Posted on April 22, 2024
The House gaveled in this week to start voting on proposals that have been vetted by all of the necessary committees. We also voted to approve a number of nomination to boards and commissions.
I wrote to the leaders of the Public Health Committee at the start of the session asking if they would raise a bill to ease the nursing shortage by joining nursing licensure reciprocity with other states. During a short session, individual members may only propose bills of a financial nature. I was pleased that the bill, which I co-sponsored, made it through a public hearing and was called on the floor Thursday.
41 other states are part of the Nursing Compact. The bill passed the House unanimously and if it’s approved by the Senate and signed into law, it would allow more nurses from out of state to work in Connecticut.
During floor debate, the House adopted an amendment to the bill which added a fingerprint requirement for applicants of a multistate license, and provides funding support for Haven – a nonprofit program that serves as an alternate to discipline and provides supports, including mental health or substance abuse, for medical professionals. The amendment also directs funds from license renewals to further support Haven’s mission.
If approved by the Senate and signed into law, Connecticut will enter into the Nurse Licensure Compact from October 1, 2025, until January 1, 2028.