An Act to provide for examination, licensing, registration, and for regulation of professional and practical nurses, and for nursing education in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
PL 86-708 (S.1870), enacted 09/06/1960

802 
PUBLIC LAW 86-708-SEPT. 6, 1960 
[74 ST A T . 
26 u s e 912. 
^ p l i c ability. 
PART C—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SEC. 521. Whenever reference is made in an^ other law or in any 
regulation to any provision of law which is repealed, modified, 
amended, or superseded by reason of section 511 of this Act, such 
reference, unless inconsistent with this Act, shall be held and con-
sidered to refer to this Act or the appropriate provision of, or amend-
ment made by, this Act. 
SEC. 522. Notwithstanding any provision of this Act and until such 
time as regulations are issued under this Act, employees shall continue 
to be paid allowances and differentials in accordance with rules and 
regulations issued pursuant to the laws in effect immediately prior to 
the enactment of this Act and such rules and regulations may be 
amended or revoked in accordance with the provisions of such laws. 
SEC. 523. (a) Section 912 of the Internal Kevenue Code of 1954 
(relating to exemption for certain allowances) is amended to read 
as follows: 
''SEC. 912. EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN ALLOWANCES^ 
"The following items shall not be included in gross income, and 
shall be exempt from taxation under this subtitle: 
"(1) FOREIGN AREAS ALLOWANCES.—In the case of civilian 
officers and employees of the Government of the United States, 
amounts received as allowances or otherwise (but not amounts 
received as post differentials) under— 
"(A) title I X of the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as 
amended (22 U.S.C., sec. 1131 and following), 
"(B) section 4 of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 
1949, as amended (50 U.S.C, sec. 403e), 
"(C) title I I of the Overseas Differentials and Allow-
ances Act, or 
"(D) subsection (e) or (f) of the first section of the 
Administrative Expenses Act of 1946, as amended, or sec-
tion 22 of such Act. 
"(2) COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCES.—In the case of civilian offi-
cers or employees of the Government of the United States sta-
tioned outside the continental United States (other than Alaska), 
amounts (other than amounts received under title I I of the Over-
seas Differentials and Allowances Act) received as cost-of-living 
allowances in accordance with regulations approved by the Presi-
dent." 
(b) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 912 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1954, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, shall apply 
only with respect to amounts received on or after the date of the en-
actment of this Act in taxable years ending on or after such date. 
Approved September 6, 1960. 
September 6, 1960 
[S. 1870] 
D. C. Prac 
Nurses' 
Licens 
ing Act. 
Public Law 86-708 
AN ACT 
To provide for examination, licensing, and for regulation of practical nurses, 
and for practical nursing education in the District of Columbia, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of t?ie 
ticai United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act shall 
^"^" be known and may be cited as the "District of Columbia Practical 
Nurses' Licensing Act". 
74 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 86-708-SEPT. 6, 1960 
803 
DEFINITIONS 
SEC. 2. As used in this Act— 
(a) The term "Commissioners"' means the Commissioners of the 
District of Columbia sitting as a board or their authorized agent or 
agents. 
(b) The word "person" includes corporations, companies, associa-
tions, firms, partnerships, societies, and schools of practical nursing, 
as well as natural persons, 
(c) The word "she" and the derivatives thereof shall be construed 
to include the word "he" and the derivatives thereof. 
(d) The term "school of practical nursing" means a school or insti-
tution for the training of practical nurses. 
SEC. 3. This Act shall not apply to any person employed in the 
District of Columbia by the Federal Government or any agency 
thereof, while such person is acting in the discharge of her official 
duties. 
SEC. 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent any person 
from nursing any other person in the District of Columbia, either 
gratuitously or for hire: Provided^ That such person so nursing shall 
not represent herself as being a licensed practical nurse. 
SEC. 5. (a) From and after the effective date of this Act, no person 
shall, in the District of Columbia, in any manner whatsoever, repre-
sent herself to be a licensed practical nurse or allow herself to be so 
represented unless she is licensed in accordance with the provisions 
of this Act. 
