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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| SENATE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY BROWNE, ERICKSON, RAFFERTY, M. WHITE, WAUGH, VANCE AND LEACH, FEBRUARY 9, 2011 |
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| REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, FEBRUARY 9, 2011 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), entitled, as |
2 | amended, "An act relating to the practice of professional |
3 | nursing; providing for the licensing of nurses and for the |
4 | revocation and suspension of such licenses, subject to |
5 | appeal, and for their reinstatement; providing for the |
6 | renewal of such licenses; regulating nursing in general; |
7 | prescribing penalties and repealing certain laws," |
8 | establishing the Nurses Health Program; and making an |
9 | allocation. |
10 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
11 | hereby enacts as follows: |
12 | Section 1. The act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known |
13 | as The Professional Nursing Law, is amended by adding a section |
14 | to read: |
15 | Section 14.2. Nurses Health Program.--(a) The Board, in |
16 | conjunction with the Professional Health Monitoring Program |
17 | within the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, |
18 | shall establish a Statewide peer assistance program to be known |
19 | as the Nurses Health Program, for registered nurses and licensed |
20 | practical nurses, which will identify, assist and monitor nurses |
21 | experiencing mental health, alcohol and drug problems which may |
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1 | impair their ability to practice, so that they may return or |
2 | continue to practice safe nursing. The Nurses Health Program |
3 | shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, a voluntary |
4 | program for nurses who, by reason of mental or physical illness, |
5 | use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals or other type of |
6 | material, are at risk for being unable to practice their |
7 | profession with reasonable skill and attention to the safety of |
8 | patients, with the goal of getting the licensee into treatment |
9 | and monitoring the licensee's recovery. |
10 | (b) The Board shall enter into a memorandum of understanding |
11 | with an independent contractor to administer the Nurses Health |
12 | Program. The memorandum of understanding shall include program |
13 | eligibility criteria and reporting information. |
14 | (c) The Board and the Bureau of Professional and |
15 | Occupational Affairs through the Professional Health Monitoring |
16 | Program and the contractor shall coordinate their activities |
17 | regarding impaired professionals in order to facilitate |
18 | performance of the disciplinary role of the Board and the bureau |
19 | with the rehabilitative role of the contractor and to avoid |
20 | duplication of effort and misunderstandings to the extent |
21 | possible in cases of simultaneous involvement. The contractor |
22 | shall be experienced in the identification, treatment and |
23 | rehabilitation of persons with physical or mental impairments |
24 | and shall utilize registered nurses to provide the peer |
25 | assistance services. |
26 | (d) An annual report on the activities of the Nurses Health |
27 | Program shall be made to the Board. |
28 | Section 2. The State Board of Nursing, in conjunction with |
29 | the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs, shall |
30 | determine the cost to be allocated from the State Board of |
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1 | Nursing annual fees for payment of the Nurse Health Program, |
2 | including the voluntary program. |
3 | Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
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