LRB-2589/1
PG&MDK:wlj:lp
1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE
April 21, 1999 - Introduced by Senators Robson, Clausing, Cowles, Darling,
Huelsman, Lazich, Moore, Panzer, Rosenzweig, Rude
and Schultz,
cosponsored by Representatives Johnsrud, Ainsworth, Albers, Bock,
Brandemuehl, Carpenter, Cullen, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Huber,
Huebsch, Hutchison, Jensen, Klusman, Ladwig, La Fave, J. Lehman, Miller,
Musser, Olsen, Petrowski, Pettis, Seratti, Stone, Townsend, Turner,
Underheim, Walker
and Wasserman. Referred to Committee on Human
Services and Aging.
SB129,1,6 1An Act to amend 441.01 (1), 441.06 (1), 441.06 (4), 441.07 (1) (b), 441.10 (3) (a),
2441.10 (3) (c), 441.11 (1) to (3), 441.11 (4), 441.115 (1), 441.115 (2) (a), 441.115
3(2) (b), 441.13 and 441.15 (3) (a); to repeal and recreate 441.11 (3) and 441.11
4(4); and to create subchapter I (title) of chapter 441 [precedes 441.01] and
5subchapter II of chapter 441 [precedes 441.50] of the statutes; relating to:
6adopting the nurse licensure compact and granting rule-making authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, no person may practice professional nursing in this state
unless he or she is licensed as a registered nurse by the board of nursing. Although
a license is not required for practical nursing, no person without such a license issued
by the board of nursing may hold himself or herself out as a licensed practiced nurse
or indicate in any way that he or she is a licensed practical nurse. Exceptions to these
prohibitions are provided for temporary practice. In addition, current law provides
a mechanism for persons who are licensed in other states to be issued a license in this
state without retaking the national licensing examination.
This bill adopts the interstate compact on nurse licensure, which was approved
by the national council of state boards of nursing on December 15, 1997. Under the
compact, a nurse who is licensed in a party state (a state that has adopted the
compact) may practice nursing in any other party state without obtaining a license
in the other state. The compact requires every nurse practicing in a party state to

comply with the practice laws of that state and allows each party state to limit or
revoke the multistate licensure privilege.
The compact also requires each party state to participate in the establishment
of a coordinated data base of all licensed nurses. The system includes information
on the licensure and disciplinary history of each nurse.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB129, s. 1 1Section 1. Subchapter I (title) of chapter 441 [precedes 441.01] of the statutes
2is created to read:
SB129,2,33 chapter 441
SB129,2,54 subchapter i
5 Regulation of nursing
SB129, s. 2 6Section 2. 441.01 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,2,77 441.01 (1) In this chapter subchapter, "board" means board of nursing.
SB129, s. 3 8Section 3. 441.06 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,3,29 441.06 (1) An applicant for licensure as a registered nurse who complies with
10the requirements of this chapter subchapter and satisfactorily passes an
11examination shall receive a license. The holder of such a license of another state or
12territory or province of Canada may be granted a license without examination if the
13holder's credentials of general and professional educational qualifications and other
14qualifications are comparable to those required in this state during the same period
15and if the board is satisfied from the holder's employment and professional record
16that the holder is currently competent to practice the profession. The board shall
17evaluate the credentials and determine the equivalency and competency in each

1case. The application for licensure without examination shall be accompanied by the
2fee prescribed in s. 440.05 (2).
SB129, s. 4 3Section 4. 441.06 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,3,114 441.06 (4) No person may practice or attempt to practice professional nursing,
5nor use the title, letters, or anything else to indicate that he or she is a registered or
6professional nurse unless he or she is licensed under this section. No person not so
7licensed may use in connection with his or her nursing employment or vocation any
8title or anything else to indicate that he or she is a trained, certified or graduate
9nurse. This subsection does not apply to any person who is licensed to practice
10nursing by a jurisdiction, other than this state, that has adopted the nurse licensure
11compact under s. 441.50.
SB129, s. 5 12Section 5. 441.07 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,3,1413 441.07 (1) (b) One or more violations of this chapter subchapter or any rule
14adopted by the board under the authority of this chapter subchapter.
