Assembly Bill 12 aims to establish state agency status for certain physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers who provide uncompensated services for local health departments or school districts. The bill stipulates that these healthcare providers, when acting within the scope of their duties, will be considered state agents of the Department of Health Services (DHS). This designation provides them with legal protections, including coverage for damages and costs in any legal actions arising from their professional conduct. The bill also allows these providers to supervise immunization programs and issue orders for immunizations, provided they follow written protocols from DHS.

Key amendments in the bill include the insertion of "physician assistants" and "advanced practice nurse prescribers" into existing statutes, thereby expanding the definition of healthcare providers eligible for state agency status. The title of section 251.07 is changed to reflect this broader definition, and new definitions for "advanced practice nurse prescriber" and "physician assistant" are created. Additionally, the bill clarifies that if these providers are not employees of the local health department or school district and do not receive compensation, they will still be recognized as state agents for legal purposes.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 165.25(6)(c), 165.25, 251.07(title), 251.07, 252.04(9), 252.04, 895.46(5)(b), 895.46