ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 3781 By: Duel of the House and Pugh of the Senate An Act relating to physician assistants; creating the PA Licensure Compact; stating purpose; defining terms; providing requirements for state participation in the Compact; providing for Compact privilege; providing for state designation; providing for adverse actions; establishing the PA Licensure Compact Commission; providing for data and reporting system; providing for rulemaking; providing for oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement; providing for implementation of the Commission; providing for construction and severability; providing for binding e ffect of Compact; providing for codification; and providing an effective date . BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Sect ion 545.1 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as fo llows: In order to strengthen access to medical services and in recognition of the advances in the delivery of medical services, the participating states of the PA Licensure Compact have allied in common purpose to develop a comprehensive process that complements the existing authority of state licensing boards to license and ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 discipline physician assistants, or PAs, and seeks to enhance the portability of a license to practice as a PA while safeguarding the safety of patients. The Compact allows medical services to be provided by PAs via the mutual recognition of the licensee's qualifying license by other Compact participating states. The Compact also adopts the prevailing standard for PA licensure and affirms that the practice and delivery of medical services by the PA occurs where the patient is located at the time of the patient encounter and therefore requires the PA to be under the jurisdiction of the state licensing board where the patient is located. State licensing boards that participate in the Compact retain the jurisdiction to impose adverse action against a Compact privilege in that state issued to a PA through the procedures of the Compact. The PA Licensure Compact will alleviate burdens for military families by allowing active duty military personnel and their spouses to obtain a Compact privilege based on having an unrestricted license in good standing from a participating state. SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Secti on 545.2 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as fo llows: As used in the Compact: 1. "Adverse action" means any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action permitted by a state's laws which is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against a PA license or license ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 application or Compact privilege such as license denial, censure, revocation, suspension, probation, monitor ing of the licensee, or restriction on the licensee's practice; 2. "Compact privilege" means the authorization granted by a remote state to allow a licensee from another participating state to practice as a PA to provide medical services and other license d activity to a patient located in the remote state under the remote state's laws and regulations; 3. "Conviction" means a finding by a court that an individual is guilty of a felony or misdemeanor offense through adjudication or entry of a plea of guilt or no contest to the charge by the offender; 4. "Criminal background check" means the submission of fingerprints or other biometric-based information for a license applicant for the purpose of obtaining that applicant 's criminal history record information , as defined in 28 C.F.R. , Section 20.3(d), from the state's criminal history re cord repository as defined in 28 C.F.R., Section 20.3(f); 5. "Data system" means the repository of information about licensees, including, but not limited to, license status and adverse actions, which is created and administered under the terms of th e Compact; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 6. "Executive committee" means a group of directors and ex officio individuals elected or appointed pursuant to paragraph 2 of subsection F of Section 7 of this Compact; 7. "Impaired practitioner" means a PA whose practice is adversely affected by health -related conditions that impact his or her ability to practice; 8. "Investigative information" means information, records, or documents received or generated by a licensing board pursuant to an investigation; 9. "Jurisprudence requirement" means the assessment of an individual's knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of a PA in a state; 10. "License" means current authorization by a state, other than authorization purs uant to a Compact privilege, for a PA to provide medical services, which would be u nlawful without current authorization; 11. "Licensee" means an individual who holds a license from a state to provide medical services as a PA; 12. "Licensing board" means any state entity authorized to license and otherwise regulate PAs ; 13. "Medical services" means health care services provided for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure , or relief of a health condition, injury, or disease, as defined by a state's laws and regulations; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 14. "Model Compact" means the model for the PA Licensure Compact on file with The Council of State Governments or other entity as designated by the Commissi on; 15. "Participating state" means a state that has enacted th e Compact; 16. "PA" means an individual who is licensed as a physician assistant in a state. For purposes of the Compact, any other title or status adopted by a state to replace the term "physician assistant" shall be deemed synonymous with "physician assistant" and shall confer the same rights and responsibilities to the licensee under the provisions of the Compact at the time of its enactment; 17. "PA Licensure Compact Commission", "Compact Commission", or "Commission" means the national administrative body created pursuant to subsection A of Section 7 of this Compact; 18. "Qualifying license" means an unrestricted license issued by a participating state to provide medical services as a PA; 19. "Remote state" means a participating state where a licensee who is not licensed as a PA is exercising or seeking to exercise the Compact privilege; 20. "Rule" means a regulation promulgated by an entity that has the force and effect of law ; 21. "Significant investigative information" means investigative information that a licensing board, after an inquiry or investigation that includes notification and an o pportunity for the ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 PA to respond if required by state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proven true, would i ndicate more than a minor infraction; and 22. "State" means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States . SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.3 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplicat ion in numbering, reads as follows: A. To participate in th e Compact, a participating state shall: 1. License PAs; 2. Participate in the Compact Commission's data system; 3. Have a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints against licensees and license applicants; 4. Notify the Commission, in com pliance with the terms of the Compact and Commission rules, of any adverse action against a licensee or license applicant and the existence of significant investigative information regarding a licensee or license applicant; 5. Fully implement a criminal background check requirement within a time frame established by Commission rule, by its licensing board receiving the results of a criminal background check, and reporting to the Commission whether the license applicant has been granted a license; 6. Comply with the rules of the Compact Commission; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 7. Utilize passage of a recognize d national exam such as the NCCPA PANCE as a requirement for PA licensure ; and 8. Grant the Compact privilege to a holder of a qualifying license in a participating state. B. Nothing in the Compact prohibits a participating state from charging a fee for granting the Compact privilege. SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codifi ed in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.4 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. To exercise the Compact privilege, a licensee shall: 1. Have graduated from a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physicia n Assistant, Inc., or other programs auth orized by Commission rule; 2. Hold current NCCPA certification ; 3. Have no felony or misdemeanor conviction; 4. Have never had a controlled substance license, permit, or registration suspended or revoked by a state or by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; 5. Have a unique identifier as determined by Commis sion rule; 6. Hold a qualifying license; 7. Have had no revocation of a license or limitation or restriction on any license currently held due to an adverse action; 8. If a licensee has had a limitation or restriction on a license or Compact privilege due to an adverse action, two (2) years ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 must have elapsed from the date on which the license or Compact privilege is no longer limited or restricted due to t he adverse action; 9. If a Compact privilege has been revoked or is limited or restricted in a participating state for conduct that would not be a basis for disciplinary action in a participating state in which the licensee is practicing or applying to pr actice under a Compact privilege, that participating state shall have the discretion not to consider such action as an adverse action requiring the denial or removal of a Compact privilege in that state; 10. Notify the Compact Commission that the licensee is seeking the Compact privilege in a remote state; 11. Meet any jurisprudence requirement of a remote state in which the licensee is seeking to practice under the Compact privilege and pay any fee s applicable to satisfying the jurisprudence requirement; and 12. Report to the Commission any adverse action taken by a nonparticipating state within thirty (30) days a fter the action is taken. B. The Compact privilege is valid until the expiration or revocation of the qualifying license unless terminated pursuant t o an adverse action. The licensee must also comply with all of the requirements of subsection A of this section to maintain the Compact privilege in a remote state. If the participating state takes ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 adverse action against a qualifying license, the licensee shall lose the Compact privilege in any remote state in which the licensee has a Compact privilege until all of the f ollowing occur: 1. The license is no longer limited or restricted; and 2. Two (2) years have elapsed from the date on which the license is no longer limited or restricted due to the adverse action. C. Once a restricted or limited license satisfies the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection B of this section, the licensee must meet the requi rements of subsection A of this section to obtain a Compact privilege in any remote state. D. For each remote state in which a PA seeks authority to prescribe controlled substances, t he PA shall satisfy all requirements imposed by such state in granting or renewing such authority. SECTION 5. NEW LAW A ne w section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.5 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: Upon a licensee's application for a Compact privilege, the licensee shall identify to the Commissio n the participating state from which the licensee is applying, in accordance with applicable rules adopted by the Commission, and subject to the following requirements: ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. When applying for a Compact privilege, the licensee shall provide the Commission wi th the address of the licensee's primary residence and thereafter shall immediately report to the Commission any change in the address of the licensee's primary residence; and 2. When applying for a Compact privilege, the licensee is required to consent t o accept service of process by mail at the licensee's primary residence on file with the Commission with respect to any action brought against the licensee by the Commission or a participating state, including a subpoena, with re spect to any action brought or investigation conducted by the Commission or a participating state. SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.6 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering , reads as follows: A. A participating state in which a licensee is licensed shall have exclusive power t o impose adverse action against the qualifying license issued by that participatin g state. B. In addition to the other powers conferred by state law, a remote state shall have the authority, in accordance with existing state due process law, to do all of t he following: 1. Take adverse action against a PA's Compact privilege within that state to remove a licensee 's Compact privilege or take other action necessary under applicable law to protect the health and safety of its citizens ; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Issue subpoenas for both hearings and investigations that require the attendance and testimony of wit nesses, as well as the production of evidence. Subpoenas issued by a licensing board in a participating state for the attendance an d testimony of witnesses or the production of evidence from another participating state shall be enforced in the latter stat e by any court of competent jurisdiction, according to the practice and procedure of that court