Pritzker signs midwife legislation into law
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed into law new legislation that will establish licensing standards for midwives to provide care before, during, and after childbirth. The law sets education and training criteria for midwives, including a requirement for a postsecondary midwifery education program. Chicago Democratic Representative Mary Flowers said the legislation will be particularly beneficial for Black women, who according to studies are about three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Read more about the law here.
Virgin Islands become second US territory to enact Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. effectively made the U.S. Virgin Islands the second territory and the 39th jurisdiction to enact the NLC when it was signed into law earlier this month. The compact allows registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses to possess a multistate license, granting them the ability to practice in person or via telehealth in their home territory/state as well as other NLC states. Although the NLC was enacted in the Virgin Islands, an implementation process is still required before residents there can apply for a multistate license and before nurses in other NLC states with a multistate license can practice there. Read the full story in the NLC press release.
Licensure program for drug and alcohol programs announced in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) last week announced that a licensure program for drug and alcohol recovery houses is now open and taking applications. Created for recovery houses, the program is meant to help empower sustained recovery for individuals dealing with substance use disorder by ensuring a network of safe drug and alcohol recovery houses across the commonwealth. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines recovery houses as “safe, healthy, family-like substance-free living environments that support individuals in recovery from addiction.” Read the full release at the Pennsylvania Pressroom.
Hawaii considering changes to licensure requirements for dentists
Rep. Sean Quinlan, a Hawaii lawmaker, is planning to introduce a measure designed to align Hawaii with other states when it comes to dentists who want to move to the island. Unlike most other states, which let licensed dentists from other states practice if they meet criteria based on experience and credentials, Hawaii currently requires dentists moving there to pass the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) test. Quinlan argues Hawaii’s law for dentists is an outlier that hinders well-qualified professionals from moving to the state at a time Hawaii, like many other states, faces labor shortages. Read more at Honolulu Civil Beat.
PFW adds five licensure programs
In an effort to fight Indiana’s ongoing teacher shortage, Purdue University Fort Wayne has announced the addition of five licensure programs to its curriculum. The programs include speech-language pathology, elementary STEM, and three Transition to Teaching programs. The Transition to Teaching programs in particular are designed to address areas of “critical need” and to help the district license emergency teachers during the labor shortage. Read more about the new programs here.
Also noteworthy:
- As we head Into 2022, employment in these states has recovered (Forbes)
- Why are Americans avoiding work? (Yellowhammer)
- Remove extra barriers to ex-offenders seeking work (Sun Sentinel)
- What rulemaking is the FTC planning for 2022? (Ad Law Access)
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