81,18Section 18. 440.03 (13) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 440.03 (13) (c) 1. (intro.) and amended to read: 440.03 (13) (c) 1. (intro.) The department shall require an all of the following to be photographed and fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person’s fingerprints:
a. An applicant for a private detective license or a private security permit under s. 440.26, an.
b. An applicant for a juvenile martial arts instructor permit under sub. (17), an.
c. An applicant for a real estate appraiser certification under s. 458.06 or license under s. 458.08, an.
d. An applicant for a multistate license under s. 441.06 (1c) or 441.10 (1c), an.
e. An applicant for a compact license under s. 448.05 (2) (f), an.
f. An applicant for a physical therapist license under s. 448.53 or physical therapist assistant license under s. 448.535, an.
g. An applicant for an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant compact privilege under s. 448.987 (4), and an applicant for an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant license described in s. 448.987 (5) (b) 2. a., an
h. An applicant for a psychologist license under s. 455.04, and a.
z. A person for whom the department conducts an investigation under par. (b), to be photographed and fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person’s fingerprints.
2. The department of justice may submit the fingerprint cards, and the department of justice shall submit the fingerprint cards of all applicants for a real estate appraiser certification under s. 458.06 or license under s. 458.08, of all applicants for a multistate license under s. 441.06 (1c) or 441.10 (1c), of all applicants for a compact license under s. 448.05 (2) (f), of all applicants for a physical therapist license under s. 448.53 or a physical therapist assistant license under s. 448.535, and of all applicants for a psychologist license under s. 455.04 identified in subd. 1. c. to i., to the federal bureau of investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity of the persons fingerprinted and obtaining records of their criminal arrests and convictions.
3. Information obtained from the federal bureau of investigation may be shared with the department or the appropriate credentialing board, but shall otherwise be kept confidential and is not subject to disclosure under s. 19.35.
81,19Section 19. 440.03 (13) (c) 1. i. of the statutes is created to read: 440.03 (13) (c) 1. i. An applicant for a physician assistant license or compact privilege under s. 448.974 when required pursuant to the PA licensure compact under s. 448.988.
81,20Section 20. 440.094 (1) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read: 440.094 (1) (c) 4. A physician, physician assistant, perfusionist, or respiratory care practitioner licensed or certified under subch. II of ch. 448.
81,21Section 21. 440.094 (1) (c) 9m. of the statutes is created to read: 440.094 (1) (c) 9m. A physician assistant licensed under subch. IX of ch. 448.
81,22Section 22. 440.15 of the statutes is amended to read: 440.15 No fingerprinting. Except as provided under ss. 440.03 (13) (c), 441.51 (5) (a) 5., 448.980 (5) (b) 3., 448.985 (3) (a) 4., 448.987 (3) (a) 5. a. and (5) (b) 2. a., 448.988 (3) (a) 5., 450.071 (3) (c) 9., 450.075 (3) (c) 9., and 455.50 (3) (e) 4. and (f) 4., the department or a credentialing board may not require that an applicant for a credential or a credential holder be fingerprinted or submit fingerprints in connection with the department’s or the credentialing board’s credentialing.
81,23Section 23. 448.015 (4) (am) 2m. of the statutes is renumbered 448.978 (1g) (a) and amended to read: 448.978 (1g) (a) A “Unprofessional conduct” includes a determination made by a physician assistant under ch. 154 or 155 if the physician assistant does not have sufficient education, training, and experience to make the determination.
81,24Section 24. 448.971 (1L) of the statutes is created to read: 448.971 (1L) “Compact” means the PA licensure compact under s. 448.988.
81,25Section 25. 448.971 (1m) of the statutes is created to read: 448.971 (1m) “Compact privilege” means a compact privilege, as defined in s. 448.988 (2) (b), that is granted under the compact to an individual to practice in this state.
81,26Section 26. 448.971 (2) of the statutes is amended to read: 448.971 (2) “Physician assistant” means a person who is licensed under this subchapter or who holds a compact privilege.
81,27Section 27. 448.972 (1) of the statutes is amended to read: 448.972 (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), no person may represent himself or herself as a “PA” or “physician assistant,” use or assume the title “PA” or “physician assistant,” or append to the person’s name the words or letters “physician assistant,” “PA,” “PA-C,” or any other titles, letters, or designation that represents or may tend to represent the person as a physician assistant, unless he or she is licensed by the board under this subchapter or holds a compact privilege.
81,29Section 29. 448.973 (2) of the statutes is amended to read: 448.973 (2) The board shall include in the register the board maintains under s. 440.035 (1m) (d) the names name of all persons each person whose licenses license or compact privilege issued under this subchapter were was suspended or revoked within the past 2 years. The register shall be available for purchase at cost.
81,30Section 30. 448.974 (title) of the statutes is amended to read: 448.974 (title) License; compact privilege; renewal.
81,31Section 31. 448.974 (1m) of the statutes is created to read: 448.974 (1m) The board shall grant a compact privilege to any applicant who satisfies all of the following:
(a) The applicant holds a qualifying license, as defined in s. 448.988 (2) (r), in another state that is a party to the compact and satisfies all other requirements under s. 448.988 (4).
(b) The individual applies for the compact privilege in the manner prescribed by the department.
(c) The individual pays any fee established by the department under s. 448.9885 (2).
81,32Section 32. 448.974 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 448.974 (2) (am) and amended to read: 448.974 (2) (am) 1. The renewal date for a license issued under this subchapter is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the renewal fees for such licenses are determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). Renewal of a license is subject to par. (b) subd. 2.
2. An applicant for the renewal of a license under this subchapter shall submit with his or her application for renewal proof of having satisfied the continuing education requirements imposed by the board under s. 448.973 (1) (b). This paragraph subdivision does not apply to an applicant for renewal of a license that expires on the first renewal date after the date on which the board initially granted the license.
