HB 2030 — An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Interstate Compact; providing for the form of the compact; and imposing additional powers and duties on the Governor and the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

PRINTER'S NO.   2602

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                       HOUSE BILL
                       No. 2030
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY GUZMAN, KHAN, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, WAXMAN,
        SANCHEZ, MAYES, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, RIVERA AND MALAGARI,
        NOVEMBER 12, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
        NOVEMBER 17, 2025


                                   AN ACT
 1   Authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the
 2      Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Interstate Compact;
 3      providing for the form of the compact; and imposing
 4      additional powers and duties on the Governor and the
 5      Secretary of the Commonwealth.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8   Section 1.   Short title.
 9      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Advanced
10   Practice Registered Nurse Interstate Compact.
11   Section 2.   Authority to execute compact.
12      The Governor of Pennsylvania, on behalf of this State, is
13   hereby authorized to execute a compact in substantially the
14   following form with any one or more of the states of the United
15   States and the General Assembly hereby signifies in advance its
16   approval and ratification of the compact:
17                               ARTICLE I
18                  Findings and Declaration of Purpose
 1    a. The party states find that:
 2        1. The health and safety of the public are affected by
 3    the degree of compliance with APRN licensure requirements and
 4    the effectiveness of enforcement activities related to state
 5    APRN licensure laws;
 6        2. Violations of APRN licensure and other laws regulating
 7    the practice of nursing may result in injury or harm to the
 8    public;
 9        3. The expanded mobility of APRNs and the use of advanced
10    communication and intervention technologies as part of our
11    nation's health care delivery system require greater
12    coordination and cooperation among states in the areas of
13    APRN licensure and regulation;
14        4. New practice modalities and technology make compliance
15    with individual state APRN licensure laws difficult and
16    complex;
17        5. The current system of duplicative APRN licensure for
18    APRNs practicing in multiple states is cumbersome and
19    redundant for healthcare delivery systems, payors, state
20    licensing boards, regulators and APRNs;
21        6. Uniformity of APRN licensure requirements throughout
22    the states promotes public safety and public health benefits
23    as well as providing a mechanism to increase access to care.
24    b. The general purposes of this Compact are to:
25        1. Facilitate the states' responsibility to protect the
26    public's health and safety;
27        2. Ensure and encourage the cooperation of party states
28    in the areas of APRN licensure and regulation, including
29    promotion of uniform licensure requirements;
30        3. Facilitate the exchange of information between party

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 1      states in the areas of APRN regulation, investigation and
 2      adverse actions;
 3            4. Promote compliance with the laws governing APRN
 4      practice in each jurisdiction;
 5            5. Invest all party states with the authority to hold an
 6      APRN accountable for meeting all state practice laws in the
 7      state in which the patient is located at the time care is
 8      rendered through the mutual recognition of party state
 9      privileges to practice;
10            6. Decrease redundancies in the consideration and
11      issuance of APRN licenses; and
12            7. Provide opportunities for interstate practice by APRNs
13      who meet uniform licensure requirements.
14                                 ARTICLE II
15                                Definitions
16      As used in this Compact:
17      a. "Advanced practice registered nurse" or "APRN" means a
18   registered nurse who has gained additional specialized
19   knowledge, skills and experience through a program of study
20   recognized or defined by the Interstate Commission of APRN
21   Compact Administrators ("Commission"), and who is licensed to
22   perform advanced nursing practice. An advanced practice
23   registered nurse is licensed in an APRN role that is congruent
24   with an APRN educational program, certification, and Commission
25   rules.
26      b. "Adverse action" means any administrative, civil,
27   equitable or criminal action permitted by a state's laws which
28   is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against an
29   APRN, including actions against an individual's license or
30   multistate licensure privilege such as revocation, suspension,

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 1   probation, monitoring of the licensee, limitation on the
 2   licensee's practice, or any other encumbrance on licensure
 3   affecting an APRN's authorization to practice, including the
 4   issuance of a cease and desist action.
 5      c. "Alternative program" means a, non-disciplinary monitoring
 6   program approved by a licensing board.
 7      d. "APRN licensure" means the regulatory mechanism used by a
 8   party state to grant legal authority to practice as an APRN.
 9      e. "APRN uniform licensure requirements" means the minimum
10   uniform licensure, education and examination requirements set
11   forth in Article III.b of this Compact.
12      f. "Coordinated licensure information system" means an
13   integrated process for collecting, storing and sharing
14   information on APRN licensure and enforcement activities related
15   to APRN licensure laws that is administered by a nonprofit
16   organization composed of and controlled by licensing boards.
17      g. "Current significant investigatory information" means:
18          1. Investigative information that a licensing board,
19      after a preliminary inquiry that includes notification and an
20      opportunity for the APRN to respond, if required by state
21      law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved
22      true, would indicate more than a minor infraction; or
23          2. Investigative information that indicates that the APRN
24      represents an immediate threat to public health and safety
25      regardless of whether the APRN has been notified and had an
26      opportunity to respond.
27      h. "Encumbrance" means a revocation or suspension of, or any
28   limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of nursing
29   imposed by a licensing board in connection with a disciplinary
30   proceeding.

