HB553 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ed OliverRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Certified registered nurse practitioners, authorized to sign student athlete physical examination participation eligibility forms

Summary

HB553 would let certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives sign K-12 student-athlete physical examination forms as if a physician had signed them.

What This Bill Does

HB553 would amend Section 34-21-93.1 to let a certified registered nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife endorse specific forms, including athletic physicals for K-12 students, with that endorsement treated as if a physician signed the form, provided they have an active collaboration agreement. It expands the list of forms that may be endorsed by NP/CNM to include a broad set of documents such as bus driver physicals, Special Olympics eligibility forms, TSA and other employment-related physicals, adoptive parent applications, college or trade school physicals, Scout medicals, jury-illness excuses, absenteeism forms, durable medical equipment authorizations, diabetic supplies and shoes, Medicaid order forms, death certificates, ambulance transport forms, donor breast milk forms, and related items. It also allows additional forms to be added later by rule after consultation with relevant medical professional societies and the Joint Committee. It clarifies that any NP/CNM endorsement given in place of a physician remains valid for the requesting organization, while not expanding the overall scope of practice or physician responsibility.

Who It Affects

• K-12 student-athletes and their schools, who could have athletic participation forms endorsed by NP/CNM instead of physicians.
• Certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives, who would be able to endorse a wider range of forms as physician endorsements with an active collaboration agreement.
• Schools, government and private organizations, and employers that require physician signatures on forms, which would accept NP/CNM endorsements as valid.
• Physicians and medical organizations, as the bill preserves scope and collaboration requirements and does not expand physician liability or responsibility.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 34-21-93.1 to allow NP/CNM endorsements on specified documents to count as physician endorsements, subject to an active collaboration agreement.
• Creates a long, enumerated list of forms eligible for NP/CNM endorsement, including K-12 athletic physicals, bus driver and other employment-related physicals, Special Olympics eligibility, adoptive parent applications, college/trade school physicals, Scout physicals, jury-illness forms, absenteeism forms, durable medical equipment authorizations, diabetic supplies/shoes, Medicaid ordering forms, death certificates, ambulance transport forms, and donor breast milk forms, among others.
• Allows additional forms to be added by rule after consultation with the state professional societies and Joint Committee, as appropriate.
• States that the change does not expand the overall scope of practice for NPs or CNMs and does not modify a physician's collaborative responsibilities.
• Requires that any NP/CNM endorsement given in lieu of a physician on these forms be accepted as valid by the requesting organization.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health