81,33Section 33. 448.974 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read: 448.974 (2) (bm) Renewal of a compact privilege shall be governed by s. 448.988 (4) (b), except that the board may impose requirements for prescribing controlled substances in accordance with s. 448.988 (4) (d).
81,34Section 34. 448.978 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 448.978 (1r). 81,35Section 35. 448.978 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: 448.978 (2) (intro.) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), if a person who applies for or holds a license or compact privilege issued under s. 448.974 does any of the following, the board may reprimand the person or deny, limit, suspend, or revoke the person’s license or compact privilege:
81,36Section 36. 448.978 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read: 448.978 (2) (a) Makes a material misstatement in an application for a license or compact privilege or an application for renewal of a license or compact privilege under s. 448.974.
81,37Section 37. 448.978 (2) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 448.978 (2) (d) and amended to read: 448.978 (2) (d) Engages in unprofessional conduct.
(1g) In this paragraph, “unprofessional section:
(b) “Unprofessional conduct” does not include any of the following:
81,38Section 38. 448.978 (2) (d) 1. and 2. of the statutes are renumbered 448.978 (1g) (b) 1. and 2. 81,39Section 39. 448.978 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read: 448.978 (2) (g) Engages in fraud or deceit in obtaining or using his or her license or compact privilege.
81,40Section 40. Subchapter XIII of chapter 448 [precedes 448.988] of the statutes is created to read: CHAPTER 448
SUBCHAPTER XIII
PA LICENSURE COMPACT
448.988 PA licensure compact. (1) Purpose. In order to strengthen access to medical services, and in recognition of the advances in the delivery of medical services, the participating states of the PA licensure compact have allied in common purpose to develop a comprehensive process that complements the existing authority of state licensing boards to license and discipline PAs and seeks to enhance the portability of a license to practice as a PA while safeguarding the safety of patients. This compact allows medical services to be provided by PAs, via the mutual recognition of the licensee’s qualifying license by other compact participating states. This compact also adopts the prevailing standard for PA licensure and affirms that the practice and delivery of medical services by the PA occurs where the patient is located at the time of the patient encounter, and therefore requires the PA to be under the jurisdiction of the state licensing board where the patient is located. State licensing boards that participate in this compact retain the jurisdiction to impose adverse action against a compact privilege in that state issued to a PA through the procedures of this compact. The PA licensure compact will alleviate burdens for military families by allowing active duty military personnel and their spouses to obtain a compact privilege based on having an unrestricted license in good standing from a participating state.
(2) Definitions. In this compact:
(a) “Adverse action” means any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action permitted by a state’s laws which is imposed by a licensing board or other authority against a PA license or license application or compact privilege such as license denial, censure, revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, or restriction on the licensee’s practice.
(b) “Compact privilege” means the authorization granted by a remote state to allow a licensee from another participating state to practice as a PA to provide medical services and other licensed activity to a patient located in the remote state under the remote state’s laws and regulations.
(c) “Conviction” means a finding by a court that an individual is guilty of a felony or misdemeanor offense through adjudication or entry of a plea of guilt or no contest to the charge by the offender
(d) “Criminal background check” means the submission of fingerprints or other biometric-based information for a license applicant for the purpose of obtaining that applicant’s criminal history record information, as defined in 28 CFR 20.3 (d), from the state’s criminal history record repository, as defined in 28 CFR 20.3 (f).
(e) “Data system” means the repository of information about licensees, including but not limited to license status and adverse actions, which is created and administered under the terms of this compact.
(f) “Executive committee” means a group of directors and ex officio individuals elected or appointed pursuant to sub. (7) (f) 2.
(g) “Impaired practitioner” means a PA whose practice is adversely affected by health-related condition(s) that impact their ability to practice.
(h) “Investigative information” means information, records, or documents received or generated by a licensing board pursuant to an investigation.
(i) “Jurisprudence requirement” means the assessment of an individual’s knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of a PA in a state.
(j) “License” means current authorization by a state, other than authorization pursuant to a compact privilege, for a PA to provide medical services, which would be unlawful without current authorization.
(k) “Licensee” means an individual who holds a license from a state to provide medical services as a PA.
(L) “Licensing board” means any state entity authorized to license and otherwise regulate PAs.
(m) “Medical services” means health care services provided for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure or relief of a health condition, injury, or disease, as defined by a state’s laws and regulations.
(n) “Model compact” means the model for the PA licensure compact on file with the Council of State Governments or other entity as designated by the commission.
(o) “Participating state” means a state that has enacted this compact.
(p) “PA” means an individual who is licensed as a physician assistant in a state. For purposes of this compact, any other title or status adopted by a state to replace the term “physician assistant” shall be deemed synonymous with “physician assistant” and shall confer the same rights and responsibilities to the licensee under the provisions of this compact at the time of its enactment.
(q) “PA licensure compact commission,” “compact commission,” or “commission” mean the national administrative body created pursuant to sub. (7) (a).
(r) “Qualifying license” means an unrestricted license issued by a participating state to provide medical services as a PA.
(s) “Remote state” means a participating state where a licensee who is not licensed as a PA is exercising or seeking to exercise the compact privilege.
(t) “Rule” means a regulation promulgated by an entity that has the force and effect of law.
(u) “Significant investigative information” means investigative information that a licensing board, after an inquiry or investigation that includes notification and an opportunity for the PA to respond if required by state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proven true, would indicate more than a minor infraction.
(v) “State” means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States.
(3) State participation in this compact. (a) To participate in this compact, a participating state shall:
1. License PAs.
2. Participate in the compact commission’s data system.
3. Have a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints against licensees and license applicants.