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 1      i. "Home state" means the party state that is the APRN's
 2   primary state of residence.
 3      j. "Licensing board" means a party state's regulatory body
 4   responsible for regulating the practice of advanced practice
 5   registered nursing.
 6      k. "Multistate license" means an APRN license to practice as
 7   an APRN issued by a home state licensing board that authorizes
 8   the APRN to practice as an APRN in all party states under a
 9   multistate licensure privilege, in the same role and population
10   focus as the APRN is licensed in the home state.
11      l. "Multistate licensure privilege" means a legal
12   authorization associated with an APRN multistate license that
13   permits an APRN to practice as an APRN in a remote state, in the
14   same role and population focus as the APRN is licensed in the
15   home state.
16      m. "Non-controlled prescription drug" means a device or drug
17   that is not a controlled substance and is prohibited under state
18   or federal law from being dispensed without a prescription. The
19   term includes a device or drug that bears or is required to bear
20   the legend "Caution: federal law prohibits dispensing without
21   prescription" or "prescription only" or other legend that
22   complies with federal law.
23      n. "Party state" means any state that has adopted this
24   Compact.
25      o. "Population focus" means one of the six population foci of
26   family/individual across the lifespan, adult-gerontology,
27   pediatrics, neonatal, women's health/gender-related and
28   psych/mental health.
29      p. "Prescriptive authority" means the legal authority to
30   prescribe medications and devices as defined by party state

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 1   laws.
 2      q. "Remote state" means a party state that is not the home
 3   state.
 4      r. "Role" means one of the four recognized roles of certified
 5   registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), certified nurse-midwives
 6   (CNM), clinical nurse specialists (CNS) and certified nurse
 7   practitioners(CNP).
 8      s. "Single-state license" means an APRN license issued by a
 9   party state that authorizes practice only within the issuing
10   state and does not include a multistate licensure privilege to
11   practice in any other party state.
12      t. "State" means a state, territory or possession of the
13   United States and the District of Columbia.
14      u. "State practice laws" means a party state's laws, rules,
15   and regulations that govern APRN practice, define the scope of
16   advanced nursing practice and create the methods and grounds for
17   imposing discipline except that prescriptive authority shall be
18   treated in accordance with Article III.f and g of this Compact.
19   "State practice laws" does not include:
20            1. A party state's laws, rules, and regulations requiring
21      supervision or collaboration with a healthcare professional,
22      except for laws, rules, and regulations regarding prescribing
23      controlled substances;
24            2. The requirements necessary to obtain and retain an
25      APRN license, except for qualifications or requirements of
26      the home state.
27                               ARTICLE III
28                   General Provisions and Jurisdiction
29      a. A state must implement procedures for considering the
30   criminal history records of applicants for initial APRN

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 1   licensure or APRN licensure by endorsement. Such procedures
 2   shall include the submission of fingerprints or other biometric-
 3   based information by APRN applicants for the purpose of
 4   obtaining an applicant's criminal history record information
 5   from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency
 6   responsible for retaining that state's criminal records.
 7      b. Each party state shall require an applicant to satisfy the
 8   following APRN uniform licensure requirements to obtain or
 9   retain a multistate license in the home state:
10          1. Meets the home state's qualifications for licensure or
11      renewal of licensure, as well as, all other applicable state
12      laws;
13          2. i. Has completed an accredited graduate-level
14          education program that prepares the applicant for one of
15          the four recognized roles and population foci; or
16              ii. Has completed a foreign APRN education program
17          for one of the four recognized roles and population foci
18          that (a) has been approved by the authorized accrediting
19          body in the applicable country and (b) has been verified
20          by an independent credentials review agency to be
21          comparable to a licensing board-approved APRN education
22          program;
23          3. Has, if a graduate of a foreign APRN education program
24      not taught in English or if English is not the individual's
25      native language, successfully passed an English proficiency
26      examination that includes the components of reading,
27      speaking, writing and listening;
28          4. Has successfully passed a national certification
29      examination that measures APRN, role and population-focused
30      competencies and maintains continued competence as evidenced

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 1    by recertification in the role and population focus through
 2    the national certification program;
 3        5. Holds an active, unencumbered license as a registered
 4    nurse and an active, unencumbered authorization to practice
 5    as an APRN;
 6        6. Has successfully passed an NCLEX-RN® examination or
 7    recognized predecessor, as applicable;
 8        7. Has practiced for at least 2,080 hours as an APRN in a
 9    role and population focus congruent with the applicant's
10    education and training. For purposes of this section,
11    practice shall not include hours obtained as part of
12    enrollment in an APRN education program;
13        8. Has submitted, in connection with an application for
14    initial licensure or licensure by endorsement, fingerprints
15    or other biometric data for the purpose of obtaining criminal
16    history record information from the Federal Bureau of
17    Investigation and the agency responsible for retaining that
18    state or, if applicable, foreign country's criminal records;
19        9. Has not been convicted or found guilty, or has entered
20    into an agreed disposition, of a felony offense under
21    applicable state, federal or foreign criminal law;
22        10. Has not been convicted or found guilty, or has
23    entered into an agreed disposition, of a misdemeanor offense
24    related to the practice of nursing as determined by factors
25    set forth in rules adopted by the Commission;
26        11. Is not currently enrolled in an alternative program;
27        12. Is subject to self-disclosure requirements regarding
28    current participation in an alternative program; and
29        13. Has a valid United States Social Security number.
30    c. An APRN issued a multistate license shall be licensed in

