PRINTER'S NO. 254
No. 214 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY BROWNE, RAFFERTY, WONDERLING, COSTA, WASHINGTON, GREENLEAF, RHOADES, VANCE, WAUGH AND PUNT, MARCH 7, 2007
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MARCH 7, 2007
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," 8 establishing the Nurses Health Program; and making an 9 allocation. 10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 11 hereby enacts as follows: 12 Section 1. The act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known 13 as The Professional Nursing Law, is amended by adding a section 14 to read: 15 Section 14.2. Nurses Health Program.--(a) The Board, in 16 conjunction with the Professional Health Monitoring Program 17 within the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, 18 shall establish a Statewide peer assistance program to be known 19 as the Nurses Health Program, for registered nurses and licensed 20 practical nurses, which will identify, assist and monitor nurses 21 experiencing mental health, alcohol and drug problems which may
1 impair their ability to practice, so that they may return or 2 continue to practice safe nursing. The Nurses Health Program 3 shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, a voluntary 4 program for nurses who, by reason of mental or physical illness, 5 use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals or other type of 6 material, are at risk for being unable to practice their 7 profession with reasonable skill and attention to the safety of 8 patients, with the goal of getting the licensee into treatment 9 and monitoring the licensee's recovery. 10 (b) The Board shall enter into a memorandum of understanding 11 with an independent contractor to administer the Nurses Health 12 Program. The memorandum of understanding shall include program 13 eligibility criteria and reporting information. 14 (c) The Board and the Bureau of Professional and 15 Occupational Affairs through the Professional Health Monitoring 16 Program and the contractor shall coordinate their activities 17 regarding impaired professionals in order to facilitate 18 performance of the disciplinary role of the Board and the bureau 19 with the rehabilitative role of the contractor and to avoid 20 duplication of effort and misunderstandings to the extent 21 possible in cases of simultaneous involvement. The contractor 22 shall be experienced in the identification, treatment and 23 rehabilitation of persons with physical or mental impairments 24 and shall utilize registered nurses to provide the peer 25 assistance services. 26 (d) An annual report on the activities of the Nurses Health 27 Program shall be made to the Board. 28 Section 2. The State Board of Nursing, in conjunction with 29 the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs, shall 30 determine the cost to be allocated from the State Board of 20070S0214B0254 - 2 -
1 Nursing annual fees for payment of the Nurse Health Program, 2 including the voluntary program. 3 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. A10L63MSP/20070S0214B0254 - 3 -