applicable to subpoenas issued in pr oceedings pending before it. The issuing authority shall pay any witness fees, travel expenses, mileage , and other fees required by the service statutes of the state in which the witnesses or evidence are located; 3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this subsection, subpoenas may not be issued by a participating state to gather evidence of conduct in another state that is lawful in that other sta te for the purpose of taking adverse action again st a licensee's Compact privilege or application for a Compact privilege in that participating state; and 4. Nothing in the Compact authorizes a participating state to impose discipline against a PA's Compact privilege or to deny an application for a Compact privilege in that participating state for the individual's otherwise lawful practice in another state . C. For purposes of taking adverse action, the participating state which issued the quali fying license shall give the same priority and effect to rep orted conduct received from any othe r ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 participating state as it would if the conduct had occurred within the participating state which issued the qualifying license. In so doing, that participatin g state shall apply its own state laws to determine appropriate action. D. A participating state, if otherwise permitted by state law, may recover from the affected PA the costs of investigations and disposition of cases resulting from any adverse action taken aga inst that PA. E. A participating state may take a dverse action based on the factual findings of a remote state, provided that the participating state follows its own procedu res for taking the adverse action . F. Joint investigations: 1. In addition to the authority granted to a participating state by its respective state PA laws and regulations or other applicable state law, any participatin g state may participate with other participating states in joint investigations of licensees ; and 2. Participating states shall share any investigative, litigation, or compliance materials in furtherance of any joint or individual investigation initiated under th e Compact. G. If an adverse action is taken against a PA's qualifying license, the PA's Compact privilege in all remote states shall be deactivated until two (2) years have elapsed after all restrictions have been removed from the state license . All disciplinary orders by the participating state which issued the qualifying license that ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 impose adverse action a gainst a PA's license shall include a statement that the PA's Compact privilege is deactivated in all participating states during the pendency of the order . H. If any participating state takes adverse action, it promptly shall notify the administrator of the data system. SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.7 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. The participating states hereby create and establish a joint government agency and national administrative body known as the PA Licensure Compact Commission. The Commission is an instrumentality of the Compact states acting jointly and not an instrumentality of any one state. The Commission shall come into existence on or after the effective date of the Compact as set forth in subsection A of Section 11. B. Membership, voting, and meetings : 1. Each participating state shall have and be limited to one delegate selected by that par ticipating state's licensing board or, if the state has more than one licensing board, selected collectively by the participating state 's licensing boards; 2. The delegate shall be either: a. a current PA, physician , or public member of a licensing board or PA council/committee, or b. an administrator of a licensing board; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. Any delegate may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the laws of the state from which the delegate is appointed; 4. The participating state licensing board shall fill any vacancy occurring in the Commission within sixty ( 60) days; 5. Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote on all matters voted on by the Commission and shall other wise have an opportunity to participate in the business and affairs of the Commission. A delegate shall vote in person or by such other mean s as provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for delegates ' participation in meetings by telecommunications, video conference, or other means of communication; 6. The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the Compact and the bylaws; and 7. The Commission shall establish by rule a term of office for delegates. C. The Commission shall have the following powers and duties: 1. Establish a code of ethics for the Commission ; 2. Establish the fiscal year of the Commission; 3. Establish fees; 4. Establish bylaws; 5. Maintain its financial records in accordance with the bylaws; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 6. Meet and take such actions as are c onsistent with the provisions of the Compact and the bylaws; 7. Promulgate rules to facilitate and coordinate implementation and administration of th e Compact. The rules shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in all participating states; 8. Bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the name of the Commission, provided that the standing of any state licensing board to sue or be sued under applic able law shall not be affected; 9. Purchase and maintain insurance and bonds; 10. Borrow, accept, or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a participating state; 11. Hire employees and engage contractors, elec t or appoint officers, fix compensation, define duties, grant such individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of th e Compact, and establish the Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest, qualifications o f personnel, and other related personnel matters; 12. Accept any and all approp riate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, mater ials, and services, and receive, utilize, and dispose of the same , provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest; 13. Lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise own, hold, improve, or use, any property, real, ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 personal or mixed, provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety; 14. Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, ex change, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property , real, personal, or mixed; 15. Establish a budget and make expenditures; 16. Borrow money; 17. Appoint committees, in cluding standing committees, composed of members, state regulators, state legislators or their representatives, and consumer representatives and such other interested persons as may be designated in the Compact and the bylaws; 18. Provide and receive inform ation from, and cooperate with, law enforcement agencies; 19. Elect a chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer , and such other officers of the Commission as provided in the Commission's bylaws; 20. Reserve for itself, in addi tion to those reserved exclusively to the Commission under the Compact, powers that the executive committee may not exercise; 21. Approve or disapprove a state's participation in the Compact based upon its determination as to whether the state's Compact legislation departs in a mat erial manner from the model Compact language; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22. Prepare and provide to the participating states an annual report; and 23. Perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of th e Compact consistent with the state regulation of PA licensure and practice. D. Meetings of the Commission : 1. All meetings of the Commission that are not closed pursuant to this subsection shall be open to the public. Notice of public meetings shall be posted on the Commission's website at least thirty (30) days prior to the public meeting ; 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this subsection, the Commission may convene a public meeting by providing at least twenty-four (24) hours prior notice on the Commission 's website, and any other means as provided in the Commission 's rules, for any of the reasons it may dispense with notice of proposed rulemaking under subsection L of Section 9 of this Compact; 3. The Commission may convene in a closed, non public meeting or nonpublic part of a public m eeting to receive legal advice or to discuss: a. noncompliance of a participati ng state with its obligations under th e Compact, b. the employment, compensation, discipline, or other matters, practices, or procedures, related to specific ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 employees or other matters related to the Commission's internal personnel practices and procedure s, c. current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated litigation, d. negotiation of contracts for the purchase, lease, or sale of goods, services, or real estate , e. accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person, f. disclosure of trade sec rets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential, g. disclosure of information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy , h. disclosure of investigative records c ompiled for law enforcement purposes , i. disclosure of informat ion related to any investigative reports prepared by or on behalf of or for use of the Commission or other commit tee charged with responsibility of investigation or determination of compliance issues pursuant to th e Compact, j. legal advice, or k. matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal or participating states ' statutes; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. If a meeting, or porti on of a meeting, is closed pursuant to this subsection, the chair of the meeting or the chair's designee shall certify that the meeting or portion of the meeting may be closed and shall reference each relevant exempting provision ; and 5. The Commission shall keep minutes that fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken , including a description of the views expressed. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shal l remain under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of t he Commission or order of a court of competent jurisdiction. E. Financing of the Commission : 1. The Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of, the reasonable expenses of its establi shment, organization, and ongoing activities; 2. The Commission may accept any and all appropriate revenue sources, donations, and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services; and 3. The Commission may levy on and collect an annual asse ssment from each participating state and may impose Compact privilege fees on licensees of participating states to whom a Compact privilege is granted to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the Commission and its staff, which must be in a to tal amount sufficient ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 to cover its annual budget as approved by the Commission each year for which revenue is not provided by other sources. The aggregate annual assessment amount levied on participating states shall be allocated based upon a formula to b e determined by Commission rule. a. a Compact privilege expires when the licensee's qualifying license in the participating state from which the licensee applied for the Compact privilege expires, and b. if the licensee terminates the qualifying license through which the licensee applied for the Compact privilege before its scheduled expiration, and the licensee has a qualifying license in another participating state, the lice nsee shall inform the Commission that it is changing to that participating state the participating state through which it applies for a Compact privilege and pay to the Commission any Compact privilege fee required by Commission rule; 4. The Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same, nor shall the Commission pledge the credit of any of the participating states, except by and with the authority of the participating state; 5. The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disb ursements of the Commission shall be subject to the financial review and accounting procedures ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 established under its bylaws. All receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Commission shall be subject to an annual financial review by a certified or licensed public accountant, and the report of the financial review shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the Commission. F. The executive committee: 1. The executive committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Commission according to the terms of th e Compact and Commission rules; 2. The executive committee shall be composed of nine (9) members: a. seven voting members who are elected by th e Commission from the current membership of the Commission, b. one ex officio, nonvoting member from a recognized national PA professional association, and c. one ex officio, nonvoting member from a recognized national PA certification organization ; 3. The ex officio members will be selected by their respective organizations; 4. The Commission may remove any member of the executive committee as provided in its bylaws; 5. The executive committee shall meet at least annually ; 6. The executive committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities: ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. recommend to the Commission changes to the Commission's rules or bylaws, changes to th e Compact legislation, fees to be paid by Compact participating states such as