| 1 | 1 | | |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. |
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| 4 | 4 | | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. |
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| 5 | 5 | | *sb0407* |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | SENATE BILL 407 |
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| 8 | 8 | | J1, J2 EMERGENCY BILL 2lr0152 |
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| 9 | 9 | | CF HB 407 |
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| 10 | 10 | | By: The President (By Request – Administration) and Senators Bailey, Carozza, |
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| 11 | 11 | | Cassilly, Corderman, Eckardt, Edwards, Elfreth, Gallion, Hershey, Hough, |
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| 12 | 12 | | Jennings, Ready, Salling, Simonaire, and West |
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| 13 | 13 | | Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2022 |
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| 14 | 14 | | Assigned to: Finance and Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs |
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| 15 | 15 | | |
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| 16 | 16 | | A BILL ENTITLED |
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| 17 | 17 | | |
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| 18 | 18 | | AN ACT concerning 1 |
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| 19 | 19 | | |
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| 20 | 20 | | Health Occupations – Health Care Staffing Shortage Emergency – Declaration 2 |
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| 21 | 21 | | and Licensing and Practice Requirements 3 |
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| 22 | 22 | | (Health Care Heroes Act of 2022) 4 |
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| 23 | 23 | | |
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| 24 | 24 | | FOR the purpose of authorizing the Secretary of Health to declare a health care staffing 5 |
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| 25 | 25 | | shortage emergency in the State; requiring each health occupations board to 6 |
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| 26 | 26 | | establish processes for the issuance of initial licenses, temporary licenses, and 7 |
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| 27 | 27 | | temporary practice letters on an expedited basis during a health care staffing 8 |
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| 28 | 28 | | shortage emergency; providing that certain health care practitioners qualify for 9 |
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| 29 | 29 | | initial or temporary health occupation licenses or temporary practice letters or to be 10 |
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| 30 | 30 | | practicing a certain health occupation at a health care facility without a license or 11 |
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| 31 | 31 | | temporary practice letter under certain circumstances; and generally relating to a 12 |
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| 32 | 32 | | health care staffing shortage emergency and health occupational licensing and 13 |
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| 33 | 33 | | practice. 14 |
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| 34 | 34 | | |
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| 35 | 35 | | BY adding to 15 |
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| 36 | 36 | | Article – Health – General 16 |
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| 37 | 37 | | Section 2–109 17 |
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| 38 | 38 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 18 |
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| 39 | 39 | | (2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 19 |
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| 40 | 40 | | |
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| 41 | 41 | | BY adding to 20 |
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| 42 | 42 | | Article – Health Occupations 21 |
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| 43 | 43 | | Section 1–227 22 |
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| 44 | 44 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 23 |
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| 45 | 45 | | (2021 Replacement Volume) 24 |
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| 46 | 46 | | |
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| 47 | 47 | | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 25 |
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| 48 | 48 | | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 26 2 SENATE BILL 407 |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | |
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| 52 | 52 | | Article – Health – General 1 |
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| 53 | 53 | | |
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| 54 | 54 | | 2–109. 2 |
