| 10 | 6 | | licensure requirements, regulations, and prohibitions relating to nurses and other medical2 |
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| 11 | 7 | | professionals; to amend Code Section 31-7-12.8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,3 |
|---|
| 12 | 8 | | relating to certification as nursing aide and employer sponsored training and competency4 |
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| 13 | 9 | | examination program, so as to change certain provisions relating to such certification and5 |
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| 14 | 10 | | programs; to allow certain military medical personnel to qualify for provisional certification6 |
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| 15 | 11 | | as a certified nursing aide; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code7 |
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| 16 | 12 | | of Georgia Annotated, relating to personnel regarding emergency medical services, so as to8 |
|---|
| 17 | 13 | | allow certain military medical personnel to provisionally qualify as a paramedic, cardiac9 |
|---|
| 18 | 14 | | technician, or an emergency medical technician; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 26 of Title10 |
|---|
| 19 | 15 | | 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to licensed practical nurses, so as to11 |
|---|
| 20 | 16 | | allow certain military medical personnel to provisionally qualify as a licensed practical nurse;12 |
|---|
| 21 | 17 | | to provide for a definition; to amend Chapter 26 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia13 |
|---|
| 22 | 18 | | Annotated, relating to nurses, so as to provide for licensure of advanced practice registered14 |
|---|
| 23 | 19 | | nurses; to provide for definitions; to provide for licensure requirements; to provide for15 |
|---|
| 24 | 20 | | renewal of licenses; to provide for a misdemeanor to practice advanced nursing practice16 |
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| 25 | 21 | | without a license; to change a provision relating to certain information to be given to the17 |
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| 30 | 25 | | conflicting laws; and for other purposes.19 |
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| 31 | 26 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:20 |
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| 32 | 27 | | PART I21 |
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| 33 | 28 | | SECTION 1-1.22 |
|---|
| 34 | 29 | | Code Section 31-7-12.8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certification23 |
|---|
| 35 | 30 | | as nursing aide and employer sponsored training and competency examination program, is24 |
|---|
| 36 | 31 | | amended by revising subsection (b) and adding two new subsections to read as follows:25 |
|---|
| 37 | 32 | | "(b) The department shall approve employer based programs sponsored by or offered in26 |
|---|
| 38 | 33 | | assisted living communities, private home care providers, personal care homes, or other27 |
|---|
| 39 | 34 | | long-term care facilities licensed by the department for certified nurse aide training and28 |
|---|
| 42 | 36 | | nursing homes, as determined by the department. The department shall require all30 |
|---|
| 43 | 37 | | employer based programs to meet the requirements set forth in 42 C.F.R. 483.152 and other31 |
|---|
| 44 | 38 | | applicable laws and regulations.32 |
|---|
| 45 | 39 | | (c) The department, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Service, shall33 |
|---|
| 46 | 40 | | establish a program through which military medical personnel may provisionally operate34 |
|---|
| 47 | 41 | | within their scope of practice and training for a period of 12 months without meeting the35 |
|---|
| 48 | 42 | | examination requirements provided for in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code36 |
|---|
| 49 | 43 | | section. During such 12 month period, such individual may apply for certification at the37 |
|---|
| 50 | 44 | | appropriate level.38 |
|---|
| 51 | 45 | | (d) For purposes of this Code section, the term 'military medical personnel' means an39 |
|---|
| 52 | 46 | | individual who has, within 12 months of seeking certification pursuant to this Code section,40 |
|---|
| 53 | 47 | | served as a medic in the United States Army, medical technician in the United States Air41 |
|---|
| 55 | 49 | | - 2 - 24 LC 36 5861S |
|---|
| 56 | 50 | | Force, or corpsman in the United States Navy or Coast Guard and who was discharged or42 |
