Pa. bill helping veterans obtain EMS licenses advances
Legislation that would streamline the licensing process for veterans seeking a civilian career as an emergency medical technician or paramedic passed unanimously in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives on June 22.
HB 404 will ensure that a service member’s military education and training are taken into consideration for the purpose of fulfilling requirements for professional credentials related to EMS providers. According to the bill’s sponsor, Dane Watro (who is a veteran himself), the legislation aims to prevent the duplication of education and training when veterans are trying to transition to a civilian career.
The Department of Health, which certifies EMTs and paramedics, as well as the Department of Agriculture will be added to the list of state agencies that are required to strongly consider a veteran’s military education, training, and experience to meet licensing requirements for professional credentials if the legislation passes. HB 404 will next be considered in the Senate. Read more from Yahoo! News.
Funding announced to support international educated nurse licensure in Newfoundland and Labrador
On June 22, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced $260,000 in new funding to support the province’s nursing regulators with expediting the licensure process of internationally educated nurses applying to work in Newfoundland and Labrador.
According to the government’s press release, the funding will support the College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador and the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador with:
- Implementing a call-answering service contract to allow both organizations to respond to inquiries related to recent regulations.
- Creating a Registration Support Assistant position to facilitate processing of applications and to provide guidance and support for internationally educated nurses.
- Implementing an incentive program through Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) to assist with costs associated with the National Community Assessment Service Program for eligible candidates.
Texas to offer cyber investigation training to local cops
The Texas Department of Information Resources is launching a new online course to help equip Texas law enforcement officers with the basic knowledge needed to address cybercrime complaints.
Tony Sauerhoff, the state’s deputy chief information security officer and cybersecurity coordinator, said the course was the product of conversations with local officials and regional councils of government about public-safety officials receiving a high volume of calls about cyberattacks and not knowing how to respond.
The optional course, which will be offered through Texas A&M University’s Engineering Extension Service, will count toward the continuing education hours many personnel are required to complete annually. The curriculum will be tailored for a law-enforcement audience, covering topics such as identifying cyber crime scenes, securing and handling evidence, and working with Texas’ penal code regarding computer crimes. Read more from StateScoop.
Nevada enacts nation’s first state licensing regime for earned wage access services
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo signed SB 290 into law on June 15, establishing the nation’s first state licensing regime for earned wage access (EWA) services provided to consumers. Earned wage access, also called on-demand pay, allows employees to receive portions of their earned but unpaid income in advance to be repaid by the employees after being paid on payday.
The new law requires EWA providers to obtain a license from the Commissioner of Financial Institutions in order to engage in EWA activities. Both “employer-integrated” and “direct-to-consumer” earned wage access services are considered regulated activity requiring a license under the legislation, but payroll service providers will not require a license.
Licenses will likely be administered through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS). The initial application and license fees, which will be set by the Commissioner, could be upwards of $1,000. Licensees will have to renew their application each year and comply with annual reporting requirements.
According to the legislation, the Commissioner must set the application requirements for licensure by Sept. 30, 2023. Read more about the new EWA licensing regime and its regulatory impact from Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Swiss central bank calls for overhaul of banking regulations after Credit Suisse rescue
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has called for a review of banking regulations in its recently published annual stability report, warning that existing global rules on capital and liquidity do not safeguard systemically important lenders from collapse.
In its first public reflections since the rescue of Credit Suisse in March, the SNB, which is responsible for overseeing financial stability in Switzerland along with the market regulator Finma, said in the report that dependence on existing regulatory capital and liquidity rules may even have contributed to the bank’s problems.
The report identified three principal concerns. First, it said Credit Suisse’s higher-than-required capital ratios had provided little reassurance, and also expressed concerns over a lack of clarity regarding what was permitted to be classed as regulatory capital under existing rules. Second, it asserted that additional tier 1 bonds issued by Credit Suisse, which have become one of the most popular capital-raising tools in the post-2008 regulatory environment, were not fit for purpose. Third, it claimed that regulatory liquidity buffers were nowhere near adequate for Credit Suisse to cope with its situation.
The central bank is continuing its in-depth investigation into the Credit Suisse crisis and is expected to deliver its findings to Swiss parliamentarians next year. Read more in the Financial Times.
More news:
- Gov. Janet Mills signed legislation into law allowing Maine to join the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. Twenty-nine states have now signed on to the compact, which allows audiologists and SLPs licensed in one member state to obtain a privilege to practice in others without going through the full licensing process.
- Hawaii became the 38th state to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact after Gov. Josh Green signed SB 674 into law. Joining the compact allows physicians to more easily practice in Hawaii while still meeting national standards for education and training. SB 674 was one of 13 health care-related bills Green signed recently to increase health care access and alleviate the shortage of health care professionals in the state.
- The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) and the Indiana Board of Pharmacy (IBP) announced they are closely monitoring a recent string of thefts targeting local pharmacies that carry Promethazine-Codeine, C-II, and stimulant medications. The agencies are encouraging pharmacies to take security precautions and immediately notify law enforcement and the IPLA’s Compliance Division if a burglary or attempted burglary occurs.
Also noteworthy:
Interesting opinion, commentary, and analysis from the web:
- Fake news: EU targets political social media ads with tough new regulation proposal (The Conversation)
- An industry that actually welcomes regulation (The Washington Post)
- The race to regulate artificial intelligence (Foreign Affairs)
- Clearing the backlog of applications for professional licenses in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Public Radio)
- Opinion: Telehealth laws need to be updated for a post-COVID health system (Boston Globe)
- Opinion: New licensure law major step toward better healthcare access in Hawaii (Hawaii Reporter)
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.
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