§ 37:969 — Duties and powers of the board

§969. Duties and powers of the board
A. The board shall:
(1) Prescribe minimum curricula and minimum standards for practical nurses and
courses for practical nurses.
(2) Approve practical nursing training at all schools making application, public or
private, accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the United
States Department of Education, and hospitals with courses meeting the requirements of the
board. All other requirements such as enrollment, staffing, tuition, etc. will be regulated by
the criteria established by the recognized accrediting agency of the schools.
(3) Examine and license qualified applicants, and renew licenses.
(4) Conduct hearings upon charges calling for discipline of a licensee, or for
revocation, denial or suspension of a license issued or applied for under this Part upon proof
that the person:
(a) Is guilty of fraud or deceit in procuring or attempting to procure a license to
practice practical nursing; or
(b) Is guilty of a crime; or
(c) Is unfit, or incompetent by reason of negligence, habit, or other causes; or
(d) Is habitually intemperate or is addicted to the use of habit forming drugs; or
(e) Is mentally incompetent; or
(f) Is guilty of unprofessional conduct; or
(g) Has violated any provisions of this Part.
(5) Have all other powers necessary and proper to the performance of its duties.
B. The board may do all of the following:
(1) Issue subpoenas and administer oaths to persons giving testimony at hearings.
(2) Employ and fix compensations of persons necessary to carry on the work of the
board.
(3) Appoint an attorney to represent the board in all matters pertaining to the
administration of this Part and fix his compensation and define his duties.
(4)(a) Request and obtain state and national criminal history record information on
any person applying for the issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of any license or permit
which the board is authorized by law to issue, including permission to enroll as a student in
nurse training courses.
(b) Charge and collect from an applicant for any license or permit which the board
is authorized to issue, including permission to enroll as a student in nursing courses, in
addition to all other applicable fees and costs, such amount as may be incurred by the board
in requesting and obtaining criminal history record information on the applicant.
(c) Promulgate the rules, regulations, and procedures, in cooperation with the
Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information of the office of state police
within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation of the United States Department of Justice, in accordance with the
Administrative Procedure Act, that are necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.
(d) Require any applicant requesting the issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of any
license or permit which the board is authorized to issue, including permission to enroll as a
student in any nurse training course, to provide a full set of fingerprints, in a form and
manner prescribed by the board, as a condition of the board's consideration of his application.
(5) Adopt and revise all rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions
of this Part.

Legislative History

Acts 1954, No. 315, §1, Acts 1968, No. 80, §1; Acts 1976, No. 432, §1; Acts 1990, No. 642, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1343, §2, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2016, No. 368, §1.