Pennsylvania HB 588: An Act amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, further providing for continuing nursing education.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 597
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 588
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KHAN, ORTITAY, KOSIEROWSKI, MARCELL, MUNROE, PUGH,
McNEILL, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL, FREEMAN, GUENST, HADDOCK,
HANBIDGE, PROBST, KENYATTA, CERRATO, KAZEEM, CIRESI, CEPEDA-
FREYTIZ, BOROWSKI, PIELLI, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN, PICKETT,
D. WILLIAMS, NEILSON, STEELE, GREEN, DALEY AND MAYES,
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), entitled "An
act relating to the practice of professional nursing;
providing for the licensing of nurses and for the revocation
and suspension of such licenses, subject to appeal, and for
their reinstatement; providing for the renewal of such
licenses; regulating nursing in general; prescribing
penalties and repealing certain laws," further providing for
continuing nursing education.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 12.1(b) of the act of May 22, 1951
(P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, is
amended to read:
Section 12.1. Continuing Nursing Education.--* * *
(b) Beginning with the license period designated by
regulation, licensees shall be required to attend and complete
thirty (30) hours of mandatory continuing education during each
two-year license period. Nationally certified education courses
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shall be considered as creditable, in addition to any other
courses the board deems creditable toward meeting the
requirements for continuing education. Continuing education in
older adult abuse recognition and reporting is required as
follows:
(1) A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse seeking
licensure renewal shall complete one (1) hour of the Board-
approved mandatory thirty (30) hours of continuing education
during the biennial period immediately preceding the application
for renewal in accordance with this section in older adult abuse
recognition and reporting, including, but not limited to,
recognition of the signs of older adult abuse and the reporting
requirements for suspected older adult abuse in this
Commonwealth. Continuing education under this paragraph shall be
approved by the department. The following apply to training
required under this paragraph:
(i) The Board may not renew a license of a registered nurse
or licensed practical nurse who fails to verify compliance with
this requirement. A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse
whose license is not renewed by the expiration date of the
biennial period may not engage in the practice of professional
nursing until the older adult abuse continuing education
requirement is satisfied and the license has been renewed,
reinstated or reactivated.
(ii) An applicant applying for initial licensure in this
Commonwealth shall not be required to meet the continuing
education requirement in this subsection on the first renewal
immediately following licensure, except for mandatory continuing
education in older adult abuse recognition and reporting
required under this subsection.
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(iii) The Board may perform audits on registered nurses or
licensed practical nurses to determine compliance with the older
adult abuse continuing education requirements. A registered
nurse or licensed practical nurse shall retain documentation of
the registered nurse's or licensed practical nurse's completion
of older adult abuse continuing education for at least five (5)
years. A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse shall
comply with a request for submission of documents verifying the
registered nurse's or licensed practical nurse's completion of
older adult abuse continuing education. For attendance at
continuing education programs or courses, the registered nurse
or licensed practical nurse shall retain the certificate of
attendance provided by the program or course provider and submit
the same to the Board upon request.
(iv) A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse seeking
to reinstate a lapsed license or reactivate an inactive license
shall file an application for reinstatement or reactivation and
submit, or cause to be submitted, documentation to demonstrate
that the licensee completed the hour required in approved older
adult abuse recognition and reporting within the biennial period
immediately preceding application.
(v) A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse seeking
to reinstate a suspended license shall submit, or cause to be
submitted, documentation to demonstrate that the registered
nurse or licensed practical nurse completed the hour in approved
older adult abuse recognition and reporting within the biennial
period immediately preceding application for reinstatement.
(vi) Older adult abuse continuing education hours may not be
carried over from one biennial renewal period to the next.
(vii) A