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| 55 | 55 | | |
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| 56 | 56 | | (A) IN THIS SECTION, “HEALTH CARE FACILITY ” MEANS: 3 |
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| 57 | 57 | | |
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| 58 | 58 | | (1) A HOSPITAL AS DEFINED IN § 19–301 OF THIS ARTICLE; 4 |
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| 59 | 59 | | |
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| 60 | 60 | | (2) A HEALTH MAINTENANCE O RGANIZATION AS DEFIN ED IN § 5 |
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| 61 | 61 | | 19–701(G) OF THIS ARTICLE; 6 |
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| 62 | 62 | | |
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| 63 | 63 | | (3) A FREESTANDING AMBULAT ORY CARE FACILITY AS DEFINED IN § 7 |
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| 64 | 64 | | 19–3B–01 OF THIS ARTICLE; 8 |
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| 65 | 65 | | |
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| 66 | 66 | | (4) AN ASSISTED LIVING FA CILITY AS DEFINED IN § 19–1801 OF THIS 9 |
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| 67 | 67 | | ARTICLE; 10 |
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| 68 | 68 | | |
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| 69 | 69 | | (5) A LABORATORY AS DEFINE D IN § 17–201 OF THIS ARTICLE; 11 |
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| 70 | 70 | | |
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| 71 | 71 | | (6) A HOME HEALTH AGENCY A S DEFINED IN § 19–401 OF THIS 12 |
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| 72 | 72 | | ARTICLE; 13 |
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| 73 | 73 | | |
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| 74 | 74 | | (7) A RESIDENTIAL TREATMEN T CENTER AS DEFINED IN § 19–301 OF 14 |
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| 75 | 75 | | THIS ARTICLE; 15 |
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| 76 | 76 | | |
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| 77 | 77 | | (8) A COMPREHENSIVE REHABI LITATION FACILITY AS DEFINED IN § 16 |
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| 78 | 78 | | 19–1201 OF THIS ARTICLE; 17 |
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| 79 | 79 | | |
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| 80 | 80 | | (9) A FORENSIC LABORATORY AS DEFINED IN § 17–2A–01 OF THIS 18 |
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| 81 | 81 | | ARTICLE; 19 |
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| 82 | 82 | | |
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| 83 | 83 | | (10) A SUBSTANCE–RELATED DISORDER PRO GRAM AS DEFINED IN § 20 |
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| 84 | 84 | | 7.5–101 OF THIS ARTICLE; 21 |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | (11) A MENTAL HEALTH PROGRA M AS DEFINED IN § 7.5–101 OF THIS 22 |
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| 87 | 87 | | ARTICLE; 23 |
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| 88 | 88 | | |
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| 89 | 89 | | (12) A NURSING HOME AS DEFI NED IN § 19–401 OF THIS ARTICLE; 24 |
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| 90 | 90 | | |
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| 91 | 91 | | (13) A PHARMACY; OR 25 |
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| 92 | 92 | | |
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| 93 | 93 | | (14) ANY OTHER FACILITY AS DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY. 26 |
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| 94 | 94 | | SENATE BILL 407 3 |
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| 95 | 95 | | |
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| 96 | 96 | | |
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| 97 | 97 | | (B) IF THE SECRETARY FINDS THAT AN EMERGENCY HAS DEV ELOPED 1 |
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| 98 | 98 | | REGARDING THE ABILITY OF HEALTH CARE FACILITI ES IN THE STATE TO 2 |
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| 99 | 99 | | APPROPRIATELY RESPON D TO THE CLINICAL NE EDS OF PATIENT S BECAUSE OF 3 |
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| 100 | 100 | | INSUFFICIENT STAFF AND THAT THE STAFFING SHORTAGE ENDANGERS THE PUBLIC 4 |
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| 101 | 101 | | HEALTH IN THE STATE, THE SECRETARY MAY DECLAR E A HEALTH CARE STAFFING 5 |
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| 102 | 102 | | SHORTAGE EMERGENCY . 6 |
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| 103 | 103 | | |
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| 104 | 104 | | (C) THE SECRETARY SHALL ESTABLISH THE CRITERIA FOR DETERMIN ING 7 |
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| 105 | 105 | | THE EMERGENCY CONDITIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE DECLARATION OF A 8 |
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| 106 | 106 | | HEALTH CARE STAFFING SHORTAGE EMERGENCY . 9 |
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| 107 | 107 | | |