SB129, s. 6 15Section 6. 441.10 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,3,2116 441.10 (3) (a) On complying with this chapter subchapter relating to applicants
17for licensure as licensed practical nurses, and passing an examination, the applicant
18shall receive a license as a licensed practical nurse. The holder of the license is a
19"licensed practical nurse" and may append the letters "L.P.N." to his or her name.
20The board may reprimand or may limit, suspend or revoke the license of a licensed
21practical nurse under s. 441.07.
SB129, s. 7 22Section 7. 441.10 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,4,1023 441.10 (3) (c) No license is required for practical nursing, but no person without
24a license may hold himself or herself out as a licensed practical nurse or licensed
25attendant, use the title or letters "Trained Practical Nurse" or "T.P.N.", "Licensed

1Practical Nurse" or "L.P.N.", "Licensed Attendant" or "L.A.", "Trained Attendant" or
2"T.A.", or otherwise seek to indicate that he or she is a licensed practical nurse or
3licensed attendant. No licensed practical nurse or licensed attendant may use the
4title, or otherwise seek to act as a registered, licensed, graduate or professional
5nurse. Anyone violating this subsection shall be subject to the penalties prescribed
6by s. 441.13. The board shall grant without examination a license as a licensed
7practical nurse to any person who was on July 1, 1949, a licensed attendant. This
8paragraph does not apply to any person who is licensed to practice practical nursing
9by a jurisdiction, other than this state, that has adopted the nurse licensure compact
10under s. 441.50.
SB129, s. 8 11Section 8. 441.11 (1) to (3) of the statutes are amended to read:
SB129,4,1412 441.11 (1) For compensation. Wherever the term "compensation" is used in
13this chapter subchapter it shall include indirect compensation as well as direct
14compensation and also the expectation thereof whether actually received or not.
SB129,4,19 15(2) Nurse and nursing. Except as provided under s. 441.08, wherever the term
16"nurse" is used in this chapter subchapter without modification or amplification it
17shall mean only a registered nurse. Wherever the term "nursing" is used in this
18chapter subchapter without modification or amplification it shall mean the practice
19of professional nursing as specified in sub. (4).
SB129,5,8 20(3) Practice of practical nursing. The practice of practical nursing under this
21chapter subchapter means the performance for compensation of any simple acts in
22the care of convalescent, subacutely or chronically ill, injured or infirm persons, or
23of any act or procedure in the care of the more acutely ill, injured or infirm under the
24specific direction of a nurse, physician, podiatrist licensed under ch. 448, dentist
25licensed under ch. 447 or optometrist licensed under ch. 449, or under an order of a

1person who is licensed to practice medicine, podiatry or dentistry in another state if
2that person prepared the order after examining the patient in that other state and
3directs that the order be carried out in this state. A simple act is one which that does
4not require any substantial nursing skill, knowledge or training, or the application
5of nursing principles based on biological, physical or social sciences, or the
6understanding of cause and effect in such acts and is one which that is of a nature
7of those approved by the board for the curriculum of schools for licensed practical
8nurses.
SB129, s. 9 9Section 9. 441.11 (3) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 62, is
10repealed and recreated to read:
SB129,5,2411 441.11 (3) Practice of practical nursing. The practice of practical nursing
12under this subchapter means the performance for compensation of any simple acts
13in the care of convalescent, subacutely or chronically ill, injured or infirm persons,
14or of any act or procedure in the care of the more acutely ill, injured or infirm under
15the specific direction of a nurse, physician, podiatrist licensed under ch. 448, dentist
16licensed under ch. 447 or optometrist licensed under ch. 449, or under an order of a
17person who is licensed to practice medicine, podiatry, dentistry or optometry in
18another state if that person prepared the order after examining the patient in that
19other state and directs that the order be carried out in this state. A simple act is one
20that does not require any substantial nursing skill, knowledge or training, or the
21application of nursing principles based on biological, physical or social sciences, or
22the understanding of cause and effect in such acts and is one that is of a nature of
23those approved by the board for the curriculum of schools for licensed practical
24nurses.
