| Chapter 274 |
| 2024 -- H 7826 Enacted 06/25/2024 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- NURSES |
Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Fenton-Fung, Bennett, Dawson, Finkelman, and Kislak |
| Date Introduced: March 01, 2024 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 5-34-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-34 entitled "Nurses" is |
| hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-34-31. Practices and persons exempt. |
| No provisions of this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting: |
| (1) Gratuitous nursing by friends or members of the family or as prohibiting the care of the |
| sick by domestic servants, housekeepers, nursemaids, companions, or household aides of any type, |
| whether employed regularly or because of an emergency of illness, provided that person is |
| employed primarily in a domestic capacity and does not hold himself or herself themself out or |
| accept employment as a person licensed to practice nursing for hire under the provisions of this |
| chapter or as prohibiting nursing assistants in the case of any emergency; |
| (2) The practice of nursing by students enrolled in approved educational programs of |
| professional nursing or practical-nursing educational programs nor by graduates of those schools |
| or courses pending the results of the licensing examinations following that graduation before taking |
| and receiving results of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), provided that they |
| are licensed in this state within ninety (90) days from the date on the departments department’s |
| licensing application fee receipt, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the board; |
| (3) The practice of nursing in this state by any legally qualified nurse of another state whose |
| engagement requires him or her to accompany and care for a patient temporarily residing in this |
| state during the period of this engagement not to exceed six (6) months in length, provided that |
| person does not represent or hold himself or herself themself out as a nurse licensed to practice in |
| this state; |
| (4) The practice of any legally qualified nurse of another state who is employed by the |
| United States government or any bureau, division, or agency of the government while in the |
| discharge of his or her their official duties; |
| (5) Persons employed in state and licensed hospitals and sanatoria healthcare facilities, |
| licensed homes for the aged and/or convalescent persons, and recognized public-health agencies |
| from assisting in the nursing care of patients if adequate medical or nursing supervision is provided; |
| (6) Nursing care of the sick with or without compensation or personal profit when done in |
| connection with the practice of the religious tenets of any recognized or established church by |
| adherents as long as they do not engage in the practice of nursing as defined in this chapter; |
| (7) Persons who provide acceptable evidence of being currently licensed by examination |
| or endorsement under the laws of other states of the United States and the District of Columbia |
| from practicing nursing in this state for a period of ninety (90) days from the date on the application |
| fee receipt, provided that they are licensed in this state within ninety (90) days from the date on the |
| application fee receipt. The original privilege to work ninety (90) days from the date on the |
| application fee receipt shall not be extended or renewed. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005187 |
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