Senate Bill 1251 Summary

• Repeals the prior Nurse Licensure Compact and enacts a new compact allowing registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPNs/VNs) to practice in multiple states under a single multistate license issued by their home state.

• Establishes the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators to promulgate uniform rules, oversee implementation, collect and share licensure and disciplinary information, and resolve disputes among party states.

• Requires applicants for multistate licenses to meet qualifications including education verification, English proficiency testing if applicable, passing NCLEX-RN® or NCLEX-PN® exams, criminal background checks, and valid Social Security numbers.

• Authorizes each party state's licensing board to take adverse action against a nurse's multistate privilege to practice in that state, while only the home state can take action against the license itself.

• Becomes effective when 26 states or by December 31, 2018, whichever is earlier; requires 25 other states to enact the compact before Idaho's law takes effect.