SB 179 Summary

• Enacts the Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing registered nurses (RN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) to practice across multiple party states under a single multistate license issued by their home state

• Establishes the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators to administer the compact, coordinate licensing information, and enforce rules across participating states

• Modifies Alaska nursing licensing provisions to allow applicants to obtain either single-state licenses (practice only in Alaska) or multistate licenses (practice in all compact states)

• Requires criminal background checks and fingerprinting for nurse license applicants; authorizes licensing boards to take disciplinary action against nurses practicing under multistate licenses in their state

• Effective July 1, 2021, with provisions allowing the Department of Commerce to adopt necessary implementation regulations