ARC 4599C

ARC 4599C

NURSING BOARD[655]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rule making related to expedited licensure for military spouse and providing an opportunity for public comment

The Board of Nursing hereby proposes to amend Chapter 18, "Military Service and Veteran Reciprocity," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 17A.3 and section 272C.4 as amended by 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 288.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 272C.4 as amended by 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 288.

Purpose and Summary

2019 Iowa Acts, House File 288, creates new Iowa Code section 272C.4(12A), which requires the Board to establish procedures by January 1, 2020, to expedite the licensing of an individual who is licensed as a nurse in another state and who is the spouse of an active duty member of the military forces of the United States. The proposed amendments to Chapter 18 establish a procedure for providing priority to, and expedited review of, an application for licensure submitted by a military spouse as described above who has a nursing license in another jurisdiction.

Fiscal Impact

This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Board for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 655—Chapter 15.

Public Comment

Any interested person may submit written comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Board no later than 4:30 p.m.on September 3, 2019. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

A public hearing at which persons may present their views orally or in writing will be held as follows:

Persons who wish to make oral comments at the public hearing may be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rule making.

Any persons who intend to attend the public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Board and advise of specific needs.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

The following rule-making actions are proposed:

Item 1. Amend rule 655—18.1(85GA,ch1116), parenthetical implementation statute, as follows:

655—18.1( 85GA,ch1116 272C) Definitions.

Item 2. Adopt the following new definition of "Spouse" in rule 655—18.1(85GA,ch1116):

"Spouse" means the spouse of an active duty member of the military forces of the United States.

Item 3. Amend rule 655—18.2(85GA,ch1116), parenthetical implementation statute, as follows:

655—18.2( 85GA,ch1116 272C) Military education, training, and service credit.

Item 4. Amend rule 655—18.3(85GA,ch1116) as follows:

655—18.3( 85GA,ch1116 272C) Veteran and active duty military spouse reciprocity.

18.3(1) A veteran or spouse with a nursing license in another jurisdiction may apply for licensure in Iowa through reciprocity (endorsement) pursuant to 655—Chapter 3. A veteran or spouse must pass any examinations required for licensure to be eligible for licensure through reciprocity. A fully completed application for licensure submitted by a veteran or spouse under this subrule shall be given priority and shall be expedited.

18.3(2) Such an application shall contain all of the information required of all applicants for licensure who hold licenses in other jurisdictions and who are applying for licensure by reciprocity, including , but not limited to , completion of all required forms, payment of applicable fees, disclosure of criminal or disciplinary histories, and, if applicable, a criminal history background check. The applicant shall use the same forms as any other applicant for licensure by reciprocity and shall additionally provide such documentation as is reasonably needed to verify the applicant's status as a veteran under Iowa Code section 35.1(2)or as a spouse as defined in rule 655—18.1(272C).

18.3(3) Upon receipt of a fully completed licensure application, the board shall promptly determine if the professional or occupational licensing requirements of the jurisdiction where the veteran applicant is licensed are substantially equivalent to the licensing requirements in Iowa. The board shall make this determination based on information supplied by the applicant and such additional information as the board may acquire from the applicable jurisdiction. The board may consider the following factors in determining substantial equivalence: scope of practice, education and coursework, degree requirements, postgraduate experience, and examinations required for licensure.

18.3(4) The board shall promptly grant a license to the veteran applicant if the veteran applicant is licensed in the same or similar profession in another jurisdiction whose licensure requirements are substantially equivalent to those required in Iowa, unless the applicant is ineligible for licensure based on other grounds, for example, the applicant's disciplinary or criminal background.

18.3(5) If the board determines that the licensing requirements in the jurisdiction in which the veteran applicant is licensed are not substantially equivalent to those required in Iowa, the board shall promptly inform the veteran applicant of the additional experience, education, or examinations required for licensure in Iowa. Unless the applicant is ineligible for licensure based on other grounds, such as disciplinary or criminal background, the following shall apply:

a. If a veteran an applicant has not passed the required examination(s) for licensure, the veteran applicant may not be issued a provisional license , but may request that the licensure application be placed in pending status for up to one year or as mutually agreed to provide the veteran applicant with the opportunity to satisfy the examination requirements.

b. If additional experience or education is required in order for the applicant's qualifications to be considered substantially equivalent, the applicant may request that the board issue a provisional license for a specified period of time during which the applicant will successfully complete the necessary experience or education. The board shall issue a provisional license for a specified period of time upon such conditions as the board deems reasonably necessary to protect the health, welfare or safety of the public unless the board determines that the deficiency is of a character that the public health, welfare or safety will be adversely affected if a provisional license is granted.

c. If a request for a provisional license is denied, the board shall issue an order fully explaining the decision and shall inform the applicant of the steps the applicant may take in order to receive a provisional license.

d. If a provisional license is issued, the application for full licensure shall be placed in pending status until the necessary experience or education has been successfully completed or the provisional license expires, whichever occurs first. The board may extend a provisional license on a case-by-case basis for good cause.

18.3(6) A veteran or spouse who is aggrieved by the board's decision to deny an application for a reciprocal license or a provisional license or is aggrieved by the terms under which a provisional license will be granted may request a contested case (administrative hearing) and may participate in a contested case by telephone. A request for a contested case shall be made within 30 days of issuance of the board's decision. No fees or costs shall be assessed against the veteran applicant in connection with a contested case conducted pursuant to this subrule.

Item 5. Amend 655—Chapter 18, implementation sentence, as follows:

These rules are intended to implement 2014 Iowa Acts, chapter 1116, division VI Iowa Code section 272C.4.