Nurse license compact passes committee
House Bill 1417, which would allow Washington to join the interstate Nursing Licensure Compact, passed the House Committee on Postsecondary Education and Workforce Friday.
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As of January 2023, 39 states have enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing nurses to practice in other participating states without examination.
Interstate compacts allow individuals of certain professions to obtain a license and practice in a state other than the one they were originally licensed in, that is part of the compact, without examination.
OLYMPIA — A bill allowing Washington to join the interstate Nursing Licensure Compact passed the House Committee on Postsecondary Education and Workforce Friday.
“We’re prioritizing the areas where we have a lack of workers,” said Rep. Alex Ybarra (R-Quincy), the ranking member on the Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee.
Ybarra said the House has already passed interstate compacts for dentists, dental hygienists, speech-language therapists and mental health counselors this session. There is also a bill for an interstate compact for massage therapy but it has not gotten out of committee.
Interstate compacts allow individuals of certain professions to obtain a license and practice in a participating state other than the one they were originally licensed in without examination.
House Bill 1417, which passed the Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee by a vote of 11-3 on Friday, would allow Washington to join the Nursing Licensure Compact if enacted. The NLC is an agreement between states to expedite the licensure for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses across state lines and has been enacted by 39 states as of January 2023.
"We are seeing workforce shortages across a broad spectrum of industries and occupations for a variety of reasons," said Rep. Mike Volz (R-Spokane), the primary sponsor of the bill in a release by his office. "However, shortages in the health care sector have dangerous implications for the current and future health of our citizens and communities. Enacting the interstate Nurse Licensure Compact will have a positive impact on health care services across the state."
The release states the bill includes components to ensure attention to any disciplinary history of nurses in other states who seek licensing in Washington state. It also establishes licensure and disciplinary processes as well as oversight and enforcement procedures.
"This was truly a bipartisan effort,” Volz said. “From the sponsors, to the amendment in committee, to working with stakeholders to get this through the first phase of the legislative process.”
After its passage in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education and Workforce, the bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.
