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                                                       PRINTER'S NO. 254

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

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.


















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