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| 108 | 108 | | (D) THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED UNDER SU BSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION 10 |
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| 109 | 109 | | SHALL INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF THE FOLLOWING FACTOR S: 11 |
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| 110 | 110 | | |
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| 111 | 111 | | (1) STAFFED BED OCCUPANCY RATE; 12 |
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| 112 | 112 | | |
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| 113 | 113 | | (2) STAFF VACANCY RATE FO R THE SPECIFIC CATEGORY OF HEALTH 13 |
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| 114 | 114 | | CARE PRACTITIONER INCLUDED IN THE STAF FING SHORTAGE ; 14 |
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| 115 | 115 | | |
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| 116 | 116 | | (3) AVERAGE EMERGENCY DEP ARTMENT WAIT TIMES ; 15 |
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| 117 | 117 | | |
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| 118 | 118 | | (4) DURATION OF VACANCY R ATE FOR THE SPECIFIC CATEGORY OF 16 |
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| 119 | 119 | | HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER INCLUDED IN TH E STAFFING SHORTAGE ; 17 |
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| 120 | 120 | | |
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| 121 | 121 | | (5) AVERAGE STAFF VACANCY RATE FOR THE IMMEDIATELY 18 |
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| 122 | 122 | | PRECEDING 12 MONTHS FOR THE SPECI FIC CATEGORY OF HEALTH CARE 19 |
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| 123 | 123 | | PRACTITIONER INCLUDED IN THE STAF FING SHORTAGE ; AND 20 |
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| 124 | 124 | | |
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| 125 | 125 | | (6) ANY OTHER FACTOR DETERMINED RELEVANT BY THE 21 |
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| 126 | 126 | | SECRETARY. 22 |
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| 127 | 127 | | |
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| 128 | 128 | | (E) ON THE DECLARATION OF A HEALTH CARE STAFFING SHORTA GE 23 |
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| 129 | 129 | | EMERGENCY , THE SECRETARY MAY DIRECT THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS BOARDS 24 |
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| 130 | 130 | | THAT REGULATE THE CATEGORIES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONERS INCLUDED IN 25 |
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| 131 | 131 | | THE IDENTIFIED STAFF ING SHORTAGE TO IMPLEMENT THE EXPEDITED LICENSING 26 |
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| 132 | 132 | | PROCESSES UNDER § 1–227 OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE. 27 |
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| 133 | 133 | | |
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| 134 | 134 | | (F) A DECLARED HEALTH CARE STAFFING SHORTAGE EMERGENCY MAY NOT 28 |
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| 135 | 135 | | EXCEED 180 DAYS. 29 |
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| 136 | 136 | | |
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| 137 | 137 | | (G) THE SECRETARY SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS 30 |
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| 138 | 138 | | SECTION. 31 |
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| 139 | 139 | | 4 SENATE BILL 407 |
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| 140 | 140 | | |
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| 141 | 141 | | |
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| 142 | 142 | | Article – Health Occupations 1 |
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| 143 | 143 | | |
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| 144 | 144 | | 1–227. 2 |
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| 145 | 145 | | |
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| 146 | 146 | | (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 3 |
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| 147 | 147 | | INDICATED. 4 |
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| 148 | 148 | | |
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| 149 | 149 | | (2) “HEALTH OCCUPATION LICENSE” MEANS A LICENSE OR 5 |
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| 150 | 150 | | CERTIFICATE ISSUED B Y A HEALTH OCCUPATIO NS BOARD TO PRACTICE A HEALTH 6 |
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| 151 | 151 | | OCCUPATION IN THE STATE. 7 |
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| 152 | 152 | | |
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| 153 | 153 | | (3) “INACTIVE LICENSEE” MEANS A LICENSEE WHO HOLDS A HEALTH 8 |
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| 154 | 154 | | OCCUPATION LICENSE ISSUED BY A HEALTH O CCUPATIONS BOARD THAT HAS BEEN 9 |
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| 155 | 155 | | PLACED ON INACTIVE S TATUS WITHIN THE PAST 8 YEARS. 10 |