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 1   an approved role and at least one approved population focus.
 2      d. An APRN multistate license issued by a home state to a
 3   resident in that state will be recognized by each party state as
 4   authorizing the APRN to practice as an APRN in each party state,
 5   under a multistate licensure privilege, in the same role and
 6   population focus as the APRN is licensed in the home state.
 7      e. Nothing in this Compact shall affect the requirements
 8   established by a party state for the issuance of a single-state
 9   license, except that an individual may apply for a single-state
10   license, instead of a multistate license, even if otherwise
11   qualified for the multistate license. However, the failure of
12   such an individual to affirmatively opt for a single state
13   license may result in the issuance of a multistate license.
14      f. Issuance of an APRN multistate license shall include
15   prescriptive authority for noncontrolled prescription drugs.
16      g. For each state in which an APRN seeks authority to
17   prescribe controlled substances, the APRN shall satisfy all
18   requirements imposed by such state in granting and/or renewing
19   such authority.
20      h. An APRN issued a multistate license is authorized to
21   assume responsibility and accountability for patient care
22   independent of any supervisory or collaborative relationship.
23   This authority may be exercised in the home state and in any
24   remote state in which the APRN exercises a multistate licensure
25   privilege.
26      i. All party states shall be authorized, in accordance with
27   state due process laws, to take adverse action against an APRN's
28   multistate licensure privilege such as revocation, suspension,
29   probation or any other action that affects an APRN's
30   authorization to practice under a multistate licensure

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 1   privilege, including cease and desist actions. If a party state
 2   takes such action, it shall promptly notify the administrator of
 3   the coordinated licensure information system. The administrator
 4   of the coordinated licensure information system shall promptly
 5   notify the home state of any such actions by remote states.
 6      j. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Compact, an
 7   APRN practicing in a party state must comply with the state
 8   practice laws of the state in which the client is located at the
 9   time service is provided. APRN practice is not limited to
10   patient care, but shall include all advanced nursing practice as
11   defined by the state practice laws of the party state in which
12   the client is located. APRN practice in a party state under a
13   multistate licensure privilege will subject the APRN to the
14   jurisdiction of the licensing board, the courts, and the laws of
15   the party state in which the client is located at the time
16   service is provided.
17      k. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Compact,
18   this Compact does not affect additional requirements imposed by
19   states for advanced practice registered nursing. However, a
20   multistate licensure privilege to practice registered nursing
21   granted by a party state shall be recognized by other party
22   states as satisfying any state law requirement for registered
23   nurse licensure as a precondition for authorization to practice
24   as an APRN in that state.
25      l. Individuals not residing in a party state shall continue
26   to be able to apply for a party state's singlestate APRN license
27   as provided under the laws of each party state. However, the
28   single-state license granted to these individuals will not be
29   recognized as granting the privilege to practice as an APRN in
30   any other party state.

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 1                                 ARTICLE IV
 2              Applications for APRN Licensure in a Party State
 3      a. Upon application for an APRN multistate license, the
 4   licensing board in the issuing party state shall ascertain,
 5   through the coordinated licensure information system, whether
 6   the applicant has ever held or is the holder of a licensed
 7   practical/vocational nursing license, a registered nursing
 8   license or an advanced practice registered nurse license issued
 9   by any other state, whether there are any encumbrances on any
10   license or multistate licensure privilege held by the applicant,
11   whether any adverse action has been taken against any license or
12   multistate licensure privilege held by the applicant and whether
13   the applicant is currently participating in an alternative
14   program.
15      b. An APRN may hold a multistate APRN license, issued by the
16   home state, in only one party state at a time.
17      c. If an APRN changes primary state of residence by moving
18   between two party states, the APRN must apply for APRN licensure
19   in the new home state, and the multistate license issued by the
20   prior home state shall be deactivated in accordance with
21   applicable Commission rules.
22          1. The APRN may apply for licensure in advance of a
23      change in primary state of residence.
24          2. A multistate APRN license shall not be issued by the
25      new home state until the APRN provides satisfactory evidence
26      of a change in primary state of residence to the new home
27      state and satisfies all applicable requirements to obtain a
28      multistate APRN license from the new home state.
29      d. If an APRN changes primary state of residence by moving
30   from a party state to a non-party state, the APRN multistate

