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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 4, 2023 02:36 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Frank Burns |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Protecting consumers from fraudulent licensees |
| When we seek care from a medical professional, help from an accountant, services from an engineer or treatment for a sick pet, we rely on well-trained, licensed professionals. Their certifications, permits and licenses give us peace of mind that they can safely and effectively perform their duties. However, in rare cases of bad actors, individuals can turn to fraudulent means to obtain licensure. Earlier this year, a federal investigation dubbed Operation Nightingale found more than 7,600 fake nursing degrees and transcripts were sold by Florida-based universities to those looking to take a shortcut to becoming a nurse. In Pennsylvania, at least 89 individuals have been accused of using fraudulent educational documents to eventually obtain nursing licenses here. Current law does not provide our licensing boards with an immediate remedy in cases like this. That’s why I plan to introduce legislation that would give Pennsylvania’s 29 licensing boards the ability to immediately revoke a license, registration, certification or permit if there is probable cause to believe the credential was obtained through false pretenses and fraudulent documents. Individuals would be given 10 days’ notice and the opportunity to demonstrate that their credential was legitimately earned before revocation takes effect. Please join me in sponsoring this time-sensitive measure to ensure that bad actors can be quickly removed from unearned positions in Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as HB1882