|---|
| 57 | 51 | | released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable."43 |
|---|
| 58 | 52 | | SECTION 1-2.44 |
|---|
| 59 | 53 | | Article 3 of Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to45 |
|---|
| 60 | 54 | | personnel regarding emergency medical services, is amended by revising Code Section46 |
|---|
| 61 | 55 | | 31-11-52, relating to certification and recertification of, and training for, paramedics and47 |
|---|
| 62 | 56 | | cardiac technicians and qualifications by felons, as follows:48 |
|---|
| 63 | 57 | | "31-11-52.49 |
|---|
| 64 | 58 | | (a) The department shall establish procedures and standards for certifying and recertifying50 |
|---|
| 65 | 59 | | paramedics and cardiac technicians. An applicant for initial certification as a paramedic51 |
|---|
| 66 | 60 | | or a cardiac technician must shall:52 |
|---|
| 67 | 61 | | (1) Submit a completed application on a form to be prescribed by the department, which53 |
|---|
| 68 | 62 | | shall include evidence that the applicant is 18 years of age or older and is of good moral54 |
|---|
| 69 | 63 | | character;55 |
|---|
| 70 | 64 | | (2) Submit from the department a notarized statement that the applicant has completed56 |
|---|
| 71 | 65 | | a training course approved by the department;57 |
|---|
| 72 | 66 | | (3) Submit to the department a fee as set forth in the regulations of the department; and58 |
|---|
| 73 | 67 | | (4) Meet such other requirements as are set forth in the rules and regulations of the59 |
|---|
| 74 | 68 | | department.60 |
|---|
| 75 | 69 | | (b) The department shall also adopt procedures and standards for its approval of paramedic61 |
|---|
| 76 | 70 | | training courses and cardiac technician training courses. The department shall adopt such62 |
|---|
| 77 | 71 | | regulations after consultation with appropriate public and private agencies and63 |
|---|
| 78 | 72 | | organizations concerned with medical education and the practice of medicine. Procedures64 |
|---|
| 79 | 73 | | and standards adopted by the department shall be consistent with the purposes and65 |
|---|
| 80 | 74 | | provisions of this chapter.66 |
|---|
| 91 | 83 | | establish a program through which military medical personnel may provisionally operate73 |
|---|
| 92 | 84 | | within their scope of practice and training for a period of 12 months without meeting the74 |
|---|
| 93 | 85 | | requirements provided for in paragraphs (2) and (4) of subsection (a) of this Code section. 75 |
|---|
| 94 | 86 | | The program established pursuant to this subsection shall not conflict with or supplant76 |
|---|
| 95 | 87 | | Code Section 38-3-71 or Georgia's status as a member of the EMS Interstate Compact.77 |
|---|
| 96 | 88 | | (e) For purposes of this Code section, the term 'military medical personnel' means an78 |
|---|
| 97 | 89 | | individual who has, within 12 months of seeking certification pursuant to this Code section,79 |
|---|
| 98 | 90 | | served as a medic in the United States Army, medical technician in the United States Air80 |
|---|
| 99 | 91 | | Force, or corpsman in the United States Navy or Coast Guard and who was discharged or81 |
|---|
| 100 | 92 | | released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable."82 |
|---|
| 101 | 93 | | SECTION 1-3.83 |
|---|
| 102 | 94 | | Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 31-11-53, relating to services which84 |
|---|
| 103 | 95 | | may be rendered by certified emergency medical technicians and trainees, by adding two new85 |
|---|
| 104 | 96 | | subsections to read as follows:86 |
|---|
| 105 | 97 | | "(c) The department, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Service, shall87 |
|---|
| 106 | 98 | | establish a program through which military medical personnel may provisionally operate88 |
|---|
| 107 | 99 | | within their scope of practice and training without additional training, experience, or89 |
|---|
| 108 | 100 | | examination for a period of up to 12 months. During such 12 month period, such90 |
|---|
| 109 | 101 | | individual may apply for certification at the appropriate level. The program established91 |
|---|
| 111 | 103 | | - 4 - 24 LC 36 5861S |
|---|
| 112 | 104 | | pursuant to this subsection shall not conflict with or supplant Code Section 38-3-71 or92 |
|---|
| 113 | 105 | | Georgia's status as a member of the EMS Interstate Compact.93 |
|---|
| 114 | 106 | | (d) For purposes of this Code section, the term 'military medical personnel' means an94 |
|---|
| 115 | 107 | | individual who has, within 12 months of seeking certification pursuant to this Code section,95 |
