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1 | AN ACT concerning State government.
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2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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4 | Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||||
5 | Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act.
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6 | Sec. 5. Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The State of | ||||||
7 | Illinois ratifies and approves the following compact:
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8 | INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT | ||||||
9 | SECTION 1. PURPOSE | ||||||
10 | In order to strengthen access to health care, and in | ||||||
11 | recognition of the advances in the delivery of health care, the | ||||||
12 | member states of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact have | ||||||
13 | allied in common purpose to develop a comprehensive process | ||||||
14 | that complements the existing licensing and regulatory | ||||||
15 | authority of state medical boards, provides a streamlined | ||||||
16 | process that allows physicians to become licensed in multiple | ||||||
17 | states, thereby enhancing the portability of a medical license | ||||||
18 | and ensuring the safety of patients. The Compact creates | ||||||
19 | another pathway for licensure and does not otherwise change a | ||||||
20 | state's existing Medical Practice Act. The Compact also adopts | ||||||
21 | the prevailing standard for licensure and affirms that the |
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1 | practice of medicine occurs where the patient is located at the | ||||||
2 | time of the physician-patient encounter, and therefore, | ||||||
3 | requires the physician to be under the jurisdiction of the | ||||||
4 | state medical board where the patient is located. State medical | ||||||
5 | boards that participate in the Compact retain the jurisdiction | ||||||
6 | to impose an adverse action against a license to practice | ||||||
7 | medicine in that state issued to a physician through the | ||||||
8 | procedures in the Compact.
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9 | SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS | ||||||
10 | In this compact: | ||||||
11 | (a) "Bylaws" means those bylaws established by the | ||||||
12 | Interstate Commission pursuant to Section 11 for its | ||||||
13 | governance, or for directing and controlling its actions and | ||||||
14 | conduct. | ||||||
15 | (b) "Commissioner" means the voting representative | ||||||
16 | appointed by each member board pursuant to Section 11. | ||||||
17 | (c) "Conviction" means a finding by a court that an | ||||||
18 | individual is guilty of a criminal offense through | ||||||
19 | adjudication, or entry of a plea of guilt or no contest to the | ||||||
20 | charge by the offender. Evidence of an entry of a conviction of | ||||||
21 | a criminal offense by the court shall be considered final for | ||||||
22 | purposes of disciplinary action by a member board. | ||||||
23 | (d) "Expedited License" means a full and unrestricted | ||||||
24 | medical license granted by a member state to an eligible | ||||||
25 | physician through the process set forth in the Compact. |
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1 | (e) "Interstate Commission" means the interstate | ||||||
2 | commission created pursuant to Section 11. | ||||||
3 | (f) "License" means authorization by a state for a | ||||||
4 | physician to engage in the practice of medicine, which would be | ||||||
5 | unlawful without the authorization. | ||||||
6 | (g) "Medical Practice Act" means laws and regulations | ||||||
7 | governing the practice of allopathic and osteopathic medicine | ||||||
8 | within a member state. | ||||||
9 | (h) "Member Board" means a state agency in a member state | ||||||
10 | that acts in the sovereign interests of the state by protecting | ||||||
11 | the public through licensure, regulation, and education of | ||||||
12 | physicians as directed by the state government. | ||||||
13 | (i) "Member State" means a state that has enacted the | ||||||
14 | Compact. | ||||||
15 | (j) "Practice of Medicine" means the clinical prevention, | ||||||
16 | diagnosis, or treatment of human disease, injury, or condition | ||||||
17 | requiring a physician to obtain and maintain a license in | ||||||
18 | compliance with the Medical Practice Act of a member state. | ||||||
19 | (k) "Physician" means any person who: | ||||||
20 | (1) Is a graduate of a medical school accredited by the | ||||||
21 | Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Commission on | ||||||
22 | Osteopathic College Accreditation, or a medical school | ||||||
23 | listed in the International Medical Education Directory or | ||||||
24 | its equivalent; | ||||||
25 | (2) Passed each component of the United States Medical | ||||||
