicereceive podiatrican medicineexpedited inlicensure aunder member state if the individualterms complies with all laws and requirements,provisions otherof than the compact,compact. relating to the issuance of a license to practice podiatric medicine in that s t a t e .

b.

A podiatric physician who does not meet the requirements of subsection 2, paragraph “m”, may obtain a license to practice podiatric medicine in a member state if the individual complies with all laws and requirements, other than the compact, relating to the issuance of a license to practice podiatric medicine in that state.

Designation of state of principal license,license. a, A podiatric physician shall designate a member state as the state of principal license for purposes of registration for expedited licensure through the compact if the podiatric physician possesses a full and unrestricted license to practice podiatric medicine in that state, and the state is any of the following:

a.

A podiatric physician shall designate a member state as the state of principal license for purposes of registration for expedited licensure through the compact if the podiatric physician possesses a full and unrestricted license to practice podiatric medicine in that state, and the state is any of the following:

(2) The state where at least twenty-five percent of the podiatric physician'sphysician’s practice of podiatric medicine occurs.

(3) The location of the podiatric physician'sphysician’s employer.

5 (4) If no state qualifies under subparagraph (1), (2), or (3), the state designated as state of residence for purpose of ffederal eincome dtax. e i n c o t a x .

A podiatric physician may redesignate a member state as state of principal license at any time, so long as the state meets the requirements of paragraph ,“a”. c.

c.

Application and issuance of expedited licensure,licensure. a.

a.

Upon receipt of an application for an expedited license, the member board within the state selected aas s the state of principal license shall evaluate whether the podiatric physician is eligible for expedited licensure and issue a letter of qualification, verifying or denying the podiatric physician'sphysician’s eligibility to, and in the manner established through rule by, the interstate commission.

((2) 2The )The member board within the state selected as the state of principal license shall, in the course of verifying eligibility, perform a criminal background check of an applicant, including the use of results of fingerprint or other biometric data checks compliant with the requirements of the federal bureau of investigation with the exception of federal employees who have a suitability determination in accordance with 5 C.F.R.

((a) aCommunication )Communication between a member board and the interstate commission and communication between member boards regarding the verification of eligibility in subsection 3 through the House File 2498r2498, p.

6 compact shall not include any information received from the federal bureau of investigation relating to a federal criminal records check performed by a member board under Pub,Pub. L.

L.

(b) Federal bureau of investigation information obtained by a member board shall not be shared with the interstate ccommission. o m m i s s i o n .

Upon receipt by a member board of verification as provided in paragraph “b” of a podiatric physician'sphysician’s eligibility for an expedited license, the podiatric physician shall complete the registration process established by the interstate commission to receive a license in a member state selected pursuant to paragraph ,“a”, including the payment of any applicable fees.

After receiving verification of eligibility under paragraph “b” and any fees under paragraph “c”, a member board shall issue an expedited license to the podiatric physician.

An expedited license shall be valid for a period consistent with the licensure period in the member state and in the same manner as required for other podiatric physicians holding a full and unrestricted license within the member sstate. t a t e .

The interstate commission is authorized to develop rules regarding the application process, including payment of any applicable fees, and the reporting of the issuance of an expedited license by a member board to the interstate ccommission. o m m i s s i o n , House File 2498, p.

House File 2498, p.

Renewal and continued participation,participation. a, A podiatric physician seeking to renew an expedited license granted in a member state shall complete a renewal process with the interstate commission if the podiatric physician meets all of the following requirements:

(a. 1 )Maintains a full and unrestricted license in a state of principal license.

A podiatric physician seeking to renew an expedited license granted in a member state shall complete a renewal process with the interstate commission if the podiatric physician meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Maintains a full and unrestricted license in a state of principal license.

b»b. Podiatric physicians shall comply with all continuing professional development or continuing medical education requirements for renewal of a license issued by a member state.

Podiatric physicians shall comply with all continuing professional development or continuing medical education requirements for renewal of a license issued by a member state.

Upon receipt of any renewal fees collected pursuant to paragraph “c”, a member board shall renew the podiatric physician'sphysician’s license.

Podiatric physician information collected by the interstate commission during the renewal process shall be ddistributed ito sall tmember rboards. i bt o a l l membb o a r d s .

Coordinated information system,system. a .

Ta. h ei n t e r sc o m m i s s h a l l e s t a bd a t a b a s e of all podiatric physicians licensed, or who have applied for licensure, pursuant to subsection 5* b.

The interstate commission shall establish a database of all podiatric physicians licensed, or who have applied for licensure, pursuant to subsection 5.

b.

Member boards shall report disciplinary or investigatory information determined necessary and proper by rule of the iinterstate ncommission. t e r s c o m m i s s i o n .

Member boards may report any nonpublic complaint, disciplinary, or investigatory information not required by paragraph "'V“c” to the interstate commission.

Member boards shall share complaint or disciplinary information about a podiatric physician upon request of another mmember eboard. m b b o a r d .

