PRINTER'S NO. 955
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
822
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY J. WARD, COLLETT, VOGEL, CULVER AND SCHWANK,
JUNE 23, 2023
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
JUNE 23, 2023
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), entitled "An
act relating to the practice of professional nursing;
providing for the licensing of nurses and for the revocation
and suspension of such licenses, subject to appeal, and for
their reinstatement; providing for the renewal of such
licenses; regulating nursing in general; prescribing
penalties and repealing certain laws," establishing the
Nurses Health Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known
as The Professional Nursing Law, is amended by adding a section
to read:
Section 14.2. Nurses Health Program.--(a) The Board, in
conjunction with the Professional Health Monitoring Program
within the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs,
shall establish a Statewide peer assistance program to be known
as the Nurses Health Program, for registered nurses and licensed
practical nurses. The program shall:
(1) Identify, assist and monitor nurses experiencing mental
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health, alcohol and drug problems that impair their ability to
practice, so that they may return or continue to practice safe
nursing.
(2) Set clear, easily understandable requirements that
participants must meet in order to return to practice.
(3) Include regular progress reviews for nurses
participating in the program, with the goal of identifying
progress, and what must be done to successfully complete the
entire program and return to practice.
(4) Include treatment with appropriate and specific goals,
based on the level of assistance needed.
(5) Include an independent appeal process, administered by
the Board, for nurses who seek to leave the program or have
concerns with the program.
(b) The Board may enter into a memorandum of understanding
with an outside organization to administer the Nurses Health
Program. The memorandum of understanding shall:
(1) Include program eligibility criteria and reporting
information.
(2) List the substance abuse programs that the organization
administers for professionals in other jurisdictions, whether
state or local, and the success rate of those programs in
treating addictions among professionals.
(3) Describe the program that will be offered in this
Commonwealth, including:
(i) The treatment available to enrollees depending on the
seriousness of the addiction.
(ii) The goals that enrollees must meet to successfully
complete the program.
(iii) What happens to enrollees who fail to meet those
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goals.
(c) An annual report on the program's activities shall be
made to the Board. The report shall include:
(1) The number of professionals enrolled in the program for
that calendar year.
(2) The average length of time, in months, that enrollees
are in the program.
(3) The number of professionals who successfully complete
the program in that calendar year.
(4) The number of enrollees who failed to complete the
program during that calendar year.
(5) The reasons for their failure to complete the program.
The annual report shall also be filed with the appropriate
committees in each chamber of the General Assembly.
Section 2. The State Board of Nursing, in conjunction with
the Secretary of the Commonwealth, shall determine the cost to
be allocated from the State Board of Nursing annual fees for
payment of the Nurses Health Program.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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