26 | Licensing Examination (USMLE) or the Comprehensive |
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1 | Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) | ||||||
2 | within three attempts, or any of its predecessor | ||||||
3 | examinations accepted by a state medical board as an | ||||||
4 | equivalent examination for licensure purposes; | ||||||
5 | (3) Successfully completed graduate medical education | ||||||
6 | approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical | ||||||
7 | Education or the American Osteopathic Association; | ||||||
8 | (4) Holds specialty certification or a time-unlimited | ||||||
9 | specialty certificate recognized by the American Board of | ||||||
10 | Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic | ||||||
11 | Association's Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists; | ||||||
12 | (5) Possesses a full and unrestricted license to engage | ||||||
13 | in the practice of medicine issued by a member board; | ||||||
14 | (6) Has never been convicted, received adjudication, | ||||||
15 | deferred adjudication, community supervision, or deferred | ||||||
16 | disposition for any offense by a court of appropriate | ||||||
17 | jurisdiction; | ||||||
18 | (7) Has never held a license authorizing the practice | ||||||
19 | of medicine subjected to discipline by a licensing agency | ||||||
20 | in any state, federal, or foreign jurisdiction, excluding | ||||||
21 | any action related to non-payment of fees related to a | ||||||
22 | license; | ||||||
23 | (8) Has never had a controlled substance license or | ||||||
24 | permit suspended or revoked by a state or the United States | ||||||
25 | Drug Enforcement Administration; and | ||||||
26 | (10) Is not under active investigation by a licensing |
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1 | agency or law enforcement authority in any state, federal, | ||||||
2 | or foreign jurisdiction. | ||||||
3 | (l) "Offense" means a felony, gross misdemeanor, or crime | ||||||
4 | of moral turpitude. | ||||||
5 | (m) "Rule" means a written statement by the Interstate | ||||||
6 | Commission promulgated pursuant to Section 12 of the Compact | ||||||
7 | that is of general applicability, implements, interprets, or | ||||||
8 | prescribes a policy or provision of the Compact, or an | ||||||
9 | organizational, procedural, or practice requirement of the | ||||||
10 | Interstate Commission, and has the force and effect of | ||||||
11 | statutory law in a member state, and includes the amendment, | ||||||
12 | repeal, or suspension of an existing rule. | ||||||
13 | (n) "State" means any state, commonwealth, district, or | ||||||
14 | territory of the United States. | ||||||
15 | (o) "State of Principal License" means a member state where | ||||||
16 | a physician holds a license to practice medicine and which has | ||||||
17 | been designated as such by the physician for purposes of | ||||||
18 | registration and participation in the Compact.
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19 | SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY | ||||||
20 | (a) A physician must meet the eligibility requirements as | ||||||
21 | defined in Section 2(k) to receive an expedited license under | ||||||
22 | the terms and provisions of the Compact. | ||||||
23 | (b) A physician who does not meet the requirements of | ||||||
24 | Section 2(k) may obtain a license to practice medicine in a | ||||||
25 | member state if the individual complies with all laws and |
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1 | requirements, other than the Compact, relating to the issuance | ||||||
2 | of a license to practice medicine in that state.
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3 | SECTION 4. DESIGNATION OF STATE OF PRINCIPAL LICENSE | ||||||
4 | (a) A physician shall designate a member state as the state | ||||||
5 | of principal license for purposes of registration for expedited | ||||||
6 | licensure through the Compact if the physician possesses a full | ||||||
7 | and unrestricted license to practice medicine in that state, | ||||||
8 | and the state is: | ||||||
9 | (1) the state of primary residence for the physician, | ||||||
10 | or | ||||||
11 | (2) the state where at least 25% of the practice of | ||||||
12 | medicine occurs, or | ||||||
13 | (3) the location of the physician's employer, or | ||||||
14 | (4) if no state qualifies under subsection (1), | ||||||
15 | subsection (2), or subsection (3), the | ||||||
16 | state designated as state of residence for purpose of | ||||||
17 | federal income tax. | ||||||
18 | (b) A physician may redesignate a member state as state of | ||||||
19 | principal license at any time, as long as the state meets the | ||||||
20 | requirements in subsection (a). | ||||||
21 | (c) The Interstate Commission is authorized to develop | ||||||
22 | rules to facilitate redesignation of another member state as | ||||||
23 | the state of principal license.
