Assembly Bill 12 aims to establish state agency status for certain physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers who provide services without compensation for local health departments or school districts. The bill stipulates that these healthcare providers, when acting in accordance with written protocols from the Department of Health Services (DHS), will be considered state agents for legal purposes. This means that if they face legal action related to their services, any judgments against them will be covered by DHS. The bill also allows these professionals to supervise immunization programs and issue orders for immunizations, further solidifying their role in public health initiatives.

Key amendments in the bill include the renaming of section 251.07 to reflect a broader category of "health care providers" instead of just "physicians," and the inclusion of physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers in various legal protections. Additionally, definitions for "advanced practice nurse prescriber" and "physician assistant" are created to clarify their roles under the law. The bill also modifies existing statutes to ensure that these healthcare providers are recognized as agents of DHS when providing services without compensation, thereby enhancing their legal protections while serving in public health capacities.

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