PRINTER'S NO. 235
No. 235 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY VANCE, M. WHITE, COSTA, EARLL, KITCHEN, MADIGAN,
O'PAKE, PILEGGI, PUNT, REGOLA, WAUGH, WOZNIAK AND
C. WILLIAMS, FEBRUARY 10, 2005
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
FEBRUARY 10, 2005
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), entitled, as
2 amended, "An act relating to the practice of professional
3 nursing; providing for the licensing of nurses and for the
4 revocation and suspension of such licenses, subject to
5 appeal, and for their reinstatement; providing for the
6 renewal of such licenses; regulating nursing in general;
7 prescribing penalties and repealing certain laws," providing
8 for continuing nursing education.
9 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10 hereby enacts as follows:
11 Section 1. The act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known
12 as The Professional Nursing Law, is amended by adding a section
13 to read:
14 Section 12. Continuing Nursing Education.--(a) The Board
15 shall adopt, promulgate and enforce rules and regulations
16 consistent with the provisions of this act establishing
17 requirements of continuing nursing education to be met by
18 individuals licensed as registered nurses under this act as a
19 condition for renewal of their licenses. The regulations shall
20 include any fees necessary for the Board to carry out its
1 responsibilities under this section.
2 (b) Beginning with the license period designated by
3 regulation, licensees shall be required to attend and complete
4 thirty (30) hours of mandatory continuing education during each
5 two-year license period.
6 (c) An individual applying for the first time for licensure
7 in this Commonwealth shall be exempted from the continuing
8 education requirement for the biennial renewal period following
9 initial licensure.
10 (d) (1) The Board may waive all or a portion of the
11 continuing education requirement for biennial renewal for a
12 licensee who shows to the satisfaction of the Board that the
13 licensee was unable to complete the requirements due to serious
14 illness, military service or other demonstrated hardship.
15 (2) The request shall be made in writing, with appropriate
16 documentation, and shall include a description of circumstances
17 sufficient to show why the licensee is unable to comply with the
18 continuing education requirement.
19 (3) Waiver requests shall be evaluated by the Board on a
20 case-by-case basis.
21 (4) The Board shall send the licensee written notification
22 of its approval or denial of a waiver request.
23 (e) A licensee seeking to reinstate an inactive or lapsed
24 license shall show proof of compliance with the continuing
25 education requirement for the preceding biennium.
26 (f) All courses, locations, instructors and providers shall
27 be approved by the Board. No credit shall be given for any
28 course in office management.
29 (g) The Board shall initiate the promulgation of regulations
30 to carry out the provisions of this section within one (1) year
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1 of the effective date of this section.
2 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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