An Act to Address
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0961
Committee Amendment CA_A_H785 (House)
Amends: 32 MRSA §2102, 32 MRSA §2205-B

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "^\" to H.P. 620, L.D. 961, "An Act to Address
Maine's Health Care Workforce Shortage and Improve Access to Care"
Amend the bill by striking out the emergency preamble and substituting the following:
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, certified nurse practitioners are highly qualified to meet the physical and
mental health care needs of patients and are uniquely positioned to assist patients; and
Whereas, Maine recognizes 4 categories of nurses that may qualify to provide
advanced practice registered nursing, but only certified nurse practitioners are subject to a
2-year supervision requirement; and
Whereas, that supervision requirement restricts the ability of highly qualified certified
nurse practitioners to practice at the highest level of their license as advanced practice
registered nurses; and
Whereas, this legislation authorizes the State Board of Nursing to modernize the
current licensing requirements by establishing practice standards including the length of
time a certified nurse practitioner must practice as an advanced practice registered nurse
and any requirements for employment by a clinic or hospital that has a supervising nurse
practitioner within the clinic or hospital serving m a mentorship role to a certified nurse
practitioner; and
Whereas, these practice standards must be adopted as soon as possible to recognize
the ability of certified nurse practitioners to serve the immediate health care needs of
patients; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore,'
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
f^ COMMHTEE AMENDMENT"/^'to H.P. 620, L.D. 961
Amend the bill by striking out everyfhing after the enacting clause and before the
emergency clause and inserting the following:
'See. 1. 32 MRSA §2102, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 316, §1, is farther
amended by amending the 2nd blocked paragraph to read:
A Until the board has adopted rules to establish practice standards pursuant to section
2205-B. subsection 4-A. a certified nurse practitioner who qualifies as an advanced practice
registered nurse must practice, for at least 24 months, under the supervision of a licensed
physician or a supervismg nurse practitioner or must be employed by a clinic or hospital
that has a medical director who is a licensed physician. The certified nurse practitioner
shall submit written evidence to the board upon completion of the required clinical
experience.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §2102, sub-§10, ^[A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 316, §2, is
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
A. Met the requirements of section 2205-B. subsection 4-A specified by the board in
mle:
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §2102, sub-§10, ^B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 316, §2, is
amended to read:
B. Practiced as an advanced practice registered nurse for a minimum of 5 years in the
same speciality specialty;
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §2205-B, sub-§4-A is enacted to read:
4-A. Approval of certified nurse practitioner. A certified nurse practitioner who
qualifies as an advanced practice registered nurse must meet practice standards specified
in mle by the board related to:
A. The length of time a certified nurse practitioner must practice as an advanced
practice registered nurse;
B. Based on experience and lic^asme status, the minimum amount of time a certified
nurse practitioner must practice with a supendsine nurse practitioner serving in a
mentorship roletoth.ecertified^iurse practitioner;
C. The practice settine of a certified nurse practitioner. includine consideration of any
0 requirements for employment by a clinic or hospital that has a suoervisme nurse
tiractitioner within the clinic or hospital servmg in a mentorshir) role to a certified nurse
practitioner; and
D. Any other factors determined necessary by the board.
A certified nurse practitioner shall demonstrate compliance with the practice standards
required under this subsection in the form and manner required by the board. The board
may adopt mles as necessary to implement the requirements of this subsection. Rules
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical mles as defmed in Title 5. chapter
375. subchaoter 2-A.
See. 5. State Board of Nursing rulemaking; submission of proposed
practice standards. No later than March 15, 2026, the State Board of Nursing shall
submit proposed practice standards for certified nurse practitioners, as required by the
Page2-132LR0926(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /V to H.P. 620, L.D. 961
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 2205-B, subsection 4-A, to the Joint Standing
Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services for review. The joint
standmg committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd
Legislature relating to the practice standards for certified nurse practitioners,
Notwithstanding Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2, the State Board ofNursmg may not
adopt any rules before May 1, 2026 relating to the practice standards for certified nurse
practitioners as required by Title 32, section 2205-B, subsection 4-A.'
Amend the bill by reletteriag or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment retams the emergency status of the bill but replaces the substantive
provisions in the bill. The amendment provides that, once rules are adopted by the State
Board of Nursing to establish practice standards, a certified nurse practitioner who qualifies
as an advanced practice registered nurse is no longer required to practice for at least 24
months under the supervision of a licensed physician or supervising nurse practitioner or
be employed by a clinic or hospital that has a medical director who is a licensed physician.
The amendment directs the board to establish practice standards by rule for a certified
nurse practitioner related to the length of tune a certified nurse practitioner must practice
as an advanced practice registered nurse; the minimum amount of tune a certified nurse
practitioner must practice with a supervising nurse practitioner as a mentor; the practice
setting for a certified nurse practitioner, includmg any requirements for employment by a
clinic or hospital that has a supervising nurse practitioner within the clinic or hospital
serving m a mentorship role to a certified nurse practitioner; and any other factors
determined necessary by the board. Rules adopted by the board are designated as routine
technical rules.
The amendment directs the board to submit the proposed practice standards for
certified nurse practitioners to the Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage,
Insurance and Financial Services for review no later than March 15, 2026 and authorizes
the committee to report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature
0 relating to the practice standards for certified nurse practitioners, The amendment prohibits
the board from adopting rules relating to the practice standards for certified nurse
practitioners before May 1, 2026.
3 FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 12/16/25 i-Kt-
LD 961 LR 926(02)
An Act to Address IVIaine's Health Care Workforce Shortage and Improve Access to Care
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^" ( \\ ^
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Current bienaium revenue decrease - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
A revenue decrease is expected, but the fiscal impact cannot be fully estimated until the Board of Nursing adopts
implementmg rules.
Any additional costs for rulemaking and the development of practice standards are expected to be minor and can be
absorbed within existing budgeted resources
LR0926(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1