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24 | SECTION 5. APPLICATION AND ISSUANCE OF EXPEDITED LICENSURE |
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1 | (a) A physician seeking licensure through the Compact shall | ||||||
2 | file an application for an expedited license with the member | ||||||
3 | board of the state selected by the physician as the state of | ||||||
4 | principal license. | ||||||
5 | (b) Upon receipt of an application for an expedited | ||||||
6 | license, the member board within the state selected as the | ||||||
7 | state of principal license shall evaluate whether the physician | ||||||
8 | is eligible for expedited licensure and issue a letter of | ||||||
9 | qualification, verifying or denying the physician's | ||||||
10 | eligibility, to the Interstate Commission. | ||||||
11 | (i) Static qualifications, which include verification | ||||||
12 | of medical education, graduate medical education, results | ||||||
13 | of any medical or licensing examination, and other | ||||||
14 | qualifications as determined by the Interstate Commission | ||||||
15 | through rule, shall not be subject to additional primary | ||||||
16 | source verification where already primary source verified | ||||||
17 | by the state of principal license. | ||||||
18 | (ii) The member board within the state selected as the | ||||||
19 | state of principal license shall, in the course of | ||||||
20 | verifying eligibility, perform a criminal background check | ||||||
21 | of an applicant, including the use of the results of | ||||||
22 | fingerprint or other biometric data checks compliant with | ||||||
23 | the requirements of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, | ||||||
24 | with the exception of federal employees who have | ||||||
25 | suitability determination in accordance with U.S. C.F.R. | ||||||
26 | ยง731.202. |
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1 | (iii) Appeal on the determination of eligibility shall | ||||||
2 | be made to the member state where the application was filed | ||||||
3 | and shall be subject to the law of that state. | ||||||
4 | (c) Upon verification in subsection (b), physicians | ||||||
5 | eligible for an expedited license shall complete the | ||||||
6 | registration process established by the Interstate Commission | ||||||
7 | to receive a license in a member state selected pursuant to | ||||||
8 | subsection (a), including the payment of any applicable fees. | ||||||
9 | (d) After receiving verification of eligibility under | ||||||
10 | subsection (b) and any fees under subsection (c), a member | ||||||
11 | board shall issue an expedited license to the physician. This | ||||||
12 | license shall authorize the physician to practice medicine in | ||||||
13 | the issuing state consistent with the Medical Practice Act and | ||||||
14 | all applicable laws and regulations of the issuing member board | ||||||
15 | and member state. | ||||||
16 | (e) An expedited license shall be valid for a period | ||||||
17 | consistent with the licensure period in the member state and in | ||||||
18 | the same manner as required for other physicians holding a full | ||||||
19 | and unrestricted license within the member state. | ||||||
20 | (f) An expedited license obtained though the Compact shall | ||||||
21 | be terminated if a physician fails to maintain a license in the | ||||||
22 | state of principal licensure for a non-disciplinary reason, | ||||||
23 | without redesignation of a new state of principal licensure. | ||||||
24 | (g) The Interstate Commission is authorized to develop | ||||||
25 | rules regarding the application process, including payment of | ||||||
26 | any applicable fees, and the issuance of an expedited license.
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1 | SECTION 6. FEES FOR EXPEDITED LICENSURE | ||||||
2 | (a) A member state issuing an expedited license authorizing | ||||||
3 | the practice of medicine in that state may impose a fee for a | ||||||
4 | license issued or renewed through the Compact. | ||||||
5 | (b) The Interstate Commission is authorized to develop | ||||||
6 | rules regarding fees for expedited | ||||||
7 | licenses.
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8 | SECTION 7. RENEWAL AND CONTINUED PARTICIPATION | ||||||
9 | (a) A physician seeking to renew an expedited license | ||||||
10 | granted in a member state shall complete a renewal process with | ||||||
11 | the Interstate Commission if the physician: | ||||||
12 | (1) Maintains a full and unrestricted license in a | ||||||
13 | state of principal license; | ||||||
14 | (2) Has not been convicted, received adjudication, | ||||||
15 | deferred adjudication, community supervision, or deferred | ||||||
16 | disposition for any offense by a court of appropriate | ||||||
17 | jurisdiction; | ||||||
18 | (3) Has not had a license authorizing the practice of | ||||||
19 | medicine subject to discipline by a licensing agency in any | ||||||
20 | state, federal, or foreign jurisdiction, excluding any | ||||||
21 | action related to non-payment of fees related to a license; | ||||||
22 | and | ||||||
23 | (4) Has not had a controlled substance license or | ||||||
24 | permit suspended or revoked by a state or the United States |
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1 | Drug Enforcement Administration. | ||||||
2 | (b) Physicians shall comply with all continuing | ||||||
3 | professional development or continuing medical education | ||||||
4 | requirements for renewal of a license issued by a member state. | ||||||
5 | (c) The Interstate Commission shall collect any renewal | ||||||
6 | fees charged for the renewal of a license and distribute the | ||||||
7 | fees to the applicable member board. | ||||||
8 | (d) Upon receipt of any renewal fees collected in | ||||||
9 | subsection (c), a member board shall renew the physician's | ||||||
10 | license. | ||||||
11 | (e) Physician information collected by the Interstate | ||||||
12 | Commission during the renewal process will be distributed to | ||||||
13 | all member boards. | ||||||
14 | (f) The Interstate Commission is authorized to develop | ||||||
15 | rules to address renewal of licenses obtained through the | ||||||
16 | Compact.
