Bill Summary: HF3281

• Establishes new licensure requirements for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) effective December 31, 2015, requiring graduation from accredited graduate-level APRN programs, national certification in one of four roles (CRNA, CNM, CNS, CNP) and at least one population focus area, and current Minnesota professional nursing license.

• Expands scope of practice for APRNs to independently diagnose, prescribe medications (including controlled substances), order diagnostic studies, and serve as primary care providers without requiring collaborative management agreements with physicians.

• Creates grandfather provision allowing APRNs with valid authority to practice before December 31, 2015 to apply for licensure under new rules while maintaining current privileges.

• Requires APRNs to file DEA registrations with the board and maintain current national certification for license renewal; establishes penalty of $200 for first month of unlicensed APRN practice plus $100 for each additional month.

• Repeals previous provisions limiting APRN practice to specific fields and removes requirements for physician collaboration, updating terminology from "RN,CNS" to "APRN,CNS" designations for professional identification.