North Carolina expands sports, horse racing gambling opportunities
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper recently signed legislation that will allow regulated betting on sports and horse racing to take place across the state. Under the new law, which is expected to take effect sometime between January and June of 2024, the North Carolina Lottery Commission will be allowed to license entities to offer mobile and online sports betting services to customers.
In-person betting will also be allowed for citizens 21 or older, at the state’s eight potential sports gambling venues, which include stadiums, golf courses, and racetracks. This represents a major expansion of North Carolina’s current sports gambling system, which is currently limited to three casinos operated by two American Indian tribes.
Critics argued the legislation would enable gambling addiction, the societal damages of which could far outweigh the revenue generated by the newly expanded industry. Ultimately, lobbyists for the sports betting industry won out and garnered enough support in the state legislature to bring the bill to fruition. Under the new law, tax revenue from sports betting is expected to go to athletics programs and problem-gambling programs. Read more at AP News.
Washington begins implementation of Nurse Licensure Compact
Nurses who hold an active, unencumbered license via the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) will soon be able to practice in the state of Washington, thanks to the state’s recent adoption of the compact. On July 24, employers hiring nurses who hold multistate licenses (MSLs) can begin to report their hiring to the Nursing Commission, and beginning Sept. 1, they will be required to do so within 30 days of hire.
The current regulatory body for nursing in the state, the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission, will change its name to the Washington State Board of Nursing under the new licensing regime. Licensing requirements for nurses in all NLC states are standardized, which means applicants for MSLs will be subject to fingerprint-based federal and state criminal background checks.
Washington’s enactment of the NLC makes it the 40th jurisdiction to join the compact. Though it has been enacted, a full implementation process must take place before state residents can apply for an MSL to practice in other compact states. The MSL allows nurses to offer in-person or telehealth nursing services to patients in other NLC states without applying for additional licensure. Read more at NCSBN.org.
Florida removes postsecondary education requirements for public sector positions
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law a new bill restricting state employers from requiring postsecondary education as a qualification for certain positions. Under the new rules, applicants will be able to qualify for public sector positions by showing proof of a specified number of years of related work experience.
The measure is an expansion of similar legislation passed last year which allowed state and local agencies to eschew postsecondary education requirements for related work experience. Both laws, according to officials, are intended to benefit veterans, as military service has been deemed valid work experience under the new rules.
James S. Hartsell, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, said the passage of Senate Bill 1310 will ensure Florida continues to offer expanded workforce opportunities for former military personnel and make it “the most sought-after state by veterans in the nation.” Read more about the new law at The Capitolist.
Virginia opens new pathway to licensure for teachers
New rules from the Virginia Board of Education will allow prospective teachers to obtain provisional licensing to work in classrooms as they work toward their full license through an online program called iTeach. The move is intended to address an ongoing work shortage in Virginia, with about 3,500 openings for teacher positions affecting school districts throughout the state.
The new pathway has been approved for 22 districts in the state, and the self-paced iTeach course is intended to give teachers an affordable opportunity to attain full licensure. The online program offers comprehensive training, test preparation, and access to educational materials for a total cost of $3,050, according to iTeach President Andrew Rozell.
To continue offering a valid pathway for teacher licensure, iTeach must maintain accreditation through the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP). Rozell said the value of the program is not only in its low cost but also in its scheduling flexibility. Teachers in the program can complete their coursework on their own time, at their own leisure. Read more at ABC8 News.
Ireland lays groundwork for regulation of social care professionals
The Irish government has passed new legislation laying the foundation for regulation in the field of social care. An amendment to 2007’s Medical Practitioners Act and 2005’s Health and Social Care Professionals Act will institute several changes to previous legislation, including the creation of a grandfathering period for current social care workers to apply for registration based on employer recommendation.
The new law also expands the power of Ireland’s Social Care Workers Registration Board, allowing the board to evaluate the competence of the employers who offer these recommendations for their employees. It implements experience requirements for those applying for social care worker registration, mandating that these applicants have a minimum of two years’ experience in the field.
Under the legislation, social care workers will be regulated by CORU, a regulatory body that oversees registration of dietitians, medical scientists, optometrists, social workers, and other care professionals, starting in November 2023. The enactment of the amendment represents a milestone in the development of social care as a field of practice in Ireland. Read more at Lexology.
PEI opens employment opportunities for physician assistants, associate physicians
Prince Edward Island’s Health Minister has announced regulatory changes that will allow two new types of health workers to practice in the province under the supervision of a doctor. Under the new rules, which took effect June 17, physician assistants and associate physicians are now regulated under the P.E.I. College of Physicians and Surgeons. The changes are intended in part to combat an ongoing shortage of health professionals.
Under the new regulations, physician assistants will be able to work under the supervision of a physician, a nurse practitioner, or a dentist. According to Adam Ross, principal secretary with the Office of the Premier, the rules could allow medical school graduates who have not yet obtained a residency position in Canada to secure employment in the health care field.
These regulatory changes represent a follow-through on the Progressive Conservatives’ pledge to open job opportunities for physician assistants and associate physicians in the province. According to the Premier’s Office, physician assistants with adequate training will also be allowed to work in emergency departments. The changes make P.E.I. the sixth province to allow for the employment of physician assistants, joining Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario. Read more at Saltwire.
More news:
- The European Parliament has established its negotiating position on the Artificial Intelligence Act, the rules of which intend to establish standards for the development and implementation of AI that promote human oversight, safety, privacy, and transparency, among other stated values. Negotiations between MEPs and the E.U. Council of Ministers over the legislation have begun and are expected to intensify over the coming months.
- An associate professor at the Washington University School of Law has conducted a study exploring the potential impact of alternative licensure pathways in the legal field. The study found that loosening bar exam policies could increase the labor supply of lawyers by as much as 8%, while adopting stricter policies could lead to a decrease of up to 14%. It also evaluates the potential impact of “law office study” as a substitute for bar examination requirements.
- Nevada recently passed a law regulating the practice of naprapathic medicine in the state. Naprapaths practice a specialized branch of manual medicine that attempts to address neuromuscular skeletal pain by treating soft and connective tissue in the body. With the passage of the Naprapathic Practice Act, doctors and aspiring health care practitioners in the state will now be able to apply for licensure as connective tissue specialists.
Also noteworthy:
Interesting opinion, commentary, and analysis from the web:
- The Titan sub and the dangers of unregulated deep-sea tourism (TIME)
- Sweden’s innovative gaming and betting market: A paradigm shift in regulation (The Football Faithful)
- Opinion: As feds invest in new bilingual teachers, state licensing hurdles must go (Yahoo! News)
- Exclusive: OpenAI lobbied the EU to water down AI regulation (TIME)
- Compact mitigates obstacles to teacher mobility (The Nevada Independent)
- How nurse licensure compacts can ease chronic nursing shortages (Health Leaders)
Disclaimer: The thoughts, opinions, and commentary of the articles we share links to in Week in Brief do not necessarily reflect those of Ascend Magazine or Thentia.
IN BRIEF
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