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17 | SECTION 8. COORDINATED INFORMATION SYSTEM | ||||||
18 | (a) The Interstate Commission shall establish a database of | ||||||
19 | all physicians licensed, or who have applied for licensure, | ||||||
20 | under Section 5. | ||||||
21 | (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, member | ||||||
22 | boards shall report to the Interstate Commission any public | ||||||
23 | action or complaints against a licensed physician who has | ||||||
24 | applied or received an expedited license through the Compact. | ||||||
25 | (c) Member boards shall report disciplinary or |
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1 | investigatory information determined as necessary and proper | ||||||
2 | by rule of the Interstate Commission. | ||||||
3 | (d) Member boards may report any non-public complaint, | ||||||
4 | disciplinary, or investigatory information not required by | ||||||
5 | subsection (c) to the Interstate Commission. | ||||||
6 | (e) Member boards shall share complaint or disciplinary | ||||||
7 | information about a physician upon request of another member | ||||||
8 | board. | ||||||
9 | (f) All information provided to the Interstate Commission | ||||||
10 | or distributed by member boards shall be confidential, filed | ||||||
11 | under seal, and used only for investigatory or disciplinary | ||||||
12 | matters. | ||||||
13 | (g) The Interstate Commission is authorized to develop | ||||||
14 | rules for mandated or discretionary sharing of information by | ||||||
15 | member boards.
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16 | SECTION 9. JOINT INVESTIGATIONS | ||||||
17 | (a) Licensure and disciplinary records of physicians are | ||||||
18 | deemed investigative. | ||||||
19 | (b) In addition to the authority granted to a member board | ||||||
20 | by its respective Medical Practice Act or other applicable | ||||||
21 | state law, a member board may participate with other member | ||||||
22 | boards in joint investigations of physicians licensed by | ||||||
23 | the member boards. | ||||||
24 | (c) A subpoena issued by a member state shall be | ||||||
25 | enforceable in other member states. |
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1 | (d) Member boards may share any investigative, litigation, | ||||||
2 | or compliance materials in furtherance of any joint or | ||||||
3 | individual investigation initiated under the Compact. | ||||||
4 | (e) Any member state may investigate actual or alleged | ||||||
5 | violations of the statutes authorizing the practice of medicine | ||||||
6 | in any other member state in which a physician holds a license | ||||||
7 | to practice medicine.