(b) Any person licensed to practice as a licensed practical nurse in 
the District of Columbia shall have the right to use the title "Licensed 
Practical Nurse" and the abbreviation "L.P.N.". 
No other person 
shall assume such title or use such abbreviation. 
SEC. 6. The Commissioners are hereby vested with full power and 
authority to delegate, from time to time, to their designated agent or 
agents, any of the functions vested in them by this Act. 
SEC. 7. The Commissioners may establish a Practical Nurses' Exam-
ining Board to perform any of the functions vested in the Commis-
sioners by this Act, and, if so established, such Board shall be com-
posed of such number of graduate nurses and practical nurses and 
possessing such qualifications as the Commissioners shall determine: 
Provided^ That the graduate nurse members of such Board shall be 
in the majority; shall be registered under the Act of February 9,1907, 
as amended (D.C. Code, sec. 2-401 et seq.); and shall have had at least 
five years of experience since graduation in the nursing service: Pro-
vided further^ That all practical nurse members of such Board shall, 
from and after the expiration of ninety days from the effective date 
of this Act, be licensed under this Act: And provided further^ That at 
least two practical nurse members of such Board shall be present at 
each meeting of the Board. The members of such Board shall serve 
for such terms and for such compensation as the Commissioners shall 
determine. 
SEC. 8. (a) The Commissioners are authorized to adopt from time 
to time and prescribe such rules and regulations as may oe necessary 
to enable them to carry into effect the provisions of this Act. 
The 
Commissioners shall prescribe minimum curricula and standards for 
schools and for programs preparing persons for licensure under this 
Act. 
They may provide for surveys of such schools and programs 
at such times as they may deem necessary. They shall accredit such 
schools and programs as meet the Commissioners' requirements and 
the requirements of this Act. They shall evaluate and approve pro-
grams for affiliation. 
They shall examine, license, and renew the 
license of any duly qualified applicant. 
E x e m p t i o n of 
F e d e r a l 
em-
ployees. 
Restrictions. 
"Licensed Prac-
tical Nurse." 
D e 1 e g a t ion of 
authority. 
P r a c t i c a l 
Nurses' Examining 
Board. 
34 Stat. 887. 
Rules and regu-
lations. 
804 
PUBLIC LAW 86-708-SEPT. 6, 1960 
[74 ST AT, 
Studies 
and in-
vestigations. 
quirements. 
(b) The Commissioners may make such studies and investigations, 
and obtain or require the furnishing of such information under oath 
or affirmation or otherwise, as they deem necessary or proper to assist 
them in prescribing any regulation or order imder this Act, or in the 
administration and enforcement of this Act, and regulations and or-
ders thereunder. For such purposes, the Commissioners may admin-
ister oaths and affirmations, may require by subpena or otherwise the 
attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of docu-
ments at any designated place. In the event of contumacy or refusal 
to obey any such subpena or requirement under this section, the Com-
missioners may make application to the municipal court for the Dis-
trict of Columbia for an order requiring obedience thereto. Thereup-
on the court, with or without notice and hearing, as it, in its discre-
tion, may decide, shall make such order as is proper and may punish 
as a contempt any failure to comply with such order in accordance 
with the provisions of subsection (c), section 5, of the Act of April 1, 
1942 (56 Stat. 193, ch. 207; sec. 11-756(c), D.C. Code, 1951 edition), 
guaiification re- 
s^c. 9. (a) Except as provided in section 10, an applicant for a 
license to practice as a licensed practical nurse shall submit to the 
Commissioners written evidence, verified by her oath, that the appli-
cant (1) is at least 18 years of age; (2) is of good moral character; 
(3) is in good physical and mental health, as certified by a physician 
licensed to practice in the District of Columbia; (4) has completed 
at least two years of high school or the equivalent thereof as deter-
mined by the Commissioners; and (5) has successfully completed an 
accredited program for the training of licensed practical nurses ap-
proved by the Commissioners, or the equivalent thereof as determined 
by them. The applicant shall meet such other qualification require-
ments as the Commissioners may prescribe. 
