§ 34-21-120 — Findings; Purpose

(a) The party states find and declare all of the following:
(1) The health and safety of the public are affected by the degree of compliance with and the effectiveness of enforcement activities related to state nurse licensure laws.
(2) Violations of nurse licensure and other laws regulating the practice of nursing may result in injury or harm to the public.
(3) The expanded mobility of nurses and the use of advanced communication technologies as part of a national health care delivery system requires greater coordination and cooperation among states in the areas of nurse licensure and regulation.
(4) New practice modalities and technology make compliance with individual state nurse licensure laws difficult and complex.
(5) Uniformity of nurse licensure requirements throughout the states promotes public safety and public health benefits.
(b) The general purpose of this compact is to achieve all of the following:
(1) Facilitate the responsibility of each state to protect public health and safety.
(2) Ensure and encourage the cooperation of party states in the areas of nurse licensure and regulation.
(3) Facilitate the exchange of information between party states in the areas of nurse regulation, investigation, and adverse actions.
(4) Promote compliance with the laws governing the practice of nursing in each jurisdiction.
(5) Invest all party states with the authority to hold a nurse accountable for satisfying all state practice laws in the state in which the patient is located at the time care is rendered through the mutual recognition of party state licenses.
(6) Decrease redundancies in the consideration and issuance of nurse licenses.
(7) Provide opportunities for interstate practice by nurses who meet uniform licensing requirements.

Legislative History

(Act 2019-102, §3.)