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8 | SECTION 10. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS | ||||||
9 | (a) Any disciplinary action taken by any member board | ||||||
10 | against a physician licensed through the Compact shall be | ||||||
11 | deemed unprofessional conduct which may be subject to | ||||||
12 | discipline by other member boards, in addition to any violation | ||||||
13 | of the Medical Practice Act or regulations in that state. | ||||||
14 | (b) If a license granted to a physician by the member board | ||||||
15 | in the state of principal license is revoked, surrendered or | ||||||
16 | relinquished in lieu of discipline, or suspended, then all | ||||||
17 | licenses issued to the physician by member boards shall | ||||||
18 | automatically be placed, without further action necessary by | ||||||
19 | any member board, on the same status. If the member board in | ||||||
20 | the state of principal license subsequently reinstates the | ||||||
21 | physician's license, a licensed issued to the physician by any | ||||||
22 | other member board shall remain encumbered until that | ||||||
23 | respective member board takes action to reinstate the license | ||||||
24 | in a manner consistent with the Medical Practice Act of that | ||||||
25 | state. |
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1 | (c) If disciplinary action is taken against a physician by | ||||||
2 | a member board not in the state of principal license, any other | ||||||
3 | member board may deem the action conclusive as to matter of law | ||||||
4 | and fact decided, and: | ||||||
5 | (i) impose the same or lesser sanction(s) against the | ||||||
6 | physician so long as such sanctions are consistent with the | ||||||
7 | Medical Practice Act of that state; | ||||||
8 | (ii) or pursue separate disciplinary action against | ||||||
9 | the physician under its respective Medical Practice Act, | ||||||
10 | regardless of the action taken in other member states. | ||||||
11 | (d) If a license granted to a physician by a member board | ||||||
12 | is revoked, surrendered or relinquished in lieu of discipline, | ||||||
13 | or suspended, then any license(s) issued to the physician by | ||||||
14 | any other member board(s) shall be suspended, automatically and | ||||||
15 | immediately without further action necessary by the other | ||||||
16 | member board(s), for ninety (90) days upon entry of the order | ||||||
17 | by the disciplining board, to permit the member board(s) to | ||||||
18 | investigate the basis for the action under the Medical Practice | ||||||
19 | Act of that state. A member board may terminate the automatic | ||||||
20 | suspension of the license it issued prior to the completion of | ||||||
21 | the ninety (90) day suspension period in a manner consistent | ||||||
22 | with the Medical Practice Act of that state.
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23 | SECTION 11. INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT | ||||||
24 | COMMISSION | ||||||
25 | (a) The member states hereby create the "Interstate Medical |
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1 | Licensure Compact Commission". | ||||||
2 | (b) The purpose of the Interstate Commission is the | ||||||
3 | administration of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, | ||||||
4 | which is a discretionary state function. | ||||||
5 | (c) The Interstate Commission shall be a body corporate and | ||||||
6 | joint agency of the member states and shall have all the | ||||||
7 | responsibilities, powers, and duties set forth in the Compact, | ||||||
8 | and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by a | ||||||
9 | subsequent concurrent action of the respective legislatures of | ||||||
10 | the member states in accordance with the terms of the Compact. | ||||||
11 | (d) The Interstate Commission shall consist of two voting | ||||||
12 | representatives appointed by each member state who shall serve | ||||||
13 | as Commissioners. In states where allopathic and osteopathic | ||||||
14 | physicians are regulated by separate member boards, or if the | ||||||
15 | licensing and disciplinary authority is split between multiple | ||||||
16 | member boards within a member state, the member state shall | ||||||
17 | appoint one representative from each member board. A | ||||||
18 | Commissioner shall be a(n): | ||||||
19 | (1) Allopathic or osteopathic physician appointed to a | ||||||
20 | member board; | ||||||
21 | (2) Executive director, executive secretary, or | ||||||
22 | similar executive of a member board; or | ||||||
23 | (3) Member of the public appointed to a member board. | ||||||
24 | (e) The Interstate Commission shall meet at least once each | ||||||
25 | calendar year. A portion of this meeting shall be a business | ||||||
26 | meeting to address such matters as may properly come before the |
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1 | Commission, including the election of officers. The | ||||||
2 | chairperson may call additional meetings and shall call for a | ||||||
3 | meeting upon the request of a majority of the member states. | ||||||
4 | (f) The bylaws may provide for meetings of the Interstate | ||||||
5 | Commission to be conducted by telecommunication or electronic | ||||||
6 | communication. | ||||||
7 | (g) Each Commissioner participating at a meeting of the | ||||||
8 | Interstate Commission is entitled to one vote. A majority of | ||||||
9 | Commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of | ||||||
10 | business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws of | ||||||
11 | the Interstate Commission. A Commissioner shall not delegate a | ||||||
12 | vote to another Commissioner. In the absence of its | ||||||
13 | Commissioner, a member state may delegate voting authority for | ||||||
14 | a specified meeting to another person from that state who shall | ||||||
15 | meet the requirements of subsection (d). | ||||||
16 | (h) The Interstate Commission shall provide public notice | ||||||
17 | of all meetings and all meetings shall be open to the public. | ||||||
18 | The Interstate Commission may close a meeting, in full or in | ||||||
