Section 1.

new text begin [148.675] PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSURE COMPACT.
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new text begin The physician assistant (PA) licensure compact is enacted into law and entered into with
all other jurisdictions legally joining in it in the form substantially specified in this section.
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new text begin ARTICLE I
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new text begin PURPOSE
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new text begin In order to strengthen access to medical services, and in recognition of the advances in
the delivery of medical services, the participating states of the PA licensure compact have
allied in common purpose to develop a comprehensive process that complements the existing
authority of state licensing boards to license and discipline PAs and seek to enhance the
portability of a license to practice as a PA while safeguarding the safety of patients. This
compact allows medical services to be provided by PAs via the mutual recognition of the
licensee's qualifying license by other compact participating states. This compact also adopts
the prevailing standard for PA licensure and affirms that the practice and delivery of medical
services by the PA occurs where the patient is located at the time of the patient encounter,
and therefore requires the PA to be under the jurisdiction of the state licensing board where
the patient is located. State licensing boards that participate in this compact retain the
jurisdiction to impose adverse actions against a compact privilege in that state issued to a
PA through the procedures of this compact. The PA licensure compact will alleviate burdens
for military families by allowing active duty military personnel and their spouses to obtain
a compact privilege based on having an unrestricted license in good standing from a
participating state.
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new text begin ARTICLE II
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new text begin DEFINITIONS
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new text begin As used in this compact, and except as otherwise provided, the following terms have
the meanings given them.
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new text begin (a) "Adverse action" means any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action
permitted by a state's laws that is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against a
PA license, license application, or compact privilege such as license denial, censure,
revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, or restriction on the licensee's
practice.
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new text begin (b) "Charter participating states" means the states that enacted the compact prior to the
commission convening.
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new text begin (c) "Compact privilege" means the authorization granted by a remote state to allow a
licensee from another participating state to practice as a PA to provide medical services or
other licensed activities to a patient located in the remote state under the remote state's laws
and regulations.
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new text begin (d) "Conviction" means a finding by a court that an individual is guilty of a felony or
misdemeanor offense through adjudication or entry of a plea of guilt or no contest to the
charge by the offender.
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new text begin (e) "Criminal background check" means the submission of fingerprints or other
biometric-based information for a license applicant for the purpose of obtaining that
applicant's criminal history record information, as defined in Code of Federal Regulations,
title 28, part 20, subpart 20.3, clause (d), from the state's criminal history record repository,
as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 28, part 20, subpart 20.3, clause (f).
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new text begin (f) "Data system" means the repository of information about licensees, including but not
limited to license status and adverse action, that is created and administered under the terms
of this compact.
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new text begin (g) "Executive committee" means a group of directors and ex officio individuals elected
or appointed pursuant to article VII, paragraph (f), clause (2).
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new text begin (h) "Impaired practitioner" means a PA whose practice is adversely affected by a
health-related condition that impacts the PA's ability to practice.
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new text begin (i) "Investigative information" means information, records, and documents received or
generated by a licensing board pursuant to an investigation.
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new text begin (j) "Jurisprudence requirement" means the assessment of an individual's knowledge of
the laws and rules governing the practice of a PA in a state.
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new text begin (k) "License" means current authorization by a state, other than authorization pursuant
to a compact privilege, for a PA to provide medical services, which would be unlawful
without current authorization.
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new text begin (l) "Licensee" means an individual who holds a license from a state to provide medical
services as a PA.
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new text begin (m) "Licensing board" means any state entity authorized to license and otherwise regulate
PAs.
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new text begin (n) "Medical services" means health care services provided for the diagnosis, prevention,
treatment, cure, or relief of a health condition, injury, or disease, as defined by a state's laws
and regulations.
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new text begin (o) "Model compact" means the model for the PA licensure compact on file with the
Council of State Governments or other entity as designated by the commission.
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new text begin (p) "Participating state" means a state that has enacted this compact.
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new text begin (q) "PA" means an individual who is licensed as a physician assistant in a state. For
purposes of this compact, any other title or status adopted by a state to replace the term
"physician assistant" shall be deemed synonymous with "physician assistant" and shall
confer the same rights and responsibilities to the licensee under the provisions of this compact
at the time of its enactment.
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new text begin (r) "PA Licensure Compact Commission" or "compact commission" or "commission"
means the national administrative body created pursuant to article VII, paragraph (a).
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new text begin (s) "Qualifying license" means an unrestricted license issued by a participating state to
provide medical services as a PA.
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new text begin (t) "Remote state" means a participating state where a licensee who is not licensed as a
PA is exercising or seeking to exercise the compact privilege.
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new text begin (u) "Rule" means a regulation promulgated by an entity that has the force and effect of
law.
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new text begin (v) "Significant investigative information" means investigative information that a
licensing board, after an inquiry or investigation that includes notification and an opportunity
for the PA to respond if required by state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and,
if proven true, would indicate more than a minor infraction.
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new text begin (w) "State" means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States.
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new text begin ARTICLE III
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new text begin STATE PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPACT
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new text begin (a) To participate in this compact, a participating state must:
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new text begin (1) license PAs;
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new text begin (2) participate in the commission's data system;
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new text begin (3) have a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints against licensees
and license applicants;
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new text begin (4) notify the commission, in compliance with the terms of this compact and commission