TEMPORARY NURSING LICENSE H.B. 4941:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4941 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Gail Haines
House Committee: Health Policy
Senate Committee: Health Policy
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to restore the authority of the Michigan Board of Nursing to grant a temporary nursing license to a person licensed as a nurse in Canada.
The Code authorizes a licensing board to grant a nonrenewable, temporary license to an applicant who has completed all requirements for licensure except for examination or other required evaluation procedure. The Board of Nursing may grant a nonrenewable, temporary license to an applicant for a license to engage in the practice of nursing as a registered professional nurse (RN) if the applicant is licensed as an RN by an equivalent licensing board or authority in another state. The Code contains a similar provision regarding an applicant licensed in Canada; this provision, however, expired on January 1, 2012. The bill would eliminate the expiration date.
(A temporary nursing license expires on the earliest of the following dates:
-- One year after the date of issuance.
-- The date the applicant is notified that he or she failed the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools qualifying examination or the National Council licensure examination.
-- The date the applicant is issued a license to engage in the practice of nursing as an RN.
-- The date the applicant is notified that he or she has failed to meet applicable statutory requirements and related rules for licensure.
-- The date the applicant is notified that he or she has failed to complete the application process for full licensure.)
MCL 333.16181 Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have a minor, but likely negative fiscal impact on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The bill would allow the Michigan Board of Nursing to resume issuing temporary nursing licenses to Canadian citizens. The fee for the temporary license is $10, which is not sufficient to defray the costs associated with issuing the license. In calendar year 2011, LARA issued only 31 of these licenses, so the fiscal impact of the bill, while negative, would be small.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.