|---|
| 116 | 108 | | served as a medic in the United States Army, medical technician in the United States Air96 |
|---|
| 117 | 109 | | Force, or corpsman in the United States Navy or Coast Guard and who was discharged or97 |
|---|
| 118 | 110 | | released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable."98 |
|---|
| 119 | 111 | | SECTION 1-4.99 |
|---|
| 120 | 112 | | Article 2 of Chapter 26 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to100 |
|---|
| 121 | 113 | | licensed practical nurses, is amended by revising Code Section 43-26-36, relating to101 |
|---|
| 122 | 114 | | application for licensure and examination, by adding two new subsections to read as follows:102 |
|---|
| 123 | 115 | | "(c) Notwithstanding Code Section 43-1-35, or any other provision of law, the board, in103 |
|---|
| 124 | 116 | | collaboration with the Department of Veterans Service, shall establish a program through104 |
|---|
| 125 | 117 | | which military medical personnel may provisionally operate within their scope of practice105 |
|---|
| 126 | 118 | | and training for a period of 12 months without meeting the requirements provided for in106 |
|---|
| 127 | 119 | | paragraphs (3), (5), and (6) of subsection (a) of this Code section.107 |
|---|
| 128 | 120 | | (d) For purposes of this Code section, the term 'military medical personnel' means an108 |
|---|
| 129 | 121 | | individual who has, within 12 months of seeking licensure pursuant to this Code section,109 |
|---|
| 130 | 122 | | served as a medic in the United States Army, medical technician in the United States Air110 |
|---|
| 131 | 123 | | Force, or corpsman in the United States Navy or Coast Guard and who was discharged or111 |
|---|
| 132 | 124 | | released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable."112 |
|---|
| 143 | 133 | | professional nurse who is licensed by the board under this article or who holds a119 |
|---|
| 144 | 134 | | multistate license under Article 4 of this chapter who meets those educational, practice,120 |
|---|
| 145 | 135 | | certification requirements, or any combination of such requirements as specified in Code121 |
|---|
| 146 | 136 | | Section 43-26-7.1 and established by the board, and includes certified nurse midwives,122 |
|---|
| 147 | 137 | | certified nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse123 |
|---|
| 148 | 138 | | specialists and clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric/mental health, and others124 |
|---|
| 149 | 139 | | recognized by the board.125 |
|---|
| 150 | 140 | | (1.1) 'Advanced practice registered nurse' means:126 |
|---|
| 151 | 141 | | (A) A person a registered professional nurse who is licensed by the board under this127 |
|---|
| 152 | 142 | | article or who holds a multistate license under Article 4 of this chapter, who is128 |
|---|
| 153 | 143 | | recognized by the board as having met the requirements as specified in Code Section129 |
|---|
| 154 | 144 | | 43-26-7.1 and established by the board to engage in advanced nursing practice, and who130 |
|---|
| 155 | 145 | | holds a master's degree or other graduate degree from an approved nursing education131 |
|---|
| 156 | 146 | | program and national board certification in his or her area of specialty, within one of132 |
|---|
| 157 | 147 | | the following roles: a certified nurse midwife, a certified nurse practitioner, a certified133 |
|---|
| 158 | 148 | | registered nurse anesthetist, or a clinical nurse specialist or clinical nurse specialist in134 |
|---|
| 159 | 149 | | psychiatric/mental health; or135 |
|---|
| 160 | 150 | | (B) A a person who was recognized as an advanced practice registered nurse by the136 |
|---|
| 161 | 151 | | board on or before June 30, 2006.137 |
|---|
| 173 | 161 | | advanced practice registered nurse."145 |
|---|
| 174 | 162 | | SECTION 2-2.146 |
|---|
| 175 | 163 | | Said chapter is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:147 |
|---|
| 176 | 164 | | "43-26-7.1.148 |
|---|
| 177 | 165 | | (a) On and after September 1, 2025, any applicant who meets the requirements of this149 |
|---|
| 178 | 166 | | Code section shall be eligible for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse.150 |
|---|
| 179 | 167 | | (b)(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an applicant for151 |
|---|
| 180 | 168 | | initial licensure to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse shall:152 |
|---|
| 181 | 169 | | (A) Submit a completed written application and fee;153 |
|---|
| 182 | 170 | | (B) Be currently licensed by the board as a registered professional nurse or hold a154 |
