HB44 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Nursing, Board of, allow board to enter into the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, Secs. 34-21-20.01, 34-21-120 to 34-21-130, inclusive, added; Secs. 34-21-1, 34-21-2, 34-21-21, 34-21-22, 34-21-25 am'd.

Summary

HB 44 would allow Alabama's Board of Nursing to join the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, creating a uniform, multistate license system for nurses and establishing related background checks and information sharing.

What This Bill Does

The bill authorizes the Board of Nursing to participate in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact to standardize licensing and allow nurses to practice across member states with a multistate license. It creates a comprehensive framework for licensure, enforcement, and information sharing, including a home state license, a coordinated licensure information system, and the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators. It requires fingerprint-based criminal background checks for multistate licensure and endorsements, and it establishes rules for how actions in one state affect a nurse’s multistate privileges. It also outlines withdrawal, amendment, and dispute resolution processes and sets up reporting and governance structures for compact administration.

Who It Affects

• Nurses (RNs and LPNs) in Alabama who seek or hold multistate licenses: can practice in other ENLC states, must undergo fingerprint background checks, must meet home-state licensure requirements, and could have their multistate privileges suspended or deactivated if adverse actions occur in Alabama or another party state.
• Healthcare employers, regulators, and the Alabama Board of Nursing: must report licensure actions and participate in a shared information system, may incur new administrative duties and costs, and rely on the compact’s rules to coordinate cross-state licensure and enforcement.

Key Provisions

• Adds §34-21-20.01 requiring full fingerprint-based criminal history background checks for multistate license applicants and endorsements, with costs borne by applicants and confidential handling of results.
• Adds Article 7 (Sections 34-21-120 to 34-21-130) to implement the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact, including definitions of home state, party states, multistate license, and licensure privilege.
• Establishes a Coordinated Licensure Information System to collect, store, and share licensure and enforcement data among party states.
• Creates the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators to govern the compact, issue rules, oversee administration, and coordinate among party states.
• Allows adverse actions in any state to deactivate the multistate licensure privilege in all party states and requires cooperation in enforcement and reporting of disciplinary measures.
• Provides withdrawal and amendment processes for the compact, including sunset review provisions and mechanisms for reporting and resolving disputes among party states.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Nursing, Board of