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| 156 | 156 | | |
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| 157 | 157 | | (4) “NURSING GRADUATE” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS 11 |
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| 158 | 158 | | SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A D IPLOMA OR DEGREE 12 |
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| 159 | 159 | | FROM: 13 |
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| 160 | 160 | | |
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| 161 | 161 | | (I) A REGISTERED NURSING E DUCATION PROGRAM APP ROVED 14 |
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| 162 | 162 | | BY THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING; OR 15 |
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| 163 | 163 | | |
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| 164 | 164 | | (II) AN OUT–OF–STATE NURSING EDUCAT ION PROGRAM 16 |
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| 165 | 165 | | DETERMINED TO BE EQU IVALENT TO A PROGRAM UNDER I TEM (I) OF THIS 17 |
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| 166 | 166 | | PARAGRAPH BY THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING. 18 |
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| 167 | 167 | | |
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| 168 | 168 | | (5) “RETIRED HEALTH CARE P RACTITIONER” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL 19 |
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| 169 | 169 | | WHO HELD A VALID HEALTH OCCUPATION LICENSE ISSUED BY A HEALTH 20 |
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| 170 | 170 | | OCCUPATIONS BOARD WITHIN THE PAST 8 YEARS THAT IS NOT ACTIVE A ND HAS NOT 21 |
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| 171 | 171 | | BEEN PLACED ON INACTIVE STATUS . 22 |
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| 172 | 172 | | |
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| 173 | 173 | | (6) “TEMPORARY HEALTH OCCUPATION LICENSE” AND “TEMPORARY 23 |
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| 174 | 174 | | PRACTICE LETTER ” MEANS A HEALTH OCCUPATION LICENSE OR PRACTICE LETTER 24 |
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| 175 | 175 | | ISSUED BY A HEALTH O CCUPATIONS BOARD AUT HORIZING THE HOLDER TO 25 |
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| 176 | 176 | | PRACTICE A SPECIFIED HEALTH OCCUPATION IN THE STATE FOR A TEMPORARY 26 |
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| 177 | 177 | | PERIOD OF TIME. 27 |
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| 178 | 178 | | |
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| 179 | 179 | | (B) EACH HEALTH OCCUPATIO NS BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH PROCESSES 28 |
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| 180 | 180 | | FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A N INITIAL HEALTH OCCUPATION LI CENSE, A TEMPORARY 29 |
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| 181 | 181 | | HEALTH OCCUPATION LI CENSE, AND A TEMPORARY PRACTICE L ETTER ON AN 30 |
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| 182 | 182 | | EXPEDITED BASIS DURI NG A HEALTH CARE STAFF ING SHORTAGE EMERGENCY 31 |
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| 183 | 183 | | DECLARED BY THE SECRETARY UNDER § 2–109 OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL 32 |
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| 184 | 184 | | ARTICLE. 33 |
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| 185 | 185 | | SENATE BILL 407 5 |
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| 186 | 186 | | |
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| 187 | 187 | | |
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| 188 | 188 | | (C) THE FOLLOWING INDIVID UALS QUALIFY FO R A HEALTH OCCUPATION 1 |
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| 189 | 189 | | LICENSE ISSUED ON AN EXPEDIT ED BASIS UNDER SUBSE CTION (B) OF THIS SECTION 2 |
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| 190 | 190 | | DURING A HEALTH CARE STAFF ING SHORTAGE EMERGENCY : 3 |
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| 191 | 191 | | |
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| 192 | 192 | | (1) AN APPLICANT FOR AN I NITIAL HEALTH OCCUPA TION LICENSE; 4 |
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| 193 | 193 | | |
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| 194 | 194 | | (2) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HOL DS A VALID, UNEXPIRED HEALTH 5 |
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| 195 | 195 | | OCCUPATION LICENSE ISSUED IN ANOTHER ST ATE; 6 |
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| 196 | 196 | | |
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| 197 | 197 | | (3) AN INACTIVE LICENSEE ; 7 |
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| 198 | 198 | | |
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| 199 | 199 | | (4) A RETIRED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER ; AND 8 |
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| 200 | 200 | | |
