CS for SB 1352 Summary

• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Authority: Expands scope of practice for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to prescribe, dispense, administer, or order drugs including controlled substances, with Board of Nursing to establish a formulary within specific parameters.

• Terminology Updates: Changes throughout statute from "nurse practitioner" to "advanced practice registered nurse" and requires psychiatric-mental health APRNs to hold national advanced practice certification rather than just 2 years of post-master's clinical experience.

• Mental Health Services: Authorizes psychiatric-mental health APRNs to approve involuntary examination or release of patients from receiving facilities and removes discrimination barriers for substance abuse services provided to individuals taking medications prescribed by APRNs.

• Controlled Substance Prescribing Requirements: APRNs prescribing controlled substances for chronic nonmalignant pain must register as controlled substance prescribing practitioners and comply with specified standards of practice, with violations subject to same penalties as physicians.

• Conforming Changes: Makes technical updates across 85+ sections to reflect APRN terminology changes and align APRNs with physicians regarding criminal penalties, pilot certification, Medicaid reimbursement, malpractice insurance, and various health care facility regulations.