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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 545                       PRINTER'S NO. 1992

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 489 Session of 2007


        INTRODUCED BY SCHRODER, RUBLEY, BARRAR, BELFANTI, CALTAGIRONE,
           FRANKEL, GEORGE, GINGRICH, HENNESSEY, KAUFFMAN, KORTZ,
           O'NEILL, PETRONE, PICKETT, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROHRER, ROSS,
           WATSON, DENLINGER, MURT AND LONGIETTI, FEBRUARY 26, 2007

        AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 20, 2007

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled     <--
     2     "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
     3     executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
     4     Executive Department thereof and the administrative
     5     departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
     6     including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
     7     Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
     8     authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
     9     departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
    10     duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
    11     officers, and of the several administrative departments,
    12     boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
    13     Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
    14     and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
    15     certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
    16     other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
    17     and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the
    18     number and compensation of the deputies and all other
    19     assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and
    20     commissions shall be determined," providing for biennial
    21     renewal of certain licenses for volunteer health services;
    22     and making an inconsistent repeal.
    23  AMENDING THE ACT OF DECEMBER 4, 1996 (P.L.893, NO.141), ENTITLED  <--
    24     "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR VOLUNTEER HEALTH SERVICES; LIMITING
    25     LIABILITY OF A VOLUNTEER LICENSE HOLDER; AND REQUIRING
    26     REPORTS," FURTHER PROVIDING FOR LICENSE RENEWAL, CONTINUING
    27     EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND DISCIPLINARY AND CORRECTIVE
    28     MEASURES.

    29     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania


     1  hereby enacts as follows:
     2     Section 1.  The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known  <--
     3  as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding a
     4  section to read:
     5     Section 815.  Biennial Renewal of Licenses for Volunteer
     6  Health Services.--(a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of
     7  law to the contrary, physicians who hold volunteer licenses
     8  under the act of December 4, 1996 (P.L.893, No.141), known as
     9  the "Volunteer Health Services Act," shall complete a minimum of
    10  twenty (20) credit hours of American Medical Association
    11  Physician's Recognition Award Category 2 activities during the
    12  preceding biennial period as a condition of biennial renewal and
    13  are otherwise exempt from any continuing education requirement
    14  imposed by section 910 of the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154,
    15  No.13), known as the "Medical Care Availability and Reduction of
    16  Error (Mcare) Act," or by rulemaking of a board as defined in
    17  the "Volunteer Health Services Act."
    18     (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
    19  contrary, nurses who hold volunteer licenses under the
    20  "Volunteer Health Services Act" shall complete a minimum of
    21  twenty (20) credit hours of continuing education during the
    22  preceding biennial period as a condition of biennial renewal and
    23  are otherwise exempt from any continuing education requirement
    24  imposed by section 12 of the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317,
    25  No.69), known as "The Professional Nursing Law," or by
    26  rulemaking of a board as defined in the "Volunteer Health
    27  Services Act."
    28     Section 2.  The provisions of the act of December 4, 1996
    29  (P.L.893, No.141), known as the Volunteer Health Services Act,
    30  are repealed insofar as they are inconsistent with the addition
    20070H0489B1992                  - 2 -     

     1  of section 815 of the act.
     2     Section 3.  This act shall take effect immediately.
     3     SECTION 1.  SECTION 6 OF THE ACT OF DECEMBER 4, 1996           <--
     4  (P.L.893, NO.141), KNOWN AS THE VOLUNTEER HEALTH SERVICES ACT,
     5  IS AMENDED TO READ:
     6  SECTION 6.  LICENSE RENEWAL; DISCIPLINARY AND CORRECTIVE
     7                 MEASURES.
     8     (A)  RENEWAL TERM.--A VOLUNTEER LICENSE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO
     9  BIENNIAL RENEWAL.
    10     (B)  FEE EXEMPTION.--HOLDERS OF VOLUNTEER LICENSES SHALL BE
    11  EXEMPT FROM RENEWAL FEES IMPOSED BY THE APPROPRIATE LICENSING
    12  BOARD. [VOLUNTEER]
    13     (C)  CONTINUING EDUCATION.--EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION
    14  (D), VOLUNTEER LICENSEES SHALL COMPLY WITH ANY CONTINUING
    15  EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY BOARD RULEMAKING AS A GENERAL
    16  CONDITION OF BIENNIAL RENEWAL.
    17     (D)  NURSES.--VOLUNTEER LICENSEES WHO ARE NURSES SHALL
    18  COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF 20 CREDIT HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
    19  DURING THE PRECEDING BIENNIAL PERIOD AS A CONDITION OF BIENNIAL
    20  RENEWAL AND ARE OTHERWISE EXEMPT FROM ANY CONTINUING EDUCATION
    21  REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY SECTION 12.1 OF THE ACT OF MAY 22, 1951
    22  (P.L.317, NO.69), KNOWN AS THE PROFESSIONAL NURSING LAW, AS A
    23  CONDITION OF BIENNIAL RENEWAL.
    24     (E)  DISCIPLINARY MATTERS.--IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF
    25  DISCIPLINARY MATTERS, HOLDERS OF VOLUNTEER LICENSES SHALL BE
    26  SUBJECT TO THOSE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO ALL
    27  LICENSEES LICENSED BY THE APPROPRIATE BOARD.
    28     SECTION 2.  THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.


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