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 1   license issued by the prior home state will convert to a single-
 2   state license, valid only in the former home state.
 3                                 ARTICLE V
 4                  Additional Authorities Invested in
 5                        Party State Licensing Boards
 6      a. In addition to the other powers conferred by state law, a
 7   licensing board shall have the authority to:
 8          1. Take adverse action against an APRN's multistate
 9      licensure privilege to practice within that party state.
10              i. Only the home state shall have power to take
11          adverse action against an APRN's license issued by the
12          home state.
13              ii. For purposes of taking adverse action, the home
14          state licensing board shall give the same priority and
15          effect to reported conduct that occurred outside of the
16          home state as it would if such conduct had occurred
17          within the home state. In so doing, the home state shall
18          apply its own state laws to determine appropriate action.
19          2. Issue cease and desist orders or impose an encumbrance
20      on an APRN's authority to practice within that party state.
21          3. Complete any pending investigations of an APRN who
22      changes primary state of residence during the course of such
23      investigations. The licensing board shall also have the
24      authority to take appropriate action(s) and shall promptly
25      report the conclusions of such investigations to the
26      administrator of the coordinated licensure information
27      system. The administrator of the coordinated licensure
28      information system shall promptly notify the new home state
29      of any such actions.
30          4. Issue subpoenas for both hearings and investigations

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 1      that require the attendance and testimony of witnesses, as
 2      well as, the production of evidence. Subpoenas issued by a
 3      party state licensing board for the attendance and testimony
 4      of witnesses and/or the production of evidence from another
 5      party state shall be enforced in the latter state by any
 6      court of competent jurisdiction,according to that court's
 7      practice and procedure in considering subpoenas issued in its
 8      own proceedings. The issuing licensing board shall pay any
 9      witness fees, travel expenses, mileage and other fees
10      required by the service statutes of the state in which the
11      witnesses and/or evidence are located.
12          5. Obtain and submit, for an APRN licensure applicant,
13      fingerprints or other biometric-based information to the
14      Federal Bureau of Investigation for criminal background
15      checks, receive the results of the Federal Bureau of
16      Investigation record search on criminal background checks and
17      use the results in making licensure decisions.
18          6. If otherwise permitted by state law, recover from the
19      affected APRN the costs of investigations and disposition of
20      cases resulting from any adverse action taken against that
21      APRN.
22          7. Take adverse action based on the factual findings of
23      another party state, provided that the licensing board
24      follows its own procedures for taking such adverse action.
25      b. If adverse action is taken by a home state against an
26   APRN's multistate licensure, the privilege to practice in all
27   other party states under a multistate licensure privilege shall
28   be deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the
29   APRN's multistate license. All home state disciplinary orders
30   that impose adverse action against an APRN's multistate license

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 1   shall include a statement that the APRN's multistate licensure
 2   privilege is deactivated in all party states during the pendency
 3   of the order.
 4      c. Nothing in this Compact shall override a party state's
 5   decision that participation in an alternative program may be
 6   used in lieu of adverse action. The home state licensing board
 7   shall deactivate the multistate licensure privilege under the
 8   multistate license of any APRN for the duration of the APRN's
 9   participation in an alternative program.
10                               ARTICLE VI
11              Coordinated Licensure Information System and
12                        Exchange of Information
13      a. All party states shall participate in a coordinated
14   licensure information system of all APRNs, licensed registered
15   nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses. This system
16   will include information on the licensure and disciplinary
17   history of each APRN, as submitted by party states, to assist in
18   the coordinated administration of APRN licensure and enforcement
19   efforts.
20      b. The Commission, in consultation with the administrator of
21   the coordinated licensure information system, shall formulate
22   necessary and proper procedures for the identification,
23   collection and exchange of information under this Compact.
24      c. All licensing boards shall promptly report to the
25   coordinated licensure information system any adverse action, any
26   current significant investigative information, denials of
27   applications (with the reasons for such denials) and APRN
28   participation in alternative programs known to the licensing
29   board regardless of whether such participation is deemed
30   nonpublic and/or confidential under state law.

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 1      d. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all party
 2   state licensing boards contributing information to the
 3   coordinated licensure information system may designate
 4   information that may not be shared with non-party states or
 5   disclosed to other entities or individuals without the express
 6   permission of the contributing state.
 7      e. Any personally identifiable information obtained from the
 8   coordinated licensure information system by a party state
 9   licensing board shall not be shared with non-party states or
10   disclosed to other entities or individuals except to the extent
11   permitted by the laws of the party state contributing the
12   information.
13      f. Any information contributed to the coordinated licensure
14   information system that is subsequently required to be expunged
15   by the laws of the party state contributing the information
16   shall be removed from the coordinated licensure information
17   system.
18      g. The Compact administrator of each party state shall
19   furnish a uniform data set to the Compact administrator of each
20   other party state, which shall include, at a minimum:
21             1. Identifying information;
22             2. Licensure data;
23             3. Information related to alternative program
24      participation information; and
25             4. Other information that may facilitate the
26      administration of this Compact, as determined by Commission
27      rules.
28      h. The Compact administrator of a party state shall provide
29   all investigative documents and information requested by another
30   party state.