The interstate commission is authorized to develop rules for mandated or discretionary sharing of information by member bboards. o a r d s .

Any member state may investigate an actual or alleged violation of the statutes authorizing the practice of podiatric House File 2498f2498, p.

Disciplinary actions,actions. a.

a.

If the member board in the state of principal license subsequently reinstates the podiatric physician'sphysician’s license, a license issued to the podiatric physician by any other member board shall remain encumbered until that respective member board takes action to reinstate the license in a manner consistent with the podiatric medical practice act of that state.

If disciplinary action is taken against a podiatric physician by a member board not in a state of principal license, any other member board may deem the action conclusive as to matters of law and fact decided and do any of the following;following:

(2) Pursue separate disciplinary action against the podiatric physician under its respective podiatric medical practice act, regardless of the action taken in other member sstates. t a t e s .

e,e. A member board may terminate the automatic suspension under paragraph or V of a license it issued, in a manner consistent with the podiatric medical practice act of that s t a t e .

A member board may terminate the automatic suspension under paragraph “b” or “d” of a license it issued, in a manner consistent with the podiatric medical practice act of that state.

Interstate podiatric medical licensure compact ccommission. o m m i s s i o n , a.

a.

A commissioner shall be any of the following;following:

11 shall constitute presence in person at the meeting,meeting. g.

Eachg. commissioner participating at a meeting of the interstate commission is entitled to one vote, A majority of commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws o ft h e i n t e r c o m m i s s A c o m m i s ss h a lnot delegate a vote to another commissioner.

InEach thecommissioner absenceparticipating ofat its commissioner, a membermeeting stateof maythe delegateinterstate votingcommission authorityis forentitled a specified meeting to anotherone personvote. from that state who shall meet the requirements of paragraph h.

A majority of commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws of the interstate commission.

A commissioner shall not delegate a vote to another commissioner.

In the absence of its commissioner, a member state may delegate voting authority for a specified meeting to another person from that state who shall meet the requirements of paragraph “d”.

h.

(1) Relate solely to the internal personnel practice and procedures of the interstate commission,commission. (2) Discuss matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal statute.

((2) 3Discuss )Discussmatters aspecifically tradeexempted secret,from commercial,disclosure orby financialfederal informationstatute. that is privileged or confidential.

(3) Discuss a trade secret, commercial, or financial information that is privileged or confidential.

(7) Specifically relate to the participation in a civil action or other legal proceeding,proceeding. i.

i.

12 kk. .

TThe hinterstate icommission nshall testablish ean rexecutive s c o m m i s s h a l l e s t a n e x e c u t i v e committee, which shall include officers, members, and others as determined by the bylaws.

il. .

TThe hinterstate ecommission ishall nestablish t e r c o m m i s s i o n s h a l other t a b l i s h committees for governance and administration of the compact.

212. .P o w e r s a n d d u t i e s o f the interstate cT h esion.

interstatePowers commissionand shallduties have all of the followinginterstate powerscommission. a n d u t i e s :

The interstate commission shall have all of the following powers and duties:

Pay, or provide for the payment of the expenses related to the establishment, organization, and ongoing activities of tthe hinterstate ecommission. i n t e r c o m m i s s i o n .

ii. .

PPurchase uand r c h a s maintain iinsurance nand sbonds. u r a n cb o n d s .

Employ an executive director who shall have the power to employ, select or appoint employees, agents, consultants, and to determine their qualifications, define their duties, and fix House File 2498r2498, P*p. 13 their compensation.

13 their compensation.

1,l. Accept donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services to receive, utilize, and dispose of it in a manner consistent with the conflict of interest policies established by the interstate commission.

Accept donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services to receive, utilize, and dispose of it in a manner consistent with the conflict of interest policies established by the interstate commission.

Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal, or mixed,mixed. o.

Establisho. a budget and make expenditures, p.

Establish a budget and make expenditures.

p.

Such reports shall also include reports of financial audits, and financial statements, and any recommendations that may have been adopted by the iinterstate ncommission. t e r s t a t e c o m m i s s i o n .

u.

Finance powers,powers. a.

a.

The interstate commission shall not incur obligations of House File 2498, p>p. 14 any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same.

14 any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same.

The interstate commission shall not pledge the credit or any of the member states, except by, and with the authority of, tthe hmember mstate. e m b s t a t e .

dd. .

TThe hinterstate ecommission ishall n t e r s t a t e c s h a l l maintain ffinancial i n a n c i a l records in accordance with the bylaws, including profit and loss statements and balance sheet reports which shall be included in the annual report of the interstate commission.

Organization and operation of the interstate commission»commission. a.

a.

The chairperson, or in the chairperson'schairperson’s absence or disability, the vice chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the interstate ccommission. o m m i s s i o n • c.

Officersc. selected pursuant to paragraph shall serve w i t h oremuneration f r o the i n t e r sc o m m i s s i o n .