Except as otherwise 
provided in this Act, the applicant shall be required to pass a written 
examination in such subjects as the Commissioners may determine. 
Each written examination may be supplemented by an oral or prac-
tical examination. 
If the applicant passes such examinations, the 
Commissioners shall issue to the applicant a license to practice as a 
licensed practical nurse if they are satisfied that she possesses the 
required qualifications. 
(b) The Commissioners may issue a license to practice as a licensed 
practical nurse without examination to any applicant who has been 
duly licensed or registered as a licensed vocational or practical nurse 
or a person entitled to perform similar service under a different title, 
by examination, under the laws of a State, territory, or possession oi 
the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a foreign 
country, if they are satisfied that the applicant meets the qualifica-
tions required of licensed practical nurses in the District of Columbia. 
(c) An applicant for a license to practice as a licensed practical 
nurse shall at the time such application is made pay the required 
fee for an original license. An application shall be closed and filed 
as closed and incomplete at the end of a year from the time that the 
application was received if the applicant has failed to take all steps 
required of her to obtain a license. In order to reopen an application 
which has been closed or withdrawn, the applicant shall pay the same 
fee as is required for an original license. 
SEC. 10. Upon receipt of an application, accompanied by the required 
fee for an original license, the Commissioners shall issue a license to 
practice as a licensed practical nurse, without written examination, 
to any person who shall make application therefor prior to the expira-
tion of one year immediately following the effective date of this Act: 
Provided^ That (A) the Commissioners find that such person (1) is at 
License without 
examination. 
Fee. 
74 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 86-708-SEPT. 6, 1960 
805 
least twenty-one years of age; (2) is of good moral character; (3) is 
in good physical and mental health as certified by a physician licensed 
to practice in the District of Columbia; (4) has been actively engaged 
in caring for the sick in the District of Columbia for the year immedi-
ately preceding the effective date of this Act; (5) has had three or 
more years of experience in the care of the sick prior to the effective 
date of this Act; and (6) has submitted evidence satisfactory to the 
Commissioners that she is competent to practice as a licensed practical 
nurse, and (B) either the application is endorsed by two physicians 
licensed to practice in the District of Columbia v.-ho have personal 
knowledge of the applicant's nursing qualifications and by two persons 
who have employed the applicant in the capacity of practical nurse, 
or the applicant is listed on a nurses' registry licensed in the District 
of Columbia. 
SEC. 11. (a) The license of every person licensed under the provisions 
of this Act shall expire on June 30 of each year and be annually 
renewed. 
On or before May 31 of each year, the Commissioner shall 
mail an application for renewal of license to every person who at the 
time of such mailing holds a valid license under this Act. 
The appli-
cant shall, before the following July 1, complete and execute such 
application and return the same to the Commissioners with the required 
renewal fee. 
Upon receipt of such application and fee, the Commis-
sioners shall verify the accuracy of the application and issue to the 
applicant a certificate of renewal for the year beginning on such July 1 
and expire the following June 30. Any licensee who allows her 
license to lapse by failing to renew the license as provided above, may 
be reinstated by the Commissioners by showing cause satisfactory to 
the Commissioners for such failure and on payment of the required 
fee. 
(b) Any person licensed under the provisions of this Act but not 
so practicing in the District of Columbia shall give written notice of 
such fact to the Commissioners. Upon receipt of such notice, the 
Commissioners shall place the name of such person upon the nonprac-
ticing list. While remaining on such list, the person shall not be sub-
ject to the payment of any renewal fee and shall not hold herself out 
as a licensed practical nurse in the District of Columbia. 
Applica-
tion for renewal of license and payment of renewal fee for the current 
year shall be made to the Commissioners by any such person desiring 
to resume practice as a licensed practical nurse. 
