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LC 4181

Enact the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact

2025 Regular Session

Enacts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact to recognize licenses across member states, standardize credentials and discipline, and improve mobility while protecting public safe

(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
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Bill Summary · LC 4181

Summary: LC 4181 — Enact the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact

Overview

LC 4181 seeks to enact the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact (RCIC), a framework intended to increase licensure portability for respiratory care professionals across participating states, while maintaining public protection through standardized regulations and coordinated enforcement.

Purpose and Intent

  • Facilitate mobility of licensed respiratory care practitioners (RCPs) by allowing them to practice under a compact license in member states.
  • Harmonize core standards and credential verification to improve workforce availability and access to respiratory care services.
  • Preserve state authority over licensure and discipline, while creating a shared governance mechanism to oversee compact operations.

Key Provisions (conceptual, based on RCIC norms)

  • Creation of a compact system and a governing Commission comprised of member-state representatives.
  • Recognition of licenses issued by member states under the compact, enabling practice across the compact jurisdictions without obtaining separate licenses in each state.
  • Establishment of uniform credentialing, verification, and disciplinary procedures; data sharing of licensure and discipline records among member boards.
  • Rules for licensure by compact privilege, including eligibility criteria, background checks, and applicability of professional conduct standards.
  • Mechanisms for enforcement, complaint processing, and removal or suspension of compact privileges for violators; due process and appeal rights.
  • Governance, enrollment, and participation terms for states, including responsibilities of state licensing boards and the compact Commission.
  • Fee structure (uniform or standardized) for admission, renewal, and data access, with audit and financial oversight provisions.
  • Safeguards for public health and safety, and provisions for consumer protection, licensure continuity, and patient access.
  • Sunset, renewal, and periodic review provisions to assess effectiveness and relevance; processes for state withdrawal or opt-out.

Affected Parties

  • Respiratory care professionals and applicants seeking licensure.
  • State respiratory care licensing boards and health professional regulatory agencies.
  • Employers and healthcare facilities employing RCPs.
  • Patients receiving respiratory care services.
  • States considering or implementing RCIC participation.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: December 24, 2024.
  • Draft progression: Drafter Assigned (Jan 29, 2025); Draft in Legal Review; Draft in Edit; Final Drafter Review; Draft in Assembly; Draft Ready for Delivery; Draft Delivered to Requester (Feb 10, 2025).
  • Status: (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester as of February 2025.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Increased mobility of RCPs across participating states, potentially improving access to care and reducing licensure bottlenecks.
  • Requires participating states to enact enabling legislation to join the compact and to align state rules with compact standards.
  • Administrative and compliance costs for boards to participate, plus ongoing data-sharing and enforcement coordination.
  • Public protection remains a core focus through standardized standards and inter-state accountability.

Next Steps

  • If enacted, states would need to adopt RCIC enabling legislation and participate in the Commission.
  • Implementation would involve establishing procedures for license recognition, credential verification, disciplinary reciprocity, and information-sharing systems.

Note: This summary reflects the bill’s title and stated purpose. The specific statutory text will define the exact provisions and requirements of LC 4181.

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

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