Assembly Bill A8175

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8175
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                May 5, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing nurses and
   doctors licensed in Puerto Rico to practice in New York state
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short title.  This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "Puerto Rico Healthcare Professional Reciprocity Act".
   § 2. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds  that  the
 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico maintains rigorous educational and licensing
 standards  for healthcare professionals, comparable to those of New York
 state. Expanding practice eligibility for nurses and physicians licensed
 in Puerto Rico will help address critical healthcare workforce shortages
 and ensure high-quality medical services for New York's residents.
   § 3. Section 6905 of the education law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 9 to read as follows:
   (9)  PUERTO RICO:   AN APPLICANT WHO HOLDS A CURRENT AND VALID LICENSE
 AS A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE ISSUED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF  PUERTO
 RICO  SHALL  BE DEEMED TO HAVE SATISFIED THE EDUCATIONAL AND EXAMINATION
 REQUIREMENTS UNDER THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THAT THE APPLICANT  MEETS  ALL
 OTHER  APPLICABLE  REQUIREMENTS,  INCLUDING  CHARACTER  AND  FITNESS, AS
 DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   § 4. Section 6908 of the education law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 3 to read as follows:
   3. THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT PERSONS LICENSED AS
 REGISTERED  PROFESSIONAL  NURSES BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO FROM
 PRACTICING IN NEW YORK STATE UPON REGISTRATION WITH THE  DEPARTMENT  AND
 VERIFICATION  OF  LICENSURE  IN  GOOD STANDING, WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF
 ADDITIONAL EXAMINATION.
   § 5. Section 6524 of the education law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 12 to read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11883-01-5
              

 A. 8175                             2
 
   (12) AN APPLICANT WHO HOLDS A CURRENT AND VALID LICENSE AS A PHYSICIAN
 OR  SURGEON ISSUED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO SHALL BE DEEMED TO
 HAVE SATISFIED THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND  EXAMINATION  REQUIREMENTS
 UNDER THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THAT THE APPLICANT MEETS ALL OTHER APPLICA-
 BLE  REQUIREMENTS,  INCLUDING  CHARACTER,  FITNESS,  AND COMPLETION OF A
 RESIDENCY PROGRAM AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   § 6. Section 6526 of the education law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 11 to read as follows:
   11.  ANY PHYSICIAN WHO IS LICENSED AND IN GOOD STANDING IN PUERTO RICO
 SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR LICENSURE IN NEW YORK STATE WITHOUT BEING
 REQUIRED  TO  RETAKE  NATIONAL  LICENSING  EXAMINATIONS,  PROVIDED  THAT
 VERIFICATION  OF  EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND GOOD STANDING IS FURNISHED TO
 THE DEPARTMENT.
   § 7. This act shall take effect immediately.