SEC. 12. (a) Any person conducting or desiring to conduct a school 
of practical nursing may apply to the Commissioners and submit evi-
dence that such person is prepared to give a course of study of not 
less than twelve months, including clinical experience, and is prepared 
to meet the standards prescribed by the Commissioners. 
Each such 
person shall pay the required fees at the time such application is made. 
A survey of such school shall be made by the Commissioners. 
If, in 
the opinion of the Commissioners, the requirements for an accredited 
school of practical nursing are met, they shall approve such school as 
an accredited school for the training of practical nurses. 
(b) The Commissioners may, whenever they deem it necessary, sur-
vey anj^ accredited school of practical nursing in the District of 
Columbia. 
If the Commissioners determine that any accredited 
school of practical nursing does not meet the standards required by 
this Act and by the Commissioners, notice thereof in writing specify-
ing the defect or defects shall be given to such school. If the defects 
are hot corrected within a reasonable time, such school shall, after 
hearing, be removed from the list of accredited schools of practical 
nursing. 
Renewal. 
Nonprac ti cing 
nurses. 
Practical 
nurs-
ing schools. 
Registration. 
Survey of school. 
806 
PUBLIC LAW 86-708-SEPT. 6, 1960 
[74 STAT. 
^**®- 
SEC. 13. (a) 
The Commissioners are authorized and empowered 
after public hearing, to determine and from time to time to increase 
or decrease fees for all services rendered under authority of any provi-
sion of this Act, including fees for the following services: (1) For 
licenses and renewals thereof; (2) for repeat examinations; (3) for the 
evaluation of each school record of a candidate for admission to a 
school of practical nursing; (4) for verification of records; (5) for a 
duplicate license to practice as a licensed practical nurse upon proof 
acceptable to the Commissioners that the original license has been lost 
or destroyed; (6) for duplicate certificates of renewal of licenses; (7) 
for mailing a certificate a second time if no timely notification of 
change of address has been made; (8) for the proctoring of out-of-
State applicants when the examination is held at a time other than the 
regular examination of the District of Columbia. 
The Commissioners 
shall fix such fees in such amounts, as will, in the judgment of the 
Commissioners, approximate the cost to the District of Columbia of 
such services. 
(b) All moneys collected for fees and charges under this Act 
shall be paid into the Treasury to the credit of the District of Columbia, 
lic^ns^e? ^^^^°'^ °^ 
SEC. 14. The Commissioners are authorized and empowered to deny, 
revoke, or suspend any license, or certificate of renewal of license, 
issued by the Commissioners or applied for in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act if the applicant or holder thereof — 
(1) has been guilty of fraud or deceit in procuring or attempt-
ing to procure any license, or renewal thereof provided for in 
this Act; 
(2) has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; 
(3) is an intemperate consumer of intoxicating liquors or is 
addicted to the use of habit-forming drugs; 
(4) has been guilty of unprofessional conduct; 
(5) has willfully or repeatedly violated any of the provisions 
of this Act or rules or regulations promulgated by the Commis-
sioners pursuant to authority contained in this Act; or 
(6) is mentally incompetent: 
Provided, That said denial, revocation, or suspension shall be made 
only upon specific charges in writing. A certified copy of any such 
charge and at least five days' notice of the hearing of the same shall 
be served upon the holder of or applicant for such license. The Com-
missioners are hereby authorized to furnish a list of names and ad-
dresses of persons to whom licenses, or renewal of licenses, have been 
denied, revoked, or suspended under this section to the board of exam-
iners of a State, territory, or possession of the United States, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a foreign country, upon written 
request of such board. 
