No. SB 970
Filed under Healthcare.
Respiratory Care Interstate Compact; Enacting the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact; requiring member states to meet certain requirements to join and participate in the compact; providing criteria that a respiratory therapist licensee must satisfy to practice under the compact; authorizing a certain licensing authority or government agency to establish the scope of practice for a licensee providing therapy in a remote state; authorizing member states to participate with other member states in joint investigations of licensees under certain circumstances; establishing the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDEnacts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, creating a "compact privilege" that lets a respiratory therapist licensed in one member state practice in any other member state without applying for a separate license there.
A therapist practicing in Florida under the compact is exempt from Florida's normal licensure requirements and instead must meet compact criteria such as an active home-state license and a clean disciplinary record.
Creates an interstate commission with power to adopt binding rules, levy fees and assessments, investigate licensees jointly with other states, and sue or be sued, extending sovereign immunity to its Florida-appointed commissioner.
A therapist whose home license is restricted loses compact privileges in every member state for at least two years after the restriction ends, and Florida's board can discipline compact-privilege holders directly.
AIA respiratory therapist licensed and in good standing in any member state can obtain a compact privilege to practice as a respiratory therapist in Florida or any other member state without applying for a separate license there.
AIA therapist licensed elsewhere who practices in Florida under the compact privilege, and only within the scope the compact allows, does not have to meet Florida's own licensure requirements for respiratory therapists.
AIThe compact commission's rules carry the force of law in every member state automatically. A rule only loses effect in Florida if a majority of all member states' legislatures vote to reject it within four years of adoption.
AIIf a therapist's home-state license becomes encumbered in any way, the therapist immediately loses compact privilege in every other member state, and cannot regain it until the home license is clear and two more years have passed.
AIThe Board of Respiratory Care can take adverse action directly against an out-of-state therapist's compact privilege to practice in Florida, and impose the same penalties available against a Florida licensee, for specified violations.
AIA member state cannot use the compact to discipline a therapist's compact privilege for practice that was otherwise lawful in the state where the therapist actually performed it, even if that same conduct would be illegal locally.
AIFlorida's appointed commissioner and any commission administrator, officer, or employee acting in Florida is treated as an agent of the state for tort-liability purposes, and the compact commission itself, not Florida taxpayers, must pay any resulting claims or judgments.