Senate Bill 190 seeks to ratify Wisconsin's participation in the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, which allows respiratory care practitioners to practice across member states more easily. The bill establishes a Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission responsible for overseeing the compact's operations, including creating bylaws, managing operational costs, and facilitating a process for practitioners to obtain compact privileges. It also includes provisions for enforcing subpoenas across state lines and mandates the creation of a coordinated database for licensure and disciplinary actions.

In addition to establishing the compact, the bill amends existing statutes related to respiratory care practitioners. It prohibits the Medical Examining Board from requiring a statutes and rules examination for certification, allowing applicants to affirm their understanding of relevant laws instead. The bill also clarifies the board's authority to investigate allegations of unprofessional conduct and negligence against individuals holding licenses, certificates, or compact privileges, ensuring they are held to the same standards of accountability. Furthermore, it modifies the language regarding the board's ability to summarily suspend or limit licenses and privileges, ensuring that immediate action can be taken when there is probable cause of violations, while also guaranteeing that affected individuals have the opportunity to be heard.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 146.81(1)(d), 146.81, 146.997(1)(d)5, 146.997, 256.15(4)(a)3, 256.15, 440.03(13)(b)(intro.), 440.03, 440.15, 448.01(9s), 448.01, 448.01(12)