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| 201 | 201 | | (5) A NURSING GRADUATE . 9 |
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| 202 | 202 | | |
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| 203 | 203 | | (D) (1) TO APPLY FOR A N INITIAL HEALTH OCC UPATION LICENSE , A 10 |
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| 204 | 204 | | TEMPORARY HEALTH OCC UPATION LICENSE , OR A TEMPORARY PRACT ICE LETTER 11 |
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| 205 | 205 | | UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, AN APPLICANT SHALL S UBMIT TO THE 12 |
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| 206 | 206 | | APPROPRIATE HEALTH O CCUPATIONS BOARD : 13 |
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| 207 | 207 | | |
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| 208 | 208 | | (I) AN APPLICATION; 14 |
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| 209 | 209 | | |
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| 210 | 210 | | (II) ANY DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED BY THE BOARD; 15 |
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| 211 | 211 | | |
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| 212 | 212 | | (III) IF A CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS C HECK IS REQUIRED BY 16 |
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| 213 | 213 | | THE BOARD FOR LICENS URE, PROOF OF APPLICATION FOR A CRIMINAL HISTO RY 17 |
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| 214 | 214 | | RECORDS CHECK ; 18 |
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| 215 | 215 | | |
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| 216 | 216 | | (IV) ANY APPLICATION FEE ; AND 19 |
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| 217 | 217 | | |
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| 218 | 218 | | (V) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE BOARD. 20 |
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| 219 | 219 | | |
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| 220 | 220 | | (2) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 21 |
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| 221 | 221 | | HEALTH OCCUPATIONS B OARD SHALL PROCESS A ND ISSUE A LICENSE O R 22 |
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| 222 | 222 | | TEMPORARY PRACTICE L ETTER TO AN APPLICAN T WHO MEETS THE REQU IREMENTS 23 |
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| 223 | 223 | | OF THIS SUBSECTION USING THE EXPEDITED PROCESS ESTABLISHED UNDER 24 |
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| 224 | 224 | | SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION. 25 |
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| 225 | 225 | | |
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| 226 | 226 | | (3) A HEALTH OCCUPATIONS B OARD MAY NOT ISSUE A LICENSE OR 26 |
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| 227 | 227 | | TEMPORARY PRACTICE L ETTER UNDER THIS SEC TION IF THE ISSUANCE OF THE 27 |
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| 228 | 228 | | LICENSE OR TEMPORARY PRACTICE LETTER WOUL D POSE A RISK TO PUB LIC 28 |
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| 229 | 229 | | HEALTH, WELFARE, OR SAFETY. 29 |
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| 230 | 230 | | 6 SENATE BILL 407 |
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| 231 | 231 | | |
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| 232 | 232 | | |
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| 233 | 233 | | (E) (1) A TEMPORARY HEALTH OCC UPATION LICENSE OR TEMPORARY 1 |
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| 234 | 234 | | PRACTICE LETTER ISSU ED UNDER THIS SECTIO N AUTHORIZES THE HEA LTH CARE 2 |
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| 235 | 235 | | PRACTITIONER TO PRACTICE THE SPECIFIED HEALTH OCCUPATION FO R A LIMITED 3 |
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| 236 | 236 | | PERIOD OF TIME , AS DETERMINED BY THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS BOARD AND 4 |
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| 237 | 237 | | SUBJECT TO THE DURAT ION OF THE HEALTH CARE STAFFING SHORTAGE 5 |
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| 238 | 238 | | EMERGENCY . 6 |
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| 239 | 239 | | |
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| 240 | 240 | | (2) A HEALTH OCCUPATION LI CENSE ISSUED UNDER T HIS SECTION 7 |
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| 241 | 241 | | AUTHORIZES THE LICEN SEE TO PRACTICE THE SPECIFIED HEALTH OCCUPATION 8 |
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| 242 | 242 | | FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME, AS DETERMINED BY THE HE ALTH OCCUPATIONS 9 |
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| 243 | 243 | | BOARD, WHILE THE LICENSEE C OMPLETES ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR 10 |
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| 244 | 244 | | LICENSURE IN THE STATE, IF REQUIRED. 11 |
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| 245 | 245 | | |