19 | portion, where it determines by a two-thirds vote of the | ||||||
20 | Commissioners present that an open meeting would be likely to: | ||||||
21 | (1) Relate solely to the internal personnel practices | ||||||
22 | and procedures of the Interstate Commission; | ||||||
23 | (2) Discuss matters specifically exempted from | ||||||
24 | disclosure by federal statute; | ||||||
25 | (3) Discuss trade secrets, commercial, or financial | ||||||
26 | information that is privileged or confidential; |
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1 | (4) Involve accusing a person of a crime, or formally | ||||||
2 | censuring a person; | ||||||
3 | (5) Discuss information of a personal nature where | ||||||
4 | disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion | ||||||
5 | of personal privacy; | ||||||
6 | (6) Discuss investigative records compiled for law | ||||||
7 | enforcement purposes; or | ||||||
8 | (7) Specifically relate to the participation in a civil | ||||||
9 | action or other legal proceeding. | ||||||
10 | (i) The Interstate Commission shall keep minutes which | ||||||
11 | shall fully describe all matters discussed in a meeting and | ||||||
12 | shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, | ||||||
13 | including record of any roll call votes. | ||||||
14 | (j) The Interstate Commission shall make its information | ||||||
15 | and official records, to the extent not otherwise designated in | ||||||
16 | the Compact or by its rules, available to the public for | ||||||
17 | inspection. | ||||||
18 | (k) The Interstate Commission shall establish an executive | ||||||
19 | committee, which shall include officers, members, and others as | ||||||
20 | determined by the bylaws. The executive committee shall have | ||||||
21 | the power to act on behalf of the Interstate Commission, with | ||||||
22 | the exception of rulemaking, during periods when the Interstate | ||||||
23 | Commission is not in session. When acting on behalf of the | ||||||
24 | Interstate Commission, the executive committee shall oversee | ||||||
25 | the administration of the Compact including enforcement and | ||||||
26 | compliance with the provisions of the Compact, its bylaws and |
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1 | rules, and other such duties as necessary. | ||||||
2 | (l) The Interstate Commission may establish other | ||||||
3 | committees for governance and administration of the Compact.
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4 | SECTION 12. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION | ||||||
5 | The Interstate Commission shall have the duty and power to: | ||||||
6 | (a) Oversee and maintain the administration of the Compact; | ||||||
7 | (b) Promulgate rules which shall be binding to the extent | ||||||
8 | and in the manner provided for in the Compact; | ||||||
9 | (c) Issue, upon the request of a member state or member | ||||||
10 | board, advisory opinions concerning the meaning or | ||||||
11 | interpretation of the Compact, its bylaws, rules, and actions; | ||||||
12 | (d) Enforce compliance with Compact provisions, the rules | ||||||
13 | promulgated by the Interstate Commission, and the bylaws, using | ||||||
14 | all necessary and proper means, including but not limited to | ||||||
15 | the use of judicial process; | ||||||
16 | (e) Establish and appoint committees including, but not | ||||||
17 | limited to, an executive committee as required by Section 11, | ||||||
18 | which shall have the power to act on behalf of the Interstate | ||||||
19 | Commission in carrying out its powers and duties; | ||||||
20 | (f) Pay, or provide for the payment of the expenses related | ||||||
21 | to the establishment, organization, and ongoing activities of | ||||||
22 | the Interstate Commission; | ||||||
23 | (g) Establish and maintain one or more offices; | ||||||
24 | (h) Borrow, accept, hire, or contract for services of | ||||||
25 | personnel; |
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1 | (i) Purchase and maintain insurance and bonds; | ||||||
2 | (j) Employ an executive director who shall have such powers | ||||||
3 | to employ, select or appoint employees, agents, or consultants, | ||||||
4 | and to determine their qualifications, define their duties, and | ||||||
5 | fix their compensation; | ||||||
6 | (k) Establish personnel policies and programs relating to | ||||||
7 | conflicts of interest, rates of compensation, and | ||||||
8 | qualifications of personnel; | ||||||
9 | (l) Accept donations and grants of money, equipment, | ||||||
10 | supplies, materials and services, and to receive, utilize, and | ||||||
11 | dispose of it in a manner consistent with the conflict of | ||||||
12 | interest policies established by the Interstate Commission; | ||||||
13 | (m) Lease, purchase, accept contributions or donations of, | ||||||
14 | or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use, any property, real, | ||||||
15 | personal, or mixed; | ||||||
16 | (n) Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, | ||||||
17 | abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal, | ||||||
18 | or mixed; | ||||||
19 | (o) Establish a budget and make expenditures; | ||||||
20 | (p) Adopt a seal and bylaws governing the management and | ||||||
21 | operation of the Interstate Commission; | ||||||
22 | (q) Report annually to the legislatures and governors of | ||||||
23 | the member states concerning the activities of the Interstate | ||||||
24 | Commission during the preceding year. Such reports shall also | ||||||
25 | include reports of financial audits and any recommendations | ||||||
26 | that may have been adopted by the Interstate Commission; |
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1 | (r) Coordinate education, training, and public awareness | ||||||
2 | regarding the Compact, its implementation, and its operation; | ||||||
3 | (s) Maintain records in accordance with the bylaws; | ||||||
4 | (t) Seek and obtain trademarks, copyrights, and patents; | ||||||
5 | and | ||||||
6 | (u) Perform such functions as may be necessary or | ||||||
7 | appropriate to achieve the purposes of the Compact.