|---|
| 183 | 171 | | multistate license under Article 4 of this chapter;155 |
|---|
| 184 | 172 | | (C) Have completed an accredited graduate or postgraduate level advanced practice156 |
|---|
| 185 | 173 | | registered nursing program in one of the four roles specified under subparagraph (A)157 |
|---|
| 186 | 174 | | of paragraph (1.1) of Code Section 43-26-3 and in at least one population focus;158 |
|---|
| 187 | 175 | | (D) Be currently certified by a national certifying body recognized by the board in an159 |
|---|
| 188 | 176 | | advanced practice registered nursing program in a role and population focus appropriate160 |
|---|
| 189 | 177 | | for educational preparation;161 |
|---|
| 190 | 178 | | (E) Have satisfactory results from a fingerprint record check report conducted by the162 |
|---|
| 191 | 179 | | Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as163 |
|---|
| 193 | 181 | | - 7 - 24 LC 36 5861S |
|---|
| 194 | 182 | | determined by the board. Application for licensure under this subsection shall164 |
|---|
| 195 | 183 | | constitute express consent and authorization for the board to perform a criminal165 |
|---|
| 196 | 184 | | background check. Each applicant who submits an application to the board for166 |
|---|
| 197 | 185 | | licensure agrees to provide the board with any and all information necessary to run a167 |
|---|
| 198 | 186 | | criminal background check, including, but not limited to, classifiable sets of168 |
|---|
| 199 | 187 | | fingerprints. The applicant shall be responsible for all fees associated with the169 |
|---|
| 200 | 188 | | performance of such criminal background check; and170 |
|---|
| 201 | 189 | | (F) Meet such other criteria as established by the board.171 |
|---|
| 202 | 190 | | (2) A person who is authorized by the board to practice as an advanced practice registered172 |
|---|
| 203 | 191 | | nurse as of September 1, 2025, shall by operation of law be automatically licensed to173 |
|---|
| 204 | 192 | | practice as an advanced practice registered nurse on such date.174 |
|---|
| 205 | 193 | | (c) An applicant for reinstatement of licensure who has previously held a valid advanced175 |
|---|
| 206 | 194 | | practice registered nurse license in Georgia or authorization to practice as an advanced176 |
|---|
| 207 | 195 | | practice registered nurse in Georgia prior to September 1, 2025, shall:177 |
|---|
| 208 | 196 | | (1) Submit a completed written application and fee;178 |
|---|
| 209 | 197 | | (2) Meet continuing competency requirements as established by the board;179 |
|---|
| 210 | 198 | | (3) Have satisfactory results from a fingerprint record check report conducted by the180 |
|---|
| 211 | 199 | | Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as181 |
|---|
| 212 | 200 | | determined by the board. Application for reinstatement of licensure under this subsection182 |
|---|
| 213 | 201 | | shall constitute express consent and authorization for the board to perform a criminal183 |
|---|
| 214 | 202 | | background check. Each applicant who submits an application to the board for184 |
|---|
| 215 | 203 | | reinstatement of licensure agrees to provide the board with any and all information185 |
|---|
| 216 | 204 | | necessary to run a criminal background check, including, but not limited to, classifiable186 |
|---|
| 217 | 205 | | sets of fingerprints. The applicant shall be responsible for all fees associated with the187 |
|---|
| 218 | 206 | | performance of such criminal background check; and188 |
|---|
| 219 | 207 | | (4) Meet such other criteria as established by the board."189 |
|---|
| 232 | 218 | | registered nurse, or licensed undergraduate nurse who remits the required fee and complies198 |
|---|
| 233 | 219 | | with requirements established by the board.199 |
|---|
| 234 | 220 | | (b.1)(c) Beginning with the 2016 license renewal cycle, an applicant for license renewal200 |
|---|
| 235 | 221 | | as a registered professional nurse under this article shall meet one of the following201 |
|---|
| 236 | 222 | | continuing competency requirements during the previous licensure period:202 |
|---|
| 237 | 223 | | (1) Completion of 30 continuing education hours by a board approved provider;203 |
|---|
| 238 | 224 | | (2) Maintenance of certification or recertification by a national certifying body204 |
|---|
| 239 | 225 | | recognized by the board;205 |
|---|
| 240 | 226 | | (3) Completion of an accredited academic program of study in nursing or a related field,206 |
|---|
| 241 | 227 | | as recognized by the board;207 |