SB129, s. 10 25Section 10. 441.11 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,6,16
1441.11 (4) Practice of professional nursing. The practice of professional
2nursing within the terms of this chapter subchapter means the performance for
3compensation of any act in the observation or care of the ill, injured or infirm, or for
4the maintenance of health or prevention of illness of others, which act requires
5substantial nursing skill, knowledge or training, or application of nursing principles
6based on biological, physical and social sciences, such as the observation and
7recording of symptoms and reactions, the execution of procedures and techniques in
8the treatment of the sick under the general or special supervision or direction of a
9physician, podiatrist licensed under ch. 448, dentist licensed under ch. 447 or
10optometrist licensed under ch. 449, or under an order of a person who is licensed to
11practice medicine, podiatry or dentistry in another state if that person prepared the
12order after examining the patient in that other state and directs that the order be
13carried out in this state, and the execution of general nursing procedures and
14techniques. Except as provided in s. 50.04 (2) (b), the practice of professional nursing
15includes the supervision of a patient and the supervision and direction of licensed
16practical nurses and less skilled assistants.
SB129, s. 11 17Section 11. 441.11 (4) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 62,
18is repealed and recreated to read:
SB129,7,919 441.11 (4) Practice of professional nursing. The practice of professional
20nursing within the terms of this subchapter means the performance for
21compensation of any act in the observation or care of the ill, injured or infirm, or for
22the maintenance of health or prevention of illness of others, which act requires
23substantial nursing skill, knowledge or training, or application of nursing principles
24based on biological, physical and social sciences, such as the observation and
25recording of symptoms and reactions, the execution of procedures and techniques in

1the treatment of the sick under the general or special supervision or direction of a
2physician, podiatrist licensed under ch. 448, dentist licensed under ch. 447 or
3optometrist licensed under ch. 449, or under an order of a person who is licensed to
4practice medicine, podiatry, dentistry or optometry in another state if that person
5prepared the order after examining the patient in that other state and directs that
6the order be carried out in this state, and the execution of general nursing procedures
7and techniques. Except as provided in s. 50.04 (2) (b), the practice of professional
8nursing includes the supervision of a patient and the supervision and direction of
9licensed practical nurses and less skilled assistants.
SB129, s. 12 10Section 12. 441.115 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,7,1711 441.115 (1) This chapter shall not be construed to affect nursing by friends,
12members of the family or undergraduates in an accredited school, nor be construed
13to interfere with members of religious communities or orders having charge of
14hospitals or taking care of the sick in their homes, except that none of such excepted
15persons while engaged in such activities shall represent himself or herself as a
16registered, trained, certified or graduate nurse unless registered under this chapter
17subchapter.
SB129, s. 13 18Section 13. 441.115 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,7,2519 441.115 (2) (a) In this subsection, "nursing credential" means a license, permit
20or certificate of registration or certification that is granted to a person by another
21state or territory or by a foreign country or province and that authorizes or qualifies
22the person holding the credential to perform acts that are substantially the same as
23those performed by a person licensed as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse
24under this chapter subchapter. In this paragraph, "state or territory" excludes any
25state or territory that has adopted the nurse licensure compact under s. 441.50
.
SB129, s. 14
1Section 14. 441.115 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,8,142 441.115 (2) (b) A person who holds a current, valid nursing credential may
3practice professional or practical nursing in this state, as provided under par. (c), for
4not more than 72 consecutive hours each year without holding a license granted by
5the board under this chapter subchapter if the board determines that the
6requirements for the nursing credential that the person holds are substantially
7equivalent to the requirements for licensure under this chapter subchapter. Except
8in an emergency, the person shall provide to the board, at least 7 days before
9practicing professional or practical nursing for the person who is specified under par.
10(c) 2., written notice that includes the name of the person providing notice, the type
11of nursing credential that the person holds and the name of the state, territory,
12foreign country or province that granted the nursing credential. In the event of an
13emergency, the person shall provide to the board written notice that includes the
14information otherwise required under this paragraph, as soon as practicable.