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| 246 | 246 | | (F) (1) DURING A HEALTH CARE STAFFING SHORTAGE EM ERGENCY, A 12 |
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| 247 | 247 | | HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER MAY PRACTICE THE SPECIFIED HEALTH OCCUPATION 13 |
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| 248 | 248 | | THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE STAFFING SHORTAGE IN A HEALTH CARE FACILITY IN THE 14 |
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| 249 | 249 | | STATE WITHOUT FIRST OBTAIN ING A LICENSE OR PRA CTICE LETTER FROM TH E 15 |
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| 250 | 250 | | RELEVANT HEALTH OCCU PATIONS BOARD ONLY IN ACCORDANCE W ITH THE 16 |
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| 251 | 251 | | REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION. 17 |
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| 252 | 252 | | |
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| 253 | 253 | | (2) A HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER WHO HOLDS A VALID , UNEXPIRED 18 |
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| 254 | 254 | | HEALTH OCCUPATION LI CENSE ISSUED IN ANOT HER STATE MAY PRACTI CE THE 19 |
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| 255 | 255 | | SPECIFIED HEALTH OCC UPATION IN A HEALTH CARE FAC ILITY UNDER PARAGRAP H 20 |
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| 256 | 256 | | (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION I F: 21 |
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| 257 | 257 | | |
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| 258 | 258 | | (I) DOING SO IS NECESSARY TO ALLOW T HE HEALTH CARE 22 |
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| 259 | 259 | | FACILITY TO MEET REQ UIRED STAFFING RATIO S OR OTHERWISE ENSUR E THE 23 |
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| 260 | 260 | | CONTINUED AND SAFE D ELIVERY OF HEALTH CA RE SERVICES TO PATIENTS IN THE 24 |
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| 261 | 261 | | FACILITY; 25 |
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| 262 | 262 | | |
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| 263 | 263 | | (II) THE HEALTH CARE PRACT ITIONER REASONABLY BELIEVES 26 |
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| 264 | 264 | | A TEMPORARY HEALTH OCCUPATION LICENSE OR TEMPORARY PRACTIC E LETTER 27 |
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| 265 | 265 | | COULD NOT BE OBTAINE D IN SUFFICIENT TIME T O MEET THE IMMINENT NEEDS OF 28 |
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| 266 | 266 | | THE HEALTH CARE FACI LITY; AND 29 |
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| 267 | 267 | | |
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| 268 | 268 | | (III) THE HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER SUBMITS AN 30 |
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| 269 | 269 | | APPLICATION FOR A TEMPORARY HEALTH OCCUPATION LICENSE OR TEMPORARY 31 |
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| 270 | 270 | | PRACTICE LETTER WITHIN 10 DAYS OF THE DAY THE HEALT H CARE PRACTITIONER 32 |
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| 271 | 271 | | BEGINS WORKING AT A HEALTH CARE FACILITY. 33 |
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| 272 | 272 | | |
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| 273 | 273 | | (3) AN INACTIVE LICENSEE OR A RETIRED HEALTH CARE 34 |
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| 274 | 274 | | PRACTITIONER MAY PRACTICE A SPECIFIED HEALTH O CCUPATION IN A HEALTH 35 |
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| 275 | 275 | | CARE FACILITY UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION I F: 36 SENATE BILL 407 7 |
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| 276 | 276 | | |
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| 277 | 277 | | |
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| 278 | 278 | | |
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| 279 | 279 | | (I) QUALIFIED SUPERVISORY PERSONNE L AT THE HEALTH 1 |
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| 280 | 280 | | CARE FACILITY REASON ABLY CONCLUDE THAT T HE INACTIVE LICENSEE OR 2 |
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| 281 | 281 | | RETIRED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER CAN COM PETENTLY PRACTICE THE HEALT H 3 |
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| 282 | 282 | | OCCUPATION ; 4 |
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| 283 | 283 | | |
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| 284 | 284 | | (II) DOING SO IS NECESSARY TO A LLOW THE HEALTH CARE 5 |
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| 285 | 285 | | FACILITY TO MEET REQ UIRED STAFFING RATIO S OR OTHERWISE ENSUR E THE 6 |
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| 286 | 286 | | CONTINUED AND SAFE D ELIVERY OF HEALTH CA RE SERVICES TO PATIENTS IN THE 7 |
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| 287 | 287 | | FACILITY; 8 |
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| 288 | 288 | | |
