Bill
HB 2219
Enacts the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact to allow PAs to practice across state lines via a multistate license, with state-specific regulation preserved.
Status & Key Dates
- Introduced: January 29, 2025 (as amended by House Committee on Health and Human Services)
- Committee hearing: Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 8:30 AM Room 142‑S
- Sponsors: Rep. David Marshall, Sr.; Co‑sponsor Walt Blackman (also shows related filings by Rep. Tony M. McCombie in other jurisdictions)
- Current action: Committee amendment reported; fiscal note issued (Kansas Division of the Budget, Feb. 13, 2025)
Purpose / Intent
HB 2219 would enact the Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact. The compact’s stated goals are to:
- Improve public access to medical services by facilitating interstate practice for PAs;
- Increase license portability and reduce administrative burdens while preserving state regulatory authority to license and discipline PAs; and
- Provide relief for active duty military personnel and their spouses by permitting compact privileges when holding an unrestricted, good‑standing license from a participating state.
Core Provisions and Changes
- Creates a multistate compact and establishes the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact Commission (a national administrative body) to operate a central data system, adopt rules, and administer the compact.
- Defines key terms (e.g., “compact privilege,” “qualifying license,” “adverse action,” “remote state”).
- State participation requirements: states must license PAs, participate in the Commission’s data system, implement criminal background checks (including fingerprint/biometric submission), have complaint/investigation mechanisms, use a recognized national exam (e.g., NCCPA PANCE) for licensure, notify the Commission of adverse or significant investigative information, and grant compact privileges to qualifying licensees.
- Compact privilege eligibility (selected requirements): graduation from an ARC‑PA‑accredited program (or equivalent by rule), current NCCPA certification, no felony or misdemeanor convictions, no prior suspension/revocation of a controlled substances registration, holding an unrestricted qualifying license in a participating state, and meeting any jurisprudence/jurisdictional requirements.
- Jurisdiction and discipline: Practice is regulated where the patient is located; home state retains authority to take action against the underlying state license. Remote states can take adverse action against a compact privilege within that state to protect public health and safety. Compact privileges may be deactivated for up to two years after restrictions are removed following adverse action.
- Commission powers: rulemaking (with notice and public hearing requirements), data system maintenance, assessments on member states, fines to cover operations, ability to conduct or coordinate joint investigations, and protections (qualified immunity/indemnity) for Commission actors except for intentional misconduct.
Who Would Be Affected
- Physician assistants seeking to practice across state lines (increased portability if their state joins the compact).
- State licensing boards (new reporting, data sharing, background check, and investigative responsibilities).
- Patients and health care providers (potentially expanded access to PA services).
- Military families (explicit provision easing portability for active duty members and spouses).
- State agencies (administrative/fiscal impacts for implementation).
Fiscal/Administrative Impact (Kansas fiscal note)
- Kansas State Board of Healing Arts estimates increased fee‑fund expenditures of $65,500 beginning FY2025, including $55,000 for one full‑time licensing staff position and $8,000–$10,000 for office/computer expenses.
- The Commission may levy assessments on member states and impose fines on licensees to fund operations; actual costs and assessments depend on Commission decisions and the number/pace of states joining.
Limitations / Additional Notes
- The compact requires enactment by each state to become a participating state; it does not automatically change licensing law until a state adopts it.
- The compact preserves state authority to license, discipline, and define scope consistent with state law; it does not alter malpractice liability rules.
- Some legislative records included unrelated HB 2219 text from other states; this summary addresses the Kansas Committee‑amended PA licensure compact version.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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