Officers selected pursuant to paragraph “b” shall serve without remuneration from the interstate commission.

The liability of the executive director and employees of the interstate commission or representatives of the interstate commission, acting within the scope of such person'sperson’s employment or duties for acts, errors, or omissions occurring within such House File 2498, p.

15 person'sperson’s state, may not exceed the limits of liability set fforth o r under the cconstitution oand nlaws sof tthat istate tandtlfor astate w s ot h a t s t a ts t a t e officials, employees, and agents.

ff. .

16 interstate commission exercises its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of the compact, or the powers granted hereunder, then such an action by the interstate commission shall be invalid and have no force or eeffect. f f e c t .

Rules deemed appropriate for the operations of the interstate commission shall be made pursuant to the rulemaking process that substantially conforms to the model state administrative procedure Act of 2010, and subsequent amendments tthereto. h e r e t o .

Oversight of interstate compact,compact. a.

Thea. executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce the compact and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and intent.

The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce the compact and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact’s purposes and intent.

All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact and the rules in any judicial or administrative proceeding in a member state pertaining to the subject matter of the compact which may affect the powers, responsibilities, or actions of tthe hinterstate ecommission. i n t e r s t a t e c o m m i s s i o n .

The interstate commission may, by majority vote of the commissioners present and voting, initiate legal action iin nthethe United SStates tdistrict acourt tfor ethe sDistrict dof i s t r i c tt h e D i s t r i c t o f Columbia, or, at the discretion of the interstate commission, in federal district court where the interstate commission has its principal office, to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact, and its promulgated rules and bylaws, against a member state in default.

In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation including reasonable attorney ffees. e e s .

The grounds for default include but are not limited to failure of a member board to perform such obligations or responsibilities imposed upon it by the compact, or the rules and bylaws of the interstate commission promulgated under the compact,compact. b.

b.

Notice of intent to terminate shall be given by the interstate commission to the governor, the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state'sstate’s legislature, and eeach aof cothe fmember tstates. h m e m bs t a t e s .

The interstate commission shall establish rules and procedures to address licenses and podiatric physicians that are materially impacted by the termination of a member state, or the wwithdrawal iof t h d r a wmember amemberstate. as t a t e .

The member state which has been terminated is responsible for all dues, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination including obligations, the performance of which extends beyond the effective date of ttermination. e r m i n a t i o n .

Dispute resolution,resolution. a.

a.

House PileFile 2498f2498, p.

19 b»b. The interstate commission shall promulgate rules providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution as appropriate.

The interstate commission shall promulgate rules providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution as appropriate.

Member states, effective date, and amendment,amendment. a.

a.

b»b. The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by no less than four states.

Thereafter,The itcompact shall become effective and binding on a state upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by thatno sless tthan afour tstates. e .

Thereafter, it shall become effective and binding on a state upon enactment of the compact into law by that state.

No amendment shall become effective and binding upon the interstate commission and other member states unless and until it is enacted into law by uunanimous nconsent aof n i m o u s c o the memberomember sstates. t a t e s .

121. .ffit h d r a w a l .

Withdrawal.

a.c.

The interstate commission shall notify the other member states of the withdrawing state'sstate’s intent to withdraw within sixty days of its receipt of notice provided pursuant to paragraph .“c”.

Reinstatementf. following withdrawal of a member state shall occur upon the withdrawing date reenacting the compact or upon such later date as determined by the interstate c o m m i s s i o n .

Reinstatement following withdrawal of a member state shall occur upon the withdrawing date reenacting the compact or upon such later date as determined by the interstate commission.

222. .Dissolution, a.

Dissolution.

a.

Upon the dissolution of the compact, the compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the bbusiness uand saffairs iof nthe einterstate scommission ashall fbe f a i r t h e i n t e rc o m m i s s h a l l b e concluded, and surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.

Severability and construction,construction. a.

Thea. provisions of the compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the compact shall b ee n f o r c e a b l e .

The provisions of the compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the compact shall be enforceable.

Nothing in the compact shall be construed to prohibit the applicability of other interstate compacts to which the member sstates tare amembers. ta r em e m b e r s .

Binding effect of compact and other laws,laws. a.

a.

In the event of any provision of the compact that exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any member state, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of the conflict with the constitutional provision in question in tthat hmember astate. t membes t a t e .

P______________________________ A______________________________ GPAT RGRASSLEY A S S L ] AMY SIN^fAIRSINCLAIR Speaker 0of 7 the House PPresident rof ethe sSenate i d et h e S e n a t e I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and is known as House File 2498, Ninety-first General Assembly.

lfy/vin/yA<r\______________________________ MECMEGHAN ^NNNELSON ELSONChief CClerk hof ithe e f i C l e r k ^ ^ t h e House Approved ,_______________, 2026 ______________________________ KIM ^^NOLDSREYNOLDS GGovernor o v e r n o r