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 1                                ARTICLE VII
 2            Establishment of the Interstate Commission of
 3                     APRN Compact Administrators
 4      a. The party states hereby create and establish a joint
 5   public agency known as the Interstate Commission of APRN Compact
 6   Administrators.
 7          1. The Commission is an instrumentality of the party
 8      states.
 9          2. Venue is proper, and judicial proceedings by or
10      against the Commission shall be brought solely and
11      exclusively, in a court of competent jurisdiction where the
12      principal office of the Commission is located. The Commission
13      may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses to the extent it
14      adopts or consents to participate in alternative dispute
15      resolution proceedings.
16          3. Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to be a
17      waiver of sovereign immunity.
18      b. Membership, Voting and Meetings
19          1. Each party state shall have and be limited to one
20      administrator. The head of the state licensing board or
21      designee shall be the administrator of this Compact for each
22      party state. Any administrator may be removed or suspended
23      from office as provided by the law of the state from which
24      the Administrator is appointed. Any vacancy occurring in the
25      Commission shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the
26      party state in which the vacancy exists.
27          2. Each administrator shall be entitled to one (1) vote
28      with regard to the promulgation of rules and creation of
29      bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity to participate
30      in the business and affairs of the Commission. An

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 1    administrator shall vote in person or by such other means as
 2    provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for an
 3    administrator's participation in meetings by telephone or
 4    other means of communication.
 5        3. The Commission shall meet at least once during each
 6    calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth
 7    in the bylaws or rules of the commission.
 8        4. All meetings shall be open to the public, and public
 9    notice of meetings shall be given in the same manner as
10    required under the rulemaking provisions in Article VIII.
11        5. The Commission may convene in a closed, nonpublic
12    meeting if the Commission must discuss:
13             i. Noncompliance of a party state with its
14        obligations under this Compact;
15             ii. The employment, compensation, discipline or other
16        personnel matters, practices or procedures related to
17        specific employees or other matters related to the
18        Commission's internal personnel practices and procedures;
19             iii. Current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated
20        litigation;
21             iv. Negotiation of contracts for the purchase or sale
22        of goods, services or real estate;
23             v. Accusing any person of a crime or formally
24        censuring any person;
25             vi. Disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or
26        financial information that is privileged or confidential;
27             vii. Disclosure of information of a personal nature
28        where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted
29        invasion of personal privacy;
30             viii. Disclosure of investigatory records compiled

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 1             for law enforcement purposes;
 2                  ix. Disclosure of information related to any reports
 3             prepared by or on behalf of the Commission for the
 4             purpose of investigation of compliance with this Compact;
 5             or
 6                  x. Matters specifically exempted from disclosure by
 7             federal or state statute.
 8             6. If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed
 9         pursuant to this provision, the Commission's legal counsel or
10         designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and
11         shall reference each relevant exempting provision. The
12         Commission shall keep minutes that fully and clearly describe
13         all matters discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full
14         and accurate summary of actions taken, and the reasons
15         therefor, including a description of the views expressed. All
16         documents considered in connection with an action shall be
17         identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a
18         closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by
19         a majority vote of the Commission or order of a court of
20         competent jurisdiction.
21         c. The Commission shall, by a majority vote of the
22   administrators, prescribe bylaws or rules to govern its conduct
23   as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and
24   exercise the powers of this Compact, including but not limited
25   to:
26             1. Establishing the fiscal year of the Commission;
27             2. Providing reasonable standards and procedures:
28                  i. For the establishment and meetings of other
29             committees; and
30                  ii. Governing any general or specific delegation of

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 1          any authority or function of the Commission.
 2          3. Providing reasonable procedures for calling and
 3      conducting meetings of the Commission, ensuring reasonable
 4      advance notice of all meetings and providing an opportunity
 5      for attendance of such meetings by interested parties, with
 6      enumerated exceptions designed to protect the public's
 7      interest, the privacy of individuals, and proprietary
 8      information, including trade secrets. The Commission may meet
 9      in closed session only after a majority of the administrators
10      vote to close a meeting in whole or in part. As soon as
11      practicable, the Commission must make public a copy of the
12      vote to close the meeting revealing the vote of each
13      administrator, with no proxy votes allowed;
14          4. Establishing the titles, duties and authority and
15      reasonable procedures for the election of the officers of the
16      Commission;
17          5. Providing reasonable standards and procedures for the
18      establishment of the personnel policies and programs of the
19      Commission. Notwithstanding any civil service or other
20      similar laws of any party state, the bylaws shall exclusively
21      govern the personnel policies and programs of the Commission;
22          6. Providing a mechanism for winding up the operations of
23      the Commission and the equitable disposition of any surplus
24      funds that may exist after the termination of this Compact
25      after the payment and/or reserving of all of its debts and
26      obligations;
27      d. The Commission shall publish its bylaws and rules, and any
28   amendments thereto, in a convenient form on the website of the
29   Commission;
30      e. The Commission shall maintain its financial records in

20250HB2030PN2602                 - 19 -
 1   accordance with the bylaws; and
 2      f. The Commission shall meet and take such actions as are
 3   consistent with the provisions of this Compact and the bylaws.
 4      g. The Commission shall have the following powers:
 5          1. To promulgate uniform rules to facilitate and
 6      coordinate implementation and administration of this Compact.
 7      The rules shall have the force and effect of law and shall be
 8      binding in all party states;
 9          2. To bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in
10      the name of the Commission, provided that the standing of any
11      licensing board to sue or be sued under applicable law shall
12      not be affected;
13          3. To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;
14          4. To borrow, accept or contract for services of
15      personnel, including but not limited to employees of a party
16      state or nonprofit organizations;
17          5. To cooperate with other organizations that administer
18      state compacts related to the regulation of nursing,
19      including but not limited to sharing administrative or staff
20      expenses, office space or other resources;
21          6. To hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix
22      compensation, define duties, grant such individuals
23      appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of this
24      Compact, and to establish the Commission's personnel policies
25      and programs relating to conflicts of interest,
26      qualifications of personnel and other related personnel
27      matters;
28          7. To accept any and all appropriate donations, grants
29      and gifts of money, equipment, supplies, materials and
30      services, and to receive, utilize and dispose of the same;

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 1    provided that at all times the Commission shall strive to
 2    avoid any appearance of impropriety and/or conflict of
 3    interest;
 4        8. To lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or
 5    donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use, any
 6    property, whether real, personal or mixed; provided that at
 7    all times the Commission shall strive to avoid any appearance
 8    of impropriety;
 9        9. To sell convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange,
10    abandon or otherwise dispose of any property, whether real,
11    personal or mixed;
12        10. To establish a budget and make expenditures;
13        11. To borrow money;
14        12. To appoint committees, including advisory committees
15    comprised of administrators, state nursing regulators, state
16    legislators or their representatives, and consumer
17    representatives, and other such interested persons;
18        13. To issue advisory opinions;
19        14. To provide and receive information from, and to
20    cooperate with, law enforcement agencies;
21        15. To adopt and use an official seal; and
22        16. To perform such other functions as may be necessary
23    or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Compact
24    consistent with the state regulation of APRN licensure and
25    practice.
26    h. Financing of the Commission
27        1. The Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment
28    of, the reasonable expenses of its establishment,
29    organization and ongoing activities.
30        2. The Commission may also levy on and collect an annual

20250HB2030PN2602                - 21 -
 1    assessment from each party state to cover the cost of its
 2    operations, activities and staff in its annual budget as
 3    approved each year. The aggregate annual assessment amount,
 4    if any, shall be allocated based upon a formula to be
 5    determined by the Commission, which shall promulgate a rule
 6    that is binding upon all party states.
 7        3. The Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind
 8    prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor
 9    shall the Commission pledge the credit of any of the party
10    states, except by, and with the authority of, such party
11    state.
12        4. The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all
13    receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of
14    the Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting
15    procedures established under its bylaws. However, all
16    receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Commission
17    shall by audited yearly by a certified or licensed public
18    accountant, and the report of the audit shall be included in
19    and become part of the annual report of the Commission.
20    i. Qualified Immunity, Defense, and Indemnification
21        1. The administrators, officers, executive director,
22    employees and representatives of the Commission shall be
23    immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their
24    official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of
25    property or personal injury or other civil liability caused
26    by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or
27    omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the
28    claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred,
29    within the scope of Commission employment, duties or
30    responsibilities; provided that nothing in this paragraph

20250HB2030PN2602               - 22 -
 1    shall be construed to protect any such person from suit
 2    and/or liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability
 3    caused by the intentional, willful or wanton misconduct of
 4    that person.
 5        2. The Commission shall defend any administrator,
 6    officer, executive director, employee or representative of
 7    the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose
 8    liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or
 9    omission that occurred within the scope of Commission
10    employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the person
11    against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for
12    believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment,
13    duties or responsibilities; provided that nothing herein
14    shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining his
15    or her own counsel; and provided further that the actual or
16    alleged act, error or omission did not result from that
17    person's intentional, willful or wanton misconduct.
18        3. The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any
19    administrator, officer, executive director, employee or
20    representative of the Commission for the amount of any
21    settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising
22    out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that
23    occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or
24    responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis
25    for believing occurred within the scope of Commission
26    employment, duties or responsibilities, provided that the
27    actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from
28    the intentional, willful or wanton misconduct of that person.
29                           ARTICLE VIII
30                            Rulemaking

20250HB2030PN2602               - 23 -
 1      a. The Commission shall exercise its rulemaking powers
 2   pursuant to the criteria set forth in this Article and the rules
 3   adopted thereunder. Rules and amendments shall become binding as
 4   of the date specified in each rule or amendment and shall have
 5   the same force and effect as provisions of this Compact.
 6      b. Rules or amendments to the rules shall be adopted at a
 7   regular or special meeting of the Commission.
 8      c. Prior to promulgation and adoption of a final rule or
 9   rules by the Commission, and at least sixty (60) days in advance
10   of the meeting at which the rule will be considered and voted
11   upon, the Commission shall file a notice of proposed rulemaking:
12          1. On the website of the Commission; and
13          2. On the website of each licensing board or the
14      publication in which each state would otherwise publish
15      proposed rules.
16      d. The notice of proposed rulemaking shall include:
17          1. The proposed time, date and location of the meeting in
18      which the rule will be considered and voted upon;
19          2. The text of the proposed rule or amendment, and the
20      reason for the proposed rule;
21          3. A request for comments on the proposed rule from any
22      interested person; and
23          4. The manner in which interested persons may submit
24      notice to the Commission of their intention to attend the
25      public hearing and any written comments.
26      e. Prior to adoption of a proposed rule, the Commission shall
27   allow persons to submit written data, facts, opinions and
28   arguments, which shall be made available to the public.
29      f. The Commission shall grant an opportunity for a public
30   hearing before it adopts a rule or amendment.

20250HB2030PN2602                 - 24 -
 1      g. The Commission shall publish the place, time, and date of
 2   the scheduled public hearing.
 3          1. Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing each
 4      person who wishes to comment a fair and reasonable
 5      opportunity to comment orally or in writing. All hearings
 6      will be recorded, and a copy will be made available upon
 7      request.
 8          2. Nothing in this section shall be construed as
 9      requiring a separate hearing on each rule. Rules may be
10      grouped for the convenience of the Commission at hearings
11      required by this section.
12      h. If no one appears at the public hearing, the Commission
13   may proceed with promulgation of the proposed rule.
14      i. Following the scheduled hearing date, or by the close of
15   business on the scheduled hearing date if the hearing was not
16   held, the Commission shall consider all written and oral
17   comments received.
18      j. The Commission shall, by majority vote of all
19   administrators, take final action on the proposed rule and shall
20   determine the effective date of the rule, if any, based on the
21   rulemaking record and the full text of the rule.
22      k. Upon determination that an emergency exists, the
23   Commission may consider and adopt an emergency rule without
24   prior notice, opportunity for comment, or hearing, provided that
25   the usual rulemaking procedures provided in this Compact and in
26   this section shall be retroactively applied to the rule as soon
27   as reasonably possible, in no event later than ninety (90) days
28   after the effective date of the rule. For the purposes of this
29   provision, an emergency rule is one that must be adopted
30   immediately in order to:

20250HB2030PN2602                    - 25 -
 1          1. Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety or
 2      welfare;
 3          2. Prevent a loss of Commission or party state funds; or
 4          3. Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an
 5      administrative rule that is established by federal law or
 6      rule.
 7      l. The Commission may direct revisions to a previously
 8   adopted rule or amendment for purposes of correcting
 9   typographical errors, errors in format, errors in consistency or
10   grammatical errors. Public notice of any revisions shall be
11   posted on the website of the Commission. The revision shall be
12   subject to challenge by any person for a period of thirty (30)
13   days after posting. The revision may be challenged only on
14   grounds that the revision results in a material change to a
15   rule. A challenge shall be made in writing, and delivered to the
16   Commission, prior to the end of the notice period. If no
17   challenge is made, the revision will take effect without further
18   action. If the revision is challenged, the revision may not take
19   effect without the approval of the Commission.
20                               ARTICLE IX
21              Oversight, Dispute Resolution and Enforcement
22      a. Oversight
23          1. Each party state shall enforce this Compact and take
24      all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate this
25      Compact's purposes and intent.
26          2. The Commission shall be entitled to receive service of
27      process in any proceeding that may affect the powers,
28      responsibilities or actions of the Commission, and shall have
29      standing to intervene in such a proceeding for all purposes.
30      Failure to provide service of process to the Commission shall

20250HB2030PN2602                  - 26 -
 1    render a judgment or order void as to the Commission, this
 2    Compact or promulgated rules.
 3    b. Default, Technical Assistance and Termination
 4        1. If the Commission determines that a party state has
 5    defaulted in the performance of its obligations or
 6    responsibilities under this Compact or the promulgated rules,
 7    the Commission shall:
 8             i. Provide written notice to the defaulting state and
 9        other party states of the nature of the default, the
10        proposed means of curing the default and/or any other
11        action to be taken by the Commission; and
12             ii. Provide remedial training and specific technical
13        assistance regarding the default.
14        2. If a state in default fails to cure the default, the
15    defaulting state's membership in this Compact may be
16    terminated upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the
17    administrators, and all rights, privileges and benefits
18    conferred by this Compact may be terminated on the effective
19    date of termination. A cure of the default does not relieve
20    the offending state of obligations or liabilities incurred
21    during the period of default.
22        3. Termination of membership in this Compact shall be
23    imposed only after all other means of securing compliance
24    have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate
25    shall be given by the Commission to the governor of the
26    defaulting state and to the executive officer of the
27    defaulting state's licensing board, the defaulting state's
28    licensing board, and each of the party states.
29        4. A state whose membership in this Compact has been
30    terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations

20250HB2030PN2602                - 27 -
 1    and liabilities incurred through the effective date of
 2    termination, including obligations that extend beyond the
 3    effective date of termination.
 4        5. The Commission shall not bear any costs related to a
 5    state that is found to be in default or whose membership in
 6    this Compact has been terminated, unless agreed upon in
 7    writing between the Commission and the defaulting state.
 8        6. The defaulting state may appeal the action of the
 9    Commission by petitioning the U.S. District Court for the
10    District of Columbia or the federal district in which the
11    Commission has its principal offices. The prevailing party
12    shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including
13    reasonable attorneys' fees.
14    c. Dispute Resolution
15        1. Upon request by a party state, the Commission shall
16    attempt to resolve disputes related to the Compact that arise
17    among party states and between party and non-party states.
18        2. The Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for
19    both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes,
20    as appropriate.
21        3. In the event the Commission cannot resolve disputes
22    among party states arising under this Compact:
23             i. The party states may submit the issues in dispute
24        to an arbitration panel, which will be comprised of
25        individuals appointed by the Compact administrator in
26        each of the affected party states and an individual
27        mutually agreed upon by the Compact administrators of all
28        the party states involved in the dispute.
29             ii. The decision of a majority of the arbitrators
30        shall be final and binding.

20250HB2030PN2602                - 28 -
 1      d. Enforcement
 2          1. The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its
 3      discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of this
 4      Compact.
 5          2. By majority vote, the Commission may initiate legal
 6      action in the United States District Court for the District
 7      of Columbia or the federal district in which the Commission
 8      has its principal offices against a party state that is in
 9      default to enforce compliance with the provisions of this
10      Compact and its promulgated rules and bylaws. The relief
11      sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the
12      event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party
13      shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including
14      reasonable attorneys' fees.
15          3. The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive
16      remedies of the Commission. The Commission may pursue any
17      other remedies available under federal or state law.
18                                ARTICLE X
19                 Effective Date, Withdrawal and Amendment
20      a. This Compact shall come into limited effect at such time
21   as this Compact has been enacted into law in seven (7) party
22   states for the sole purpose of establishing and convening the
23   Commission to adopt rules relating to its operation.
24      b. Any state that joins this Compact subsequent to the
25   Commission's initial adoption of the APRN uniform licensure
26   requirements shall be subject to all rules that have been
27   previously adopted by the Commission.
28      c. Any party state may withdraw from this Compact by enacting
29   a statute repealing the same. A party state's withdrawal shall
30   not take effect until six (6) months after enactment of the

20250HB2030PN2602                  - 29 -
 1   repealing statute.
 2      d. A party state's withdrawal or termination shall not affect
 3   the continuing requirement of the withdrawing or terminated
 4   state's licensing board to report adverse actions and
 5   significant investigations occurring prior to the effective date
 6   of such withdrawal or termination.
 7      e. Nothing contained in this Compact shall be construed to
 8   invalidate or prevent any APRN licensure agreement or other
 9   cooperative arrangement between a party state and a non-party
10   state that does not conflict with the provisions of this
11   Compact.
12      f. This Compact may be amended by the party states. No
13   amendment to this Compact shall become effective and binding
14   upon any party state until it is enacted into the laws of all
15   party states.
16      g. Representatives of non-party states to this Compact shall
17   be invited to participate in the activities of the Commission,
18   on a nonvoting basis, prior to the adoption of this Compact by
19   all states.
20                              ARTICLE XI
21                    Construction and Severability
22      This Compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate
23   the purposes thereof. The provisions of this Compact shall be
24   severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of
25   this Compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of
26   any party state or of the United States, or if the applicability
27   thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is
28   held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this Compact and
29   the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or
30   circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this Compact

20250HB2030PN2602                 - 30 -
 1   shall be held to be contrary to the constitution of any party
 2   state, this Compact shall remain in full force and effect as to
 3   the remaining party states and in full force and effect as to
 4   the party state affected as to all severable matters.
 5   Section 3.   When and how compact becomes operative.
 6      (a)   General rule.--When the Governor executes the compact on
 7   behalf of this State and files a verified copy with the
 8   Secretary of the Commonwealth and the compact is ratified by one
 9   or more other states, the compact shall become operative and
10   effective between this State and the other state or states. The
11   Governor may take action necessary to complete the exchange of
12   official documents between this State and any other state
13   ratifying the compact.
14      (b)   Notice in Pennsylvania Bulletin.--The Secretary of the
15   Commonwealth shall publish a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin
16   when the conditions in subsection (a) are satisfied and shall
17   include in the notice the date on which the compact became
18   effective and operative between this State and any other state
19   or states in accordance with this act.
20   Section 4.   Compensation and expenses of compact administrator.
21      The compact administrator who represents this State, as
22   provided for in the compact, may not receive any additional
23   compensation for performing the duties and responsibilities as
24   compact administrator, but shall be entitled to reimbursement
25   for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with the
26   duties and responsibilities as compact administrator in the same
27   manner as for expenses incurred in connection with other duties
28   and responsibilities of the individual's office or employment.
29   Section 5.   Effective date.
30      This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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