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8 | SECTION 13. FINANCE POWERS | ||||||
9 | (a) The Interstate Commission may levy on and collect an | ||||||
10 | annual assessment from each member state to cover the cost of | ||||||
11 | the operations and activities of the Interstate Commission and | ||||||
12 | its staff. The total assessment must be sufficient to cover the | ||||||
13 | annual budget approved each year for which revenue is not | ||||||
14 | provided by other sources. The aggregate annual assessment | ||||||
15 | amount shall be allocated upon a formula to be determined by | ||||||
16 | the Interstate Commission, which shall promulgate a rule | ||||||
17 | binding upon all member states. | ||||||
18 | (b) The Interstate Commission shall not incur obligations | ||||||
19 | of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the | ||||||
20 | same. | ||||||
21 | (c) The Interstate Commission shall not pledge the credit | ||||||
22 | of any of the member states, except by, and with the authority | ||||||
23 | of, the member state. | ||||||
24 | (d) The Interstate Commission shall be subject to a yearly | ||||||
25 | financial audit conducted by a certified or licensed public |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in the | ||||||
2 | annual report of the Interstate Commission.
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3 | SECTION 14. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE INTERSTATE | ||||||
4 | COMMISSION | ||||||
5 | (a) The Interstate Commission shall, by a majority of | ||||||
6 | Commissioners present and voting, adopt bylaws to govern its | ||||||
7 | conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the | ||||||
8 | purposes | ||||||
9 | of the Compact within twelve (12) months of the first | ||||||
10 | Interstate Commission meeting. | ||||||
11 | (b) The Interstate Commission shall elect or appoint | ||||||
12 | annually from among its Commissioners a chairperson, a | ||||||
13 | vice-chairperson, and a treasurer, each of whom shall have such | ||||||
14 | authority and duties as may be specified in the bylaws. The | ||||||
15 | chairperson, or in the chairperson's absence or disability, the | ||||||
16 | vice-chairperson, shall preside at all meetings of the | ||||||
17 | Interstate Commission. | ||||||
18 | (c) Officers selected in subsection (b) shall serve without | ||||||
19 | remuneration from the Interstate Commission. | ||||||
20 | (d) The officers and employees of the Interstate Commission | ||||||
21 | shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or | ||||||
22 | in their official capacity, for a claim for damage to or loss | ||||||
23 | of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused | ||||||
24 | or arising out of, or relating to, an actual or alleged act, | ||||||
25 | error, or omission that occurred, or that such person had a |
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1 | reasonable basis for believing occurred, within the scope of | ||||||
2 | Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; | ||||||
3 | provided that such person shall not be protected from suit or | ||||||
4 | liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the | ||||||
5 | intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such person. | ||||||
6 | (1) The liability of the executive director and | ||||||
7 | employees of the Interstate Commission or representatives | ||||||
8 | of the Interstate Commission, acting within the scope of | ||||||
9 | such person's employment or duties for acts, errors, or | ||||||
10 | omissions occurring within such person's state, may not | ||||||
11 | exceed the limits of liability set forth under the | ||||||
12 | constitution and laws of that state for state officials, | ||||||
13 | employees, and agents. The Interstate Commission is | ||||||
14 | considered to be an instrumentality of the states for the | ||||||
15 | purposes of any such action. Nothing in this subsection | ||||||
16 | shall be construed to protect such person from suit or | ||||||
17 | liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by | ||||||
18 | the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such | ||||||
19 | person. | ||||||
20 | (2) The Interstate Commission shall defend the | ||||||
21 | executive director, its employees, and subject to the | ||||||
22 | approval of the attorney general or other appropriate legal | ||||||
23 | counsel of the member state represented by an Interstate | ||||||
24 | Commission representative, shall defend such Interstate | ||||||
25 | Commission representative in any civil action seeking to | ||||||
26 | impose liability arising out of an actual or alleged act, |
