2020-02-05                     Senate Journal                      Page 1660
SB 179                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 179 BY THE SENATE 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."                                                                        
                                                                                                                                

2020-02-05                     Senate Journal                      Page 1661
was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services,                                                         
Labor and Commerce, and Finance Committees.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Commerce, Community, and                                                                      
  Economic Development                                                                                                          
 Fiscal Note No. 2, indeterminate, Department of Public Safety                                                                  
 Fiscal Note No. 3, zero, Department of Health and Social Services                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 4:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Giessel:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
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.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
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.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                

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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