S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3056--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 27, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. RIVERA, BORRELLO, BROOKS, BROUK, RITCHIE, SKOUFIS --
read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
the Committee on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the practice protocol
for nurse practitioners; and to amend part D of chapter 56 of the laws
of 2014, amending the education law relating to enacting the "nurse
practitioners modernization act", in relation to the effectiveness
thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subparagraphs (i) and (iv) of paragraph (a) of subdivision
3 of section 6902 of the education law, as amended by section 2 of part
D of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014, are amended to read as follows:
(i) The practice of registered professional nursing by a nurse practi-
tioner, certified under section six thousand nine hundred ten of this
article, may include the diagnosis of illness and physical conditions
and the performance of therapeutic and corrective measures within a
specialty area of practice, in collaboration with a licensed physician
OR NURSE PRACTITIONER PRACTICING PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS
SUBDIVISION, qualified to collaborate in the specialty involved,
provided such services are performed in accordance with a written prac-
tice agreement and written practice protocols except as permitted by
paragraph (b) of this subdivision. The written practice agreement shall
include explicit provisions for the resolution of any disagreement
between the collaborating physician and the nurse practitioner regarding
a matter of diagnosis or treatment that is within the scope of practice
of both. To the extent the practice agreement does not so provide, then
the collaborating physician's diagnosis or treatment shall prevail.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00598-02-1
S. 3056--A 2
(iv) The practice protocol shall reflect current accepted medical and
nursing practice[. The protocols shall be filed with the department
within ninety days of the commencement of the practice] and may be
updated periodically. The commissioner shall make regulations establish-
ing the procedure for the review of protocols and the disposition of any
issues arising from such review.
§ 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 of section 6902 of the education
law, as added by section 2 of part D of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014,
is amended to read as follows:
(b) Notwithstanding subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of this subdivi-
sion, a nurse practitioner, certified under section sixty-nine hundred
ten of this article and practicing for more than three thousand six
hundred hours [may comply with this paragraph in lieu of complying]
SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY with the requirements of paragraph (a)
of this subdivision relating to collaboration with a physician OR NURSE
PRACTITIONER, a written practice agreement and written practice proto-
cols[. A nurse practitioner complying with this paragraph shall have
collaborative relationships with one or more licensed physicians quali-
fied to collaborate in the specialty involved or a hospital, licensed
under article twenty-eight of the public health law, that provides
services through licensed physicians qualified to collaborate in the
specialty involved and having privileges at such institution. As
evidence that the nurse practitioner maintains collaborative relation-
ships, the nurse practitioner shall complete and maintain a form,
created by the department, to which the nurse practitioner shall attest,
that describes such collaborative relationships. For purposes of this
paragraph, "collaborative relationships" shall mean that the nurse prac-
titioner shall communicate, whether in person, by telephone or through
written (including electronic) means, with a licensed physician quali-
fied to collaborate in the specialty involved or, in the case of a
hospital, communicate with a licensed physician qualified to collaborate
in the specialty involved and having privileges at such hospital, for
the purposes of exchanging information, as needed, in order to provide
comprehensive patient care and to make referrals as necessary. Such form
shall also reflect the nurse practitioner's acknowledgement that if
reasonable efforts to resolve any dispute that may arise with the
collaborating physician or, in the case of a collaboration with a hospi-
tal, with a licensed physician qualified to collaborate in the specialty
involved and having privileges at such hospital, about a patient's care
are not successful, the recommendation of the physician shall prevail.
Such form shall be updated as needed and may be subject to review by the
department. The nurse practitioner shall maintain documentation that
supports such collaborative relationships. Failure to comply with the
requirements found in this paragraph by a nurse practitioner who is not
complying with such provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision,
shall be subject to professional misconduct provisions as set forth in
article one hundred thirty of this title].
§ 3. Section 3 of part D of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014, amending
the education law relating to enacting the "nurse practitioners modern-
ization act", as amended by section 10 of part S of chapter 57 of the
laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January after it shall
have become a law [and shall expire June 30 of the seventh year after it
shall have become a law, when upon such date the provisions of this act
shall be deemed repealed]; provided, however, that effective immediate-
ly, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
S. 3056--A 3
necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is
authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.