^p^^' 
SEC. 15. Any person aggrieved by any final decision or final order 
of the Commissioners denying, suspending, or revoking any license, 
or renewal of license, issued or applied for under this Act may obtain 
a review thereof in the municipal court of appeals for the District of 
Columbia, and may seek a review by the United States Court of 
Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit of any judgment of the 
Municipal Court of Appeals entered pursuant to its review of any such 
decision or order, all in accordance with subsection (f) of section 7 
56 Stat. 195. 
of f^Q ^(jt approvcd April 1, 1942, as added by the Act approved 
77^: ^- c°^^ ^1- August 31,1954 (68 Stat. 1048). 
tai^'ing'^dilfomaf'^ 
^ ^ - ^^- ^^ sh.a\l be uulawful for any person in the District of 
ip oma. 
(Columbia to (a) sell or fraudulently obtain or furnish any diploma, 
license, or record required by this Act, or required by the Commis-
sioners under authority of this Act, or aid or abet in the selling, 
fraudulently obtaining or furnishing thereof; (b) practice nursing as 
a licensed practical nurse under cover of any diploma, license, or 
74 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 86-709-SEPT. 6, 1960 
807 
record required by this Act or required by the Commissioners under 
authority of this Act, illegally or fraudulently obtained or signed or 
issued unlawfully or under fraudulent representation; (c) use in con-
nection with his or her name any designation tending to imply that 
he or she is a licensed practical nurse unless licensed so to practice 
under the provisions of this Act; or (d) practice nursing as a licensed 
practical nurse during the time his or her license issued under the 
provisions of this Act shall be suspended or revoked. 
SEC. 17. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of 
section 5 or 16 of this Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall 
be punished by a fine not exceeding $300 or by imprisonment for not 
more than ninety days. 
SEC. 18. (a) Prosecutions for violations of any provision of sec-
tion 5 or 16 of this Act shall be conducted in the name of the District 
of Columbia in the municipal court for the District of Columbia by 
the Corporation Counsel or any of his assistants. 
(b) It shall be necessary to prove in any prosecution or hearing 
under this Act only a single act prohibited by law or a single holding 
out or an attempt without proving a general course of conduct in 
order to constitute a violation. 
SEC. 19. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof 
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the 
Act, and the application of such provision to other persons and cir-
cumstances, shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 20. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of the 
revenues of the District of Columbia such sums as may be necessary 
to pay the expenses of administering and carrying out the purposes 
of this Act. 
SEC. 21. This Act shall take effect one hundred and twenty days 
after funds are appropriated for the purpose of administering the 
provisions of this Act. 
Approved September 6, 1960. 
Penalty. 
Prosecution 
b y 
C o r p o r a t i o n 
Counsel. 
S a v i n g 
vision. 
Appropri at ion. 
Effective date. 
Public Law 86-709 
AN APT 
rti^ 
rtv^i. 
September 6, 1960 
To exempt from taxation certain property of the American Association of 
[s. 3415] 
University Women, Educational Foundation, Incorporated, in the District 
of Columbia. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the real es-
tate described for assessment and taxation purposes as lot 834 in 
square numbered 31, in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, 
owned by the American Association of University Women, Educa-
tional Foundation, Incorporated, a District of Columbia corporation, 
is hereby exempt from all taxation so long as the same is owned, 
occupied, and used by the American Association of University Wo-
men, Educational Foundation, Incorporated, for its educational and 
other corporate purposes, or is jointly occupied with the American 
Association of University Women, a Massachusetts corporation or-
ganized not for profit, for its educational and other corporate pur-
poses, and is not used for commercial purposes, subject to the pro-
visions of sections 2, 3, and 5 of the Act entitled "An Act to define 
the real property exempt from taxation in the District of Columbia", 
approved December 24, 1942 (56 Stat. 1091; D.C. Code, sees. 46-
801b, 47-801C, and 47-801e). 
SEC. 2. The tax exemption authorized by this Act shall take effect 
on July 1,1960. 
Approv-ed September 6, 1960. 
American. Asso-
c i a t i o n of U n i -
v e r s i t y 
Women, 
E d u c a t i o n a l 
Foundation, I n c . , 
D. C. 
Tax exemption. 
D. C. C o d e 47-
80 1b, 
Effective date.