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| 289 | 289 | | (III) THE HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER REASONABLY BELIEVES 9 |
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| 290 | 290 | | THE INACTIVE LICENSE COULD NOT BE REACTIVATED OR A TEMPORARY HEALTH 10 |
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| 291 | 291 | | OCCUPATION LICENSE O R TEMPORARY PRACTICE LETTER COULD NOT BE OBTAINE D 11 |
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| 292 | 292 | | IN SUFFICIENT TIME T O MEET THE IMMINENT NEEDS OF THE HEALTH CARE 12 |
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| 293 | 293 | | FACILITY; AND 13 |
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| 294 | 294 | | |
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| 295 | 295 | | (IV) THE INACTIVE LICENSEE OR RETIRED HEALTH CARE 14 |
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| 296 | 296 | | PRACTITIONER SUBMITS AN APPLICATION TO TH E HEALTH OCCUPATION S BOARD 15 |
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| 297 | 297 | | WITHIN 10 DAYS OF THE DAY THE HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER BEGINS WORKING 16 |
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| 298 | 298 | | AT A HEALTH CARE FAC ILITY: 17 |
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| 299 | 299 | | |
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| 300 | 300 | | 1. TO REACTIVATE AN INAC TIVE LICENSE; OR 18 |
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| 301 | 301 | | |
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| 302 | 302 | | 2. FOR A TEMPORARY HEALTH OCC UPATION LICENSE 19 |
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| 303 | 303 | | OR TEMPORARY PRACTIC E LETTER. 20 |
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| 304 | 304 | | |
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| 305 | 305 | | (4) A NURSING GRADUATE MAY PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSING , AS 21 |
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| 306 | 306 | | DEFINED IN § 8–101(O) OF THIS ARTICLE , IN A HEALTH CARE FACILITY UNDER 22 |
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| 307 | 307 | | PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION IF: 23 |
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| 308 | 308 | | |
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| 309 | 309 | | (I) DOING SO IS NECESSARY TO ALLOW THE HEALTH CARE 24 |
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| 310 | 310 | | FACILITY TO MEET REQUIRED STA FFING RATIOS OR OTHE RWISE ENSURE THE 25 |
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| 311 | 311 | | CONTINUED AND SAFE D ELIVERY OF HEALTH CA RE SERVICES TO PATIENTS IN THE 26 |
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| 312 | 312 | | FACILITY; 27 |
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| 313 | 313 | | |
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| 314 | 314 | | (II) QUALIFIED SUPERVISORY PERSONNE L AT THE HEALTH 28 |
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| 315 | 315 | | CARE FACILITY: 29 |
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| 316 | 316 | | |
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| 317 | 317 | | 1. REASONABLY CONCLUDE T HAT THE NURSING 30 |
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| 318 | 318 | | GRADUATE CAN COMPETENTLY PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSING; AND 31 |
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| 319 | 319 | | 8 SENATE BILL 407 |
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| 320 | 320 | | |
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| 321 | 321 | | |
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| 322 | 322 | | 2. ACTIVELY S UPERVISE THE NURSING GRADUATE 1 |
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| 323 | 323 | | WHILE PRACTICING REGISTERE D NURSING AT THE HEA LTH CARE FACILITY ; AND 2 |
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| 324 | 324 | | |
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| 325 | 325 | | (III) THE NURSING GRADUATE SUBMITS AN APPLICATION TO 3 |
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| 326 | 326 | | THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING WITHIN 10 DAYS OF THE DAY THE NURSING 4 |
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| 327 | 327 | | GRADUATE BEGINS WORKING AT THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY . 5 |
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| 328 | 328 | | |
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| 329 | 329 | | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 6 |
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| 330 | 330 | | measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 7 |
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| 331 | 331 | | been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 8 |
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| 332 | 332 | | each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 9 |
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| 333 | 333 | | enacted. 10 |
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| 334 | 334 | | |
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