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SB 2108

A BILL for an Act to create and enact chapter 43-17.5 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the physician assistant licensure compact.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Jeff Barta and 4 co-sponsors

Creates a multi-state PA licensure system allowing compact privileges across participating states with shared data, while preserving state board authority.

Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 0 nays 47
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Bill Summary · SB 2108

SB 2108 — Physician Assistant Licensure Compact (ND) — Summary

Status: Introduced; failed second reading (Yeas 0, Nays 47)
Introduced: March 7, 2025 (bill text shows sponsor introduction earlier in January 2025 procedures)
Primary sponsors: Senators Barta, Lee, Meyer, Roers; Representatives Pyle, M. Ruby
Related bill: HB 3015 (companion)

Purpose / Intent

SB 2108 would create Chapter 43‑17.5 of the North Dakota Century Code to join the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. The stated goals are to improve access to medical services (including via telehealth), enhance portability of physician assistant (PA) licensure among participating states, adopt a prevailing national licensure standard, and preserve state licensing boards’ authority to investigate and discipline licensees.

Key provisions

  • Establishes a new compact chapter (43‑17.5) defining the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact’s structure, terms, and authorities.
  • Creates definitions used throughout the compact (e.g., “compact privilege,” “qualifying license,” “remote state,” “adverse action,” “data system,” etc.).
  • Authorizes mutual recognition: a PA holding an unrestricted qualifying license in a participating state may obtain a compact privilege to practice in other participating states without obtaining a separate license in each state.
  • Affirms that the practice and applicable jurisdiction for a PA is the state where the patient is physically located at the time of the encounter.
  • Requires participating states to:
    • License PAs and utilize a recognized national exam (e.g., PANCE) as a licensure requirement.
    • Participate in the compact commission’s data system and report adverse actions and significant investigative information.
    • Implement criminal background check requirements for applicants and report results to the commission within timeframes set by commission rules.
    • Grant compact privileges to qualifying license holders and comply with commission rules.
  • Preserves each state licensing board’s authority to impose adverse actions (denial, suspension, revocation, monitoring, restrictions, etc.) against licenses or compact privileges and sets procedures for reporting and enforcement.
  • Includes provisions providing portability benefits for military personnel and their spouses (allowing compact privilege based on an unrestricted license in a participating state).
  • Anticipates creation of a national compact commission (administrative body) and a shared data system to track license status, adverse actions, and investigative information.

Who would be affected

  • Physician assistants seeking multi‑state practice privileges (including telehealth).
  • State licensing boards (new reporting, data sharing, and background check obligations).
  • Patients (potentially expanded access to PA services across state lines).
  • Employers, health systems, and military families who may benefit from increased mobility of PA providers.
  • State agencies may incur administrative and technical costs related to data system participation and commission activities.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • The bill was introduced and referred to committee (Workforce Development Committee). Committee hearing occurred Jan 9, 2025.
  • On January 15, 2025, SB 2108 failed to pass second reading in the chamber (vote: Yeas 0, Nays 47). Because it did not advance, it did not take effect and there is no state effective date.
  • A companion measure (HB 3015) was noted.

Potential impact and considerations

If enacted, the compact would streamline multi‑state practice for PAs and could increase access—especially for telehealth and underserved areas—but would require ongoing state participation in an interstate data system and compliance with commission rules. Licensing boards would face new reporting duties and must implement or align criminal background checks and information‑sharing mechanisms; the compact may also raise administrative and technical costs related to commission membership and data integration.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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