annual dues, and any Commission Compact fee charged to licensees for the Compact privilege, b. ensure Compact administration services are appropriately provided, contractual or otherwise, c. prepare and recommend the budget, d. maintain financial records on behalf of the Commission, e. monitor Compact compliance of participating states and provide compliance reports to the Commission, f. establish additional committees as necessary , g. exercise the powers and duties of the Commission during the interim between Commission meetings, except for issuing proposed rulemaking or adopting Commiss ion rules or bylaws, or exercisin g any other powers and duties exclusively reserved to the Commiss ion by the Commission's rules, and h. perform other duties as provided in the Commission 's rules or bylaws; 7. All meetings of the executive committee at which it votes or plans to vote on matters in exercising the powers and duties of the Commission shall be open to the public, and public notice of such ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 meetings shall be given as public meetings of the Commission are given; and 8. The executive committee may convene in a closed, non public meeting for the same reasons that the Commission may convene in a nonpublic meeting as set forth in paragraph 3 of subsection D of this section and shall announce the close d meeting as the Commission is required to under paragraph 4 of subsection D of this section and keep minutes of the closed meeting as the Commission is required to under paragraph 5 of subsection D of this section. G. Qualified immunity, defense, and indemnifi cation: 1. The members, officers, executive director, employees , and representatives of th e Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, both personally and in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal inju ry or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing it occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit or liability fo r any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person. The procurement of insurance of any type by the Commission shall not in any way compromise or limit the imm unity granted hereunder ; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. The Commission shall defend any member, officer, executive director, employee, and representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission th at occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or as determined by the Commission that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, d uties, or responsibilities , provided that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining their own counsel at their own expen se, and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from that per son's intentional or willful or w anton misconduct; 3. The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer, executive director, employ ee, and representative of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actu al or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibili ties, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the sc ope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibili ties, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or ag ainst the Commission shall be brought solely and excl usively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission is located. The Commission may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses in any proceedings as authorized by Commi ssion rules; 5. Nothing herein shall be construed as a limitation on the liability of any licensee for professional malpractice or misconduct, which shall be governed sole ly by any other applicable state laws; 6. Nothing herein shall be construed to desi gnate the venue or jurisdiction to bring actions for alleged acts of malpractice, professional misconduct, negligence, or other such civil action pertaining to the practice of a PA. All such matters shall be determined exclusively by state law other than the Compact; 7. Nothing in the Compact shall be interpreted to waive or otherwise abrogate a participating state's state action immunity or state action affirmative defe nse with respect to antitrust claims under the Sherman Act, Clayton Act, or any othe r state or federal antitrust or anticompetitive law or regulation; and 8. Nothing in the Compact shall be construed to be a waiver of sovereign immunity by the participating states or by the Commission. SECTION 8. NEW LAW A new se ction of law to be codif ied in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.8 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 26 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 A. The Commission shall provide for the development, maintenance, operation, and utilization of a coordinated data and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and the reporting of the existence of significant investigative information on all licensed PAs and applicants denied a license in participating states. B. Notwithstanding any other state law to the contrary, a participating state shall submit a uniform data set to the data system on all PAs to whom the Compact is applicable (utilizing a unique identifier) as required by the rules of the Commission, including: 1. Identifying informat ion; 2. Licensure data; 3. Adverse actions against a li cense or Compact privilege; and 4. Any denial of application for licensure and the reason for such denial, excluding the reporting of any criminal history record information where prohibited by law ; 5. The existence of significant investigative informati on; and 6. Other information that may facilitate the administration of the Compact, as determined by the rules of the Commission. C. Significant investigative information pertaining to a licensee in any participating state shall only be availab le to other participating states. ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 27 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 D. The Commission shall promptly notify all participating states of any adverse action taken against a licensee or an individual applying for a license that has been report ed to it. This adverse action information shall be availab le to any other participating state. E. Participating states contributing information to the data system may, in accordance with state or federal law, designate information that may not be shared with the public without the express permission of the contr ibuting state. Notwithstanding any such designation, such information shall be reported to the Commission through the data system. F. Any information submitted to the data sys tem that is subsequently expunged pursuant to federal law or the laws of the participating state contributing the information shall be removed from the data system upon reporting of such by the participating state to the Commission. G. The records and information provided to a participating state pursuant to the Compact or through the data system, when certified by the Commission or an agent thereof, shall constitute the authenticated business records of the Commission and shall be entitled to any associated hearsay excepti on in any relevant judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative proceedings in a participating state. ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 9. NEW LAW A new section of law to be cod ified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.9 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. The Commission shall exercise its rulemaking powers pursuant to the criteria set forth in this section and the rules adop ted thereunder. Commission rules shall become binding as of the date specified by the Commission for each rule. B. The Commission shall promu lgate reasonable rules in order to effectively and efficiently implement and administer th e Compact and achieve its purposes. A Commission rule shall be invalid and have no force or effect only if a court of competent jurisdiction holds that the rule is invalid because the Commission exercised its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of the Compact, or the powers granted hereunder, or based upon another applicable standard of review. C. The rules of the Commission shal l have the force of law in each participating state; provided, however, that where the rules of the Commission conflict with the laws of the participating state that establish the medical servi ces a PA may perform in the participating state, as held by a c ourt of competent jurisdiction, the rules of the Commission shall be ineffective in that state to the extent of the conflict. D. If a majority of the legislatures of the participating states rejects a Commission rule, by enactment of a statute or ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 resolution in the same manner used to adopt the Compact within four (4) years of the date of adoption of the rule, then such rule shall have no further force and effect in any participating state or t o any state applying to participate in the Compact. E. Commission rules shall be adopted at a regular or special meeting of the Commission. F. Prior to promulgation and ado ption of a final rule or rules by the Commission, and at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting at which the rule will be considered and voted upon, the Commission shall file a notice of proposed rulemaking : 1. On the website of the Commission or o ther publicly accessible platform; 2. To persons who have requested notice of the Commission's notices of proposed rulemaking ; and 3. In such other way(s) as the Commission may by rule specify. G. The notice of proposed rulemaking shall include : 1. The time, date, and location of the public hearing on the proposed rule and the proposed time, date, and location of the meeting in which the prop osed rule will be considered and voted upon; 2. The text of the proposed rule and the reason for the proposed rule; ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. A request for comments on the proposed rule from any interested person and the date by which written comments must be received; and 4. The manner in which interested persons may submit notice to the Commission of their intention to attend the p ublic hearing or provide any written comments. H. Prior to adoption of a proposed rule, the Commission shall allow persons to submit written data, facts, opinions, and arguments, which shall be made available to the public. I. If the hearing is to be held v ia electronic means, the Commission shall publish the mechanism for access to t he electronic hearing. 1. All persons wishing to be heard at th e hearing shall, as directed in the notice of proposed rulemaking, not less than five (5) business days before the scheduled date of the hearing, notify the Commission of their desire to appea r and testify at the hearing . 2. Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing each person who wishes to comment a fair and reasonable opportunity to comment orally or in w riting. 3. All hearings shall be recorded. A copy of the recording and the written comments, data, facts, opinions, and arguments received in response to the proposed rulemaking shall be made available to a person upon request. ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a separate hearing on each proposed rule. Proposed rules may be grouped for the convenience of the Commissio n at hearings required by this section. J. Following the public hearing, the Commission shall consider all written and oral comments timely received. K. The Commission shall, by majority vote of all delegates, take final action on the proposed rule and shall determine the effective date of the rule, if adopted, based on the rulemaking record and the full tex t of the rule. 1. If adopted, the rule shall be posted on the Commission 's website. 2. The Commission may adopt changes to the proposed rule provided the changes do not enlarge the original purpose of the proposed rule. 3. The Commission shall provide on i ts website an explanation of the reasons for substantive changes made to the pr oposed rule, as well as reasons for substantive changes not made tha t were recommended by commenters. 4. The Commission shall determine a re asonable effective date for the rule. Except for an emergency as provided in subsection L of this section, the effective date of the rule shall be no sooner than thirty (30) days aft er the Commission issued the notice that it adopted the rule. ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 L. Upon determination that a n emergency exists, the Commis sion may consider and adopt an emergency rule with twenty-four (24) hours prior notice, without the opportunity for comment or hearing, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures provided in the Compact and in this section shall be retroactively ap plied to the rule as soon as reasonably possible, in no event later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of the rule. For the purposes of this subsection, an emergency rule is one that must be adopted immediately by the Commission in order to: 1. Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare; 2. Prevent a loss of Commission or participating state funds; 3. Meet a deadline for the promulgation of a Commission rule that is established by federal law or rule; or 4. Protect public health and safety. M. The Commission or an authorized committee of the Commission may direct revisions to a previously adopted Commission rule for purposes of correcting typographical errors, errors in format, errors in consistency, or grammatical errors. Public notice of any revisions shall be posted on the website of the Commission. The revision shall be subject to challenge by any person for a period of thirty (30) days after posting. The revision may be challenged only on grounds that the revision results in a material change to a rule. A challenge shall be made as set forth in t he notice of revisions ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 33 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 and delivered to the Commission pr ior to the end of the notice period. If no challenge is made, the revision will take effect without further action. If the revision is challenged, the revision may not take effect without the appro val of the Commission. N. No participating state's rulemaking requirements shall apply under the Compact. SECTION 10. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.10 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. Oversight: 1. The executive and judicial branches of state government in each participating state shall enforce th e Compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to implement the Compact; 2. Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or agai nst the Commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission is located. The Commission may waive venue and jurisdic tional defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to part icipate in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Nothing herein shall affect or limit the selection or propriet y of venue in any action against a licensee for professional malpractice, misco nduct, or any such similar matter; and 3. The Commission shall be entitled to receive service of process in any proceeding regarding the enforcement or ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 34 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 interpretation of the Compact or the Commission's rules and shall have standing to intervene in such a proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide the Commis sion with service of process shall render a judgment or order in such proceeding void as to the Commission, the Compact, or Commission rules. B. Default, technical assistance, and termination: 1. If the Commission determines that a participating state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under the Compact or the Commission rules, the Commission shall provide written notice to the defaulting state and other participating states. The notice shall describe the default, the proposed means of curing the default, and any other action that the Commission may take and shall offer remedial tr aining and specific technical assistance regarding the default ; 2. If a state in default fails to cure the default, the defaulting state may be terminated from the Compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the delegates of the participating states, and all rights, privileges, and benefits conferred by th e Compact upon such state may be terminated on the effective date of termination. A cure of the default does not relieve the offending state of obligations or liabilities incurred during the period of default; 3. Termination of participation in th e Compact shall be imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have been ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 35 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be given by the Commission to the governor, the majo rity and minority leade rs of the defaulting state's legislature, and to the licensing boards of each of the participating states ; 4. A state that has been terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of terminat ion, including obligations that extend beyond the effective date of termination; 5. The Commission shall not bear any costs related to a state that is found to be in default or that has been terminated from th e Compact, unless agreed upon in writing betw een the Commission and the defaulting state; 6. The defaulting state may appeal its termination from the Compact by the Commission by petitioning the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its pri ncipal offices. The prevailing member shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney fees; and 7. Upon the termination of a state's participation in the Compact, the state shall immediately provide not ice to all licensees within that state of such termination: a. licensees who have been granted a Compact privilege in that state shall retain the Compact privilege for one ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 36 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of such termination, and b. licensees who are licensed in that state who have been granted a Compact privilege in a participating state shall retain the Compact privilege for one hundred eighty (180) days unless the licensee also has a qualifying license in a participating state or ob tains a qualifying license in a participating state before the one-hundred-eighty-day period ends, in which case the Compact privilege shall continu e. C. Dispute resolution: 1. Upon request by a participating state, the Commission shall attempt to resolve d isputes related to the Compact that arise among participating states and betwe en participating and nonparticipating states; and 2. The Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes as appropriate. D. Enforcement: 1. The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions of th e Compact and rules of the Commission; 2. If compliance is not secured after all means to secure compliance have been exhausted, by majority vote, the Commission may ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 37 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 initiate legal action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the C ommission has its principal offices against a participating state in default to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Compact and the Commission's promulgated rules and bylaws. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney fees; and 3. The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies of the Commission. The Commission may purs ue any other remedies available under federal or state law. E. Legal action against the Commission: 1. A participating state may initiate legal action against the Commission in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its principal offices to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Compact and its rules. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney fees. 2. No person other than a participating state shall enforce the Compact against the Commission. ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 38 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 11. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codifi ed in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.11 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. The Compact shall come into effect on the date on which the Compact statute is enacted into law in the seventh participating state. 