2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 5 - Businesses and Professions › Chapter 5-34.3 - Nurse Licensure Compact › Section 5-34.3-10.2. - Oversight, dispute resolution, enforcement and department of health obligations. [Effective January 1, 2024; Expires January 1, 2027]

§ 5-34.3-10.2. Oversight, dispute resolution, enforcement and department of health obligations. [Effective January 1, 2024; Expires January 1, 2027]
(a)
Oversight.
(1)
Each party state shall enforce this compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate this compact’s purposes and intent.
(2)
The commission shall be entitled to receive service of process in any proceeding that may affect the powers, responsibilities, or actions of the commission, and shall have standing to intervene in such a proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide service of process in such proceeding to the commission shall render a judgment or order void as to the commission, this compact, or promulgated rules.
(b)
Default, technical assistance, and termination.
(1)
If the commission determines that a party state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under this compact or the promulgated rules, the commission shall:
(i)
Provide written notice to the defaulting state and other party states of the nature of the default, the proposed means of curing the default, or any other action to be taken by the commission; and
(ii)
Provide remedial training and specific technical assistance regarding the default.
(2)
If a state in default fails to cure the default, the defaulting state’s membership in this compact may be terminated upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the administrators, and all rights, privileges, and benefits conferred by this compact may be terminated on the effective date of termination. A cure of the default does not relieve the offending state of obligations or liabilities incurred during the period of default.
(3)
Termination of membership in this compact shall be imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be given by the commission to the governor of the defaulting state and to the executive officer of the defaulting state’s licensing board and each of the party states.
(4)
A state whose membership in this compact has been terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination, including obligations that extend beyond the effective date of termination.
(5)
The commission shall not bear any costs related to a state that is found to be in default or whose membership in this compact has been terminated unless agreed upon in writing between the commission and the defaulting state.
(6)
The defaulting state may appeal the action of the commission by petitioning the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district in which the commission has its principal offices. The prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.
(c)
Dispute Resolution.
(1)
Upon request by a party state, the commission shall attempt to resolve disputes related to the compact that arise among party states and between party and non-party states.
(2)
The commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes, as appropriate.
(3)
In the event the commission cannot resolve disputes among party states arising under this compact:
(i)
The party states may submit the issues in dispute to an arbitration panel, which will be comprised of individuals appointed by the compact administrator in each of the affected party states and an individual mutually agreed upon by the compact administrators of all the party states involved in the dispute;
(ii)
The decision of a majority of the arbitrators shall be final and binding.
(d)
Enforcement.
(1)
The commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of this compact.
(2)
By majority vote, the commission may initiate legal action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the commission has its principal offices, against a party state that is in default, to enforce compliance with the provisions of this compact and its promulgated rules and bylaws. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.
(3)
The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies of the commission. The commission may also pursue any other remedies available under federal or state law.
(e)
Data collection — Reporting.
(1)
Data collection. Commencing in calendar year 2025, Rhode Island employers who employ registered nurses or licensed practical or vocational nurses shall report to the Rhode Island department of health (“RIDOH”), not later than January 30 of each year, the following information and data for the employer, for the period of the immediately preceding calendar year (the “reporting period”):
(i)
The number of new hires of registered nurses during the reporting period;
(ii)
The number of new hires of registered nurses who hold multistate licenses and are not licensed in Rhode Island during the reporting period;
(iii)
The number of new hires of licensed practical nurses and vocational nurses during the reporting period;
(iv)
The number of new hires of licensed practical nurses and vocational nurses who hold multistate licenses and are not licensed in Rhode Island during the reporting period;
(v)
The total number of registered nurses employed during the reporting period; and
(vi)
The total number of licensed practical nurses and vocational nurses employed during the reporting period.
(2)
Reporting. RIDOH shall annually compile the data received from employers pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section and prepare a report that aggregates the information, and disaggregated by new hires and retained employees, for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and vocational nurses, from the results of the data collected pursuant to subsection (e)(1) of this section. This compiled data shall be incorporated into a report which shall be provided to the governor, the speaker of the house, and the president of the senate, not later than March 1 of each year, with the first report due on March 1, 2025.
(f)
Nurse license fees. RIDOH shall not increase the amount of any licensing fee for registered nurses or a licensed practical nurse or vocational nurse, including, but not limited to, license renewals, for a period of three (3) years commencing on January 1, 2024.
History of Section.
P.L. 2023, ch. 338, § 3, effective January 1, 2024; P.L. 2023, ch. 397, § 3, effective January 1, 2024.