SB129, s. 15 15Section 15. 441.13 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,8,18 16441.13 Penalty. (1) Any person violating this chapter subchapter or
17knowingly employing another in violation of this chapter subchapter may be fined
18not more than $250 or imprisoned not more than one year in the county jail.
SB129,8,22 19(2) No action may be brought or other proceeding had to recover compensation
20for professional nursing services unless at the time such services were rendered the
21person rendering the same was a registered nurse or had a temporary permit issued
22under this chapter subchapter.
SB129,8,23 23(3) The remedy of injunction may be used in enforcing this chapter subchapter.
SB129, s. 16 24Section 16. 441.15 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB129,9,5
1441.15 (3) (a) The board shall grant a license to engage in the practice of
2nurse-midwifery to any person licensed as a registered nurse under this chapter
3subchapter or in a party state, as defined in s. 441.50 (2) (j), who meets the
4educational and training prerequisites established by the board for the practice of
5nurse-midwifery and who pays the fee specified under s. 440.05 (1).
SB129, s. 17 6Section 17. Subchapter II of chapter 441 [precedes 441.50] of the statutes is
7created to read:
SB129,9,98 subchapter II
9 nurse licensure compact
SB129,9,10 10441.50 Nurse Licensure Compact.
SB129,9,11 11(1) Article I - Findings and Declaration of Purpose.
SB129,9,1212 (a) The party states find all of the following:
SB129,9,1513 1. That the health and safety of the public are affected by the degree of
14compliance with and the effectiveness of enforcement activities related to state nurse
15licensure laws.
SB129,9,1716 2. That violations of nurse licensure and other laws regulating the practice of
17nursing may result in injury or harm to the public.
SB129,9,2118 3. That the expanded mobility of nurses and the use of advanced
19communication technologies as part of our nation's health care delivery system
20require greater coordination and cooperation among states in the areas of nurse
21licensure and regulation.
SB129,9,2322 4. That new practice modalities and technology make compliance with
23individual state nurse licensure laws difficult and complex.
SB129,9,2524 5. That the current system of duplicative licensure for nurses practicing in
25multiple states is cumbersome and redundant to both nurses and states.
SB129,10,1
1(b) The general purposes of this compact are as follows:
SB129,10,22 1. To facilitate the states' responsibility to protect the public's health and safety.
SB129,10,43 2. To ensure and encourage the cooperation of party states in the areas of nurse
4licensure and regulation.
SB129,10,65 3. To facilitate the exchange of information between party states in the areas
6of nurse regulation, investigation and adverse actions.
SB129,10,87 4. To promote compliance with the laws governing the practice of nursing in
8each jurisdiction.
SB129,10,119 5. To invest all party states with the authority to hold a nurse accountable for
10meeting all state practice laws in the state in which the patient is located at the time
11care is rendered through the mutual recognition of party state licenses.
SB129,10,12 12(2) Article II - Definitions. As used in this compact:
SB129,10,1313 (a) "Adverse action" means a home or remote state action.
SB129,10,1514 (b) "Alternative program" means a voluntary, nondisciplinary monitoring
15program approved by a nurse licensing board.
SB129,10,1916 (c) "Coordinated licensure information system" means an integrated process
17for collecting, storing and sharing information on nurse licensure and enforcement
18activities related to nurse licensure laws, which is administered by a nonprofit
19organization composed of and controlled by state nurse licensing boards.
SB129,10,2020 (d) "Current significant investigative information" means any of the following:
SB129,10,2421 1. Investigative information that a licensing board, after a preliminary inquiry
22that includes notification and an opportunity for the nurse to respond if required by
23state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would indicate
24more than a minor infraction.
SB129,11,3
12. Investigative information that indicates that the nurse represents an
2immediate threat to public health and safety regardless of whether the nurse has
3been notified and had an opportunity to respond.
SB129,11,54 (e) "Home state" means the party state that is the nurse's primary state of
5residence.
SB129,11,106 (f) "Home state action" means any administrative, civil, equitable or criminal
7action permitted by the home state's laws that are imposed on a nurse by the home
8state's licensing board or other authority including actions against an individual's
9license, such as revocation, suspension, probation or any other action that affects a
10nurse's authorization to practice.
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