Makes conforming changes reflecting the previously authorized scope of practice of nurse practitioners

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Gustavo Rivera says this is needed

Subsequent to the enactment of the Nurse Practitioner Modernization Act in 2014, the state approved a variety of conforming statutory amendments to eliminate inappropriate references to agreements that are no longer required and more appropriately reflect the NP scope of practice. As a result of a further clarification enacted in 2022, NPs with over 3600 hours of practice experience are no longer required to maintain any form of statutory collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Yet, there are still outdated and inconsistent sections of the law that in certain instances permit nurse practitioners to sign certain forms consistent with their scope of practice, while other statutes do not recognize NPs. This bill would make important conforming changes. For example, in existing Education Law section 903 expressly provides that a nurse practitioner is authorized to conduct an examination and sign the health certificate that a student must present in order to attend public schools, and section 906 acknowledges that a NP may issue a certificate confirming that a student may return to school after recovering from a communicable disease. However, other provisions of the education law do not allow a NP to execute certificates that confirm a student-athlete has returned to a health condition that would allow that student to resume athletic activity following a concussion or cardiac issue, despite that this type of diagnosis and treatment is wholly within the existing scope of practice for a NP. Similarly, the VTL authorizes NPs to execute forms for an individual determined to have a severe disabili- ty to apply for handicapped designated licensed plates but does not recog- nize that the NP may complete additional forms for the same driver to obtain a handicapped parking permit (separate from the license plate). These technical inconsistencies in the law need to be corrected as they are identified.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.