|---|
| 242 | 228 | | (4) Verification of competency by a health care facility or entity licensed under208 |
|---|
| 243 | 229 | | Chapter 7 of Title 31 or operated exclusively by the federal government or any of its209 |
|---|
| 244 | 230 | | agencies or by a physician's office that is part of a health system and at least 500 hours210 |
|---|
| 245 | 231 | | practiced as evidenced by employer certification on a form approved by the board; or211 |
|---|
| 246 | 232 | | (5) Other activities as prescribed and approved by the board that show competency in the212 |
|---|
| 247 | 233 | | nursing field.213 |
|---|
| 248 | 234 | | Failure to meet the minimum continuing competency requirement for renewal of a license214 |
|---|
| 249 | 235 | | shall be grounds for denial of a renewal application. The board may waive or modify the215 |
|---|
| 250 | 236 | | requirements contained in this subsection in cases of hardship, disability, or illness or under216 |
|---|
| 260 | 244 | | an established penalty period shall have the same effect as a revocation of said license,222 |
|---|
| 261 | 245 | | subject to reinstatement at the discretion of the board. The board may restore and reissue223 |
|---|
| 262 | 246 | | a license and, as a condition thereof, may impose any disciplinary sanction provided by224 |
|---|
| 263 | 247 | | Code Section 43-1-19 or 43-26-11."225 |
|---|
| 264 | 248 | | SECTION 2-4.226 |
|---|
| 265 | 249 | | Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 43-26-10, relating to practicing as227 |
|---|
| 266 | 250 | | a registered professional nurse without a license prohibited, as follows:228 |
|---|
| 267 | 251 | | "43-26-10.229 |
|---|
| 268 | 252 | | It shall be a misdemeanor for any person, including any corporation, association, or230 |
|---|
| 269 | 253 | | individual, to:231 |
|---|
| 270 | 254 | | (1) Practice nursing as a registered professional nurse, or advanced practice registered232 |
|---|
| 271 | 255 | | nurse without a valid, current license, except as otherwise permitted under Code Section233 |
|---|
| 272 | 256 | | 43-26-12;234 |
|---|
| 273 | 257 | | (2) Practice nursing as a registered professional nurse or advanced practice registered235 |
|---|
| 274 | 258 | | nurse under cover of any diploma, license, or record illegally or fraudulently obtained,236 |
|---|
| 275 | 259 | | signed, or issued;237 |
|---|
| 276 | 260 | | (3) Practice nursing as a registered professional nurse or advanced practice registered238 |
|---|
| 277 | 261 | | nurse during the time the license is suspended, revoked, surrendered, or administratively239 |
|---|
| 278 | 262 | | revoked for failure to renew;240 |
|---|
| 279 | 263 | | (4) Use any words, abbreviations, figures, letters, title, sign, card, or device implying that241 |
|---|
| 280 | 264 | | such person is a registered professional nurse or advanced practice registered nurse unless242 |
|---|
| 289 | 271 | | (6) Knowingly employ any person to practice nursing as a registered professional nurse247 |
|---|
| 290 | 272 | | or advanced practice registered nurse who is not a registered professional nurse or248 |
|---|
| 291 | 273 | | advanced practice registered nurse;249 |
|---|
| 292 | 274 | | (7) Conduct a nursing education program preparing persons to practice nursing as250 |
|---|
| 293 | 275 | | registered professional nurses unless the program has been approved by the board; or251 |
|---|
| 294 | 276 | | (8) Knowingly aid or abet any person to violate this article."252 |
|---|
| 295 | 277 | | SECTION 2-5.253 |
|---|
| 296 | 278 | | Said chapter is further amendment by revising Code Section 43-26-13, relating to certain254 |
|---|
| 297 | 279 | | information given to the board by licenses, as follows:255 |
|---|
| 298 | 280 | | "43-26-13.256 |
|---|
| 299 | 281 | | (a) A licensee may, in lieu of providing his or her home address, provide the board a257 |
|---|
| 300 | 282 | | legitimate business address for purposes of the public information made available by the258 |
|---|
| 301 | 283 | | board with regard to licensed registered professional nurses.259 |
|---|
| 302 | 284 | | (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any reference to a rural hospital260 |
|---|
| 303 | 285 | | organization in this chapter shall also include any hospital located in any county that261 |
|---|
| 304 | 286 | | satisfies the definition of rural hospital organization in Code Section 31-8-9.1."262 |
|---|
| 305 | 287 | | PART III263 |
|---|
| 306 | 288 | | SECTION 3-1.264 |
|---|
| 307 | 289 | | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.265 |
|---|