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1 | error or omission that occurred within the scope of | ||||||
2 | Interstate Commission employment, duties or | ||||||
3 | responsibilities, or that the defendant had a reasonable | ||||||
4 | basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate | ||||||
5 | Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, | ||||||
6 | provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission | ||||||
7 | did not result from intentional or willful and wanton | ||||||
8 | misconduct on the part of such person. | ||||||
9 | (3) To the extent not covered by the state involved, | ||||||
10 | member state, or the Interstate Commission, the | ||||||
11 | representatives or employees of the Interstate Commission | ||||||
12 | shall be held harmless in the amount of a settlement or | ||||||
13 | judgment, including attorney's fees and costs, obtained | ||||||
14 | against such persons arising out of an actual or alleged | ||||||
15 | act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of | ||||||
16 | Interstate Commission employment, duties, or | ||||||
17 | responsibilities, or that such persons had a reasonable | ||||||
18 | basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate | ||||||
19 | Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, | ||||||
20 | provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission | ||||||
21 | did not result from intentional or willful and wanton | ||||||
22 | misconduct on the part of such persons.
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23 | SECTION 15. RULEMAKING FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERSTATE | ||||||
24 | COMMISSION | ||||||
25 | (a) The Interstate Commission shall promulgate reasonable |
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| |||||||
1 | rules in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the | ||||||
2 | purposes of the Compact. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the | ||||||
3 | event | ||||||
4 | the Interstate Commission exercises its rulemaking | ||||||
5 | authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes | ||||||
6 | of the Compact, or the powers granted hereunder, then such an | ||||||
7 | action by the Interstate Commission shall be invalid and have | ||||||
8 | no force or effect. | ||||||
9 | (b) Rules deemed appropriate for the operations of the | ||||||
10 | Interstate Commission shall be made pursuant to a rulemaking | ||||||
11 | process that substantially conforms to the "Model State | ||||||
12 | Administrative Procedure Act" of 2010, and subsequent | ||||||
13 | amendments thereto. | ||||||
14 | (c) Not later than thirty (30) days after a rule is | ||||||
15 | promulgated, any person may file a petition for judicial review | ||||||
16 | of the rule in the United States District Court for the | ||||||
17 | District of Columbia or the federal district where the | ||||||
18 | Interstate Commission has its principal offices, provided that | ||||||
19 | the filing of such a petition shall not stay or otherwise | ||||||
20 | prevent the rule from becoming effective unless the court finds | ||||||
21 | that the petitioner has a substantial likelihood of success. | ||||||
22 | The court shall give deference to the actions of the Interstate | ||||||
23 | Commission consistent with applicable law and shall not find | ||||||
24 | the rule to be unlawful if the rule represents a reasonable | ||||||
25 | exercise of the authority granted to the Interstate Commission.
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1 | SECTION 16. OVERSIGHT OF INTERSTATE COMPACT | ||||||
2 | (a) The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of | ||||||
3 | state government in each member state shall enforce the Compact | ||||||
4 | and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to | ||||||
5 | effectuate the Compact's purposes and intent. The provisions of | ||||||
6 | the Compact and the rules promulgated hereunder shall have | ||||||
7 | standing as statutory law but shall not override existing state | ||||||
8 | authority to regulate the practice of medicine. | ||||||
9 | (b) All courts shall take judicial notice of the Compact | ||||||
10 | and the rules in any judicial or administrative proceeding in a | ||||||
11 | member state pertaining to the subject matter of the Compact | ||||||
12 | which may affect the powers, responsibilities or actions of the | ||||||
13 | Interstate Commission. | ||||||
14 | (c) The Interstate Commission shall be entitled to receive | ||||||
15 | all service of process in any such proceeding, and shall have | ||||||
16 | standing to intervene in the proