State Sen. Lisa Boscola proudly announced June 12 the unanimous passage of her bill, Senate Bill 1165, by the House Professional Licensure Committee. This significant legislation addresses crucial issues surrounding professional licensure, particularly in the health care sector.

Boscola said after two years of coordinating with multistate medical compacts and law enforcement, this bill will pave the way for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses from other states with a multistate license to work in Pennsylvania.

This latest step forward is pivotal in allowing for the full implementation of the Nurse Licensure Compact, championed by Boscola and signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf as Act 68 of 2021. The nurse compact has only been partially implemented since September of 2023.

The bill would require Pennsylvania-based nurses, physicians, and other eligible workers who want to work under multistate compacts to undergo fingerprinting as part of a criminal background check by the Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI. This is a necessary component for full implementation of health care compacts, currently pending in the Commonwealth.

Following the House Committee vote, Boscola expressed her enthusiasm about the bill’s progress, stating, “I am thrilled to see SB1165 take an additional step forward with unanimous support from the House Professional Licensure Committee. This show of support in the House reflects our shared goal to modernize licensure processes and enhancing accessibility within the health care sector.”

The legislation now heads to the full House for consideration. Boscola said she believes this legislation will be considered soon, as the governor has indicated support for this fix, making it a priority.