1. On or after the effective date of the Compact, the Commission shall convene and review the enactment of each of the states that enacted the Compact prior to the Commission convening "Charter Participating States " to determine if the statute en acted by each such Charter Participating State is materially different than the model Compact: a. A Charter Participating State whose enactment is found to be materially different from the model Compact shall be entitled to the default process set forth in subsection B of Section 10 of this Compact, and b. If any participating state later withdraws from the Compact or its participation is terminated, the Commission shall remain in existence and the Compact shall remain in effect even if the number of participating states should be less than seven. Participating states enacting the Compact subsequent to the Commission convening shall be subject to the process set forth in paragraph 21 of subse ction C of ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 39 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Section 7 of this Compact to determine if their enactments are materially different from the model Compact and whether they qualify for participation in the Compact; 2. Participating states enacting the Compact subsequent to the seven initial Charter Participa ting States shall be subject to the process set forth in paragraph 21 of subsection C of Section 7 of this Compact to determine if their enactments are materially different from the model Compact and whether they qualify for participation in the Compact; and 3. All actions taken for the benefit of the Com mission or in furtherance of the purposes of the ad ministration of the Compact prior to the effective date of the Compact or the Commission coming into existence shall be considered to be actions of the Commission unless specifically repudiated by the Comm ission. B. Any state that joins the Compact shall be subject to the Commission's rules and bylaws as they exist on the date on which th e Compact becomes law in that state. Any rule that has been previously adopted by the Commission shall have the full fo rce and effect of law on the day the Compact becomes law in that state. C. Any participating state may withdraw from the Compact by enacting a statute repealing the same. 1. A participating state's withdrawal shall not take effect until one hundred eight y (180) days after enactment of the repealing ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 40 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 statute. During this one-hundred-eighty-day period, all Compact privileges that were in effe ct in the withdrawing state and were granted to licensees licensed in the w ithdrawing state shall remain in effect. If any licensee licensed in the withdrawing stat e is also licensed in another participating state or obtains a license in another participating state within the one hundred eighty (180) days, the licensee's Compact privileges in other participating states shall not be affected by the passage of the one hundred eighty (180) days. 2. Withdrawal shall not affect the continuing requirement of the state licensing boards of the withdrawing state to comply with the investigative and adverse action reporting requirements of the Compact prior to the effective d ate of withdrawal. 3. Upon the enactment of a statute withdrawing a state from the Compact, the state shall immediately provide notice of such withdrawal to all licensees within that state. Such withdrawing state shall continue to recognize all licenses granted pursuant to the Compact for a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of such notice of withdrawal. D. Nothing contained in th e Compact shall be construed to invalidate or prevent any PA licensure agreement or other cooperative arrangement between participating states an d between a participating state and non participating state that does not conflict with the provisions of th e Compact. ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 41 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 E. The Compact may be amended by the participating states. No amendment to the Compact shall become effective and binding upon any participating state until it is enacted materiall y in the same manner into the laws of all participating states as determined by the Commission. SECTION 12. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.12 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. The Compact and the Commission's rulemaking authority shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes and the implementation and administration of the Compact. Provisions of the Compact expressly authorizing or requiring the promulgation of rules shall not be construed to limit the Commission 's rulemaking authority solely for those purposes. B. The provisions of the Compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence , or provision of the Compact is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to the constitution of any participating state, a state seeking participation in the Compact, or of the United States, or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, pers on, or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional by a court of competent juri sdiction, the validity of the remainder of th e Compact and the applicability thereof to any other government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 42 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 C. Notwithstanding subsection B of this section, the Commission may deny a state's participation in the Compact or, in accordance with the requirements of subsection B of Section 10 of this Compact, terminate a participating state's participation in the Compact, if it determines that a constitutional requirement of a participating state is, or would b e with respect to a state seeking to participate in the Compact, a material departure from the Compact. Otherwise, if the Compact shall be held to be contrary to the consti tution of any participating state, the Compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining participating states and in full force and effect as to the par ticipating state affected as to all severable matters. SECTION 13. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 545.13 of Title 59, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follo ws: A. Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a participating state that is not inconsistent with the Compact. B. Any laws in a participating state in conflict with th e Compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict. C. All agreements between the Commission and the participating states are binding in accordance with their terms. SECTION 14. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024. ENGR. H. B. NO. 3781 Page 43 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Passed the House of Representatives the 4th day of March, 2024. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the ___ day of _________, 2024. Presiding Officer of the Senate