2020-02-05                     House Journal                      Page 1541
HB 238                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 238 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act relating to the licensure of nursing professionals; relating                                                        
    to a multistate nurse licensure compact; and providing for an                                                               
    effective date."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services,                                                           
Labor & Commerce, and Finance Committees.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Zero, Dept. of Health & Social Services                                                                                      
2. Indeterminate, Dept. of Public Safety                                                                                        
3. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic                                                                             
 Development                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 4 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to a multistate nurse                                                           
licensure compact.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
This bill would allow Alaska to adopt the Multistate Nurse Licensure                                                            
Compact, which would strengthen the state's healthcare delivery                                                                 
system by reducing barriers to licensure for registered and licensed                                                            
practical nurses and by increasing opportunities for nurses from other                                                          
states to practice in the state.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact would allow registered and                                                               
practical nurses in any of the almost three dozen participating states to                                                       
practice in Alaska without having to go through a fairly duplicative                                                            
and sometimes time-consuming licensing process. This bill would not                                                             
affect certified nurse aides (CNAs), advanced practice registered                                                               
nurses (APRNs), or anyone else who wishes to practice under an                                                                  
Alaska-only nursing license. For those practitioners, this bill preserves                                                       
the availability of temporary licenses and licensure by credentials.                                                            

2020-02-05                     House Journal                      Page 1542
This bill would codify the Nurse Licensure Compact as a new Chapter,                                                            
AS 08.69. Conforming changes to the existing nursing statute AS                                                                 
08.68 would be made to accommodate the compact's requirements.                                                                  
The compact's requirements for multistate licensure are rigorous,                                                               
exceeding those in our present statute and supporting high quality care                                                         
for all Alaskans.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The compact would establish a commission with rulemaking,                                                                       
enforcement, and financial assessment provisions. Alaska would                                                                  
appoint one person to be the compact administrator within the state.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
This bill is a win-win, keeping our present licensure options for CNAs,                                                         
APRNs, and Alaska-only licensees, while opening Alaska's diverse                                                                
communities to multistate licensed RNs and LPNs.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"