As used in this compact, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
1. Adverse action. "Adverse action" means an administrative, civil, equitable or criminal action permitted by a state's laws that is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against a nurse, including actions against an individual's license or multistate licensure privilege such as revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, limitation on the licensee's practice or any other encumbrance on licensure affecting a nurse's authorization to practice, including issuance of a cease and desist action.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
2. Alternative program. "Alternative program" means a nondisciplinary monitoring program approved by a licensing board.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
3. Commission. "Commission" means the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators established in this compact.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
4. Coordinated licensure information system. "Coordinated licensure information system" means an integrated system for collecting, storing and sharing information on nurse licensure and enforcement activities related to nurse licensure laws that is administered by a nonprofit organization composed of and controlled by licensing boards.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
5. Current significant investigative information. "Current significant investigative information" means:
A. Investigative information that a licensing board, after a preliminary inquiry that includes notification and an opportunity for a nurse to respond, if required by state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, indicates more than a minor infraction; or [PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
B. Investigative information that indicates that a nurse represents an immediate threat to public health and safety regardless of whether the nurse has been notified and had an opportunity to respond. [PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
6. Encumbrance. "Encumbrance" means a revocation or suspension of, or any limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of nursing imposed by a licensing board.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
7. Head of the state licensing board. "Head of the state licensing board" means the executive director of the State Board of Nursing.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
8. Home state. "Home state" means the party state that is a nurse's primary state of residence.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
9. Licensing board. "Licensing board" means a party state's regulatory body responsible for issuing nurse licenses.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
10. Multistate license. "Multistate license" means a license to practice as a registered or a licensed practical or vocational nurse issued by a home state licensing board that authorizes the licensed nurse to practice in all party states under a multistate licensure privilege.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
11. Multistate licensure privilege. "Multistate licensure privilege" means a legal authorization associated with a multistate license permitting the practice of nursing as either a registered nurse or licensed practical or vocational nurse in a remote state.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
12. Nurse. "Nurse" means a registered nurse or licensed practical or vocational nurse, as those terms are defined by each party state's practice laws.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
13. Party state. "Party state" means a state that has adopted this compact.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
14. Prior compact. "Prior compact" means the prior nurse licensure compact that is superseded by this compact.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
15. Remote state. "Remote state" means a party state other than the home state.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
16. Single-state license. "Single-state license" means a nurse license issued by a party state that authorizes practice only within the issuing state and does not include a multistate licensure privilege to practice in any other party state.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
17. State. "State" means a state, territory or possession of the United States and the District of Columbia.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
18. State practice laws. "State practice laws" means a party state's laws, rules and regulations that govern the practice of nursing, define the scope of nursing practice and create the methods and grounds for imposing discipline. "State practice laws" does not include requirements necessary to obtain and retain a license, except for qualifications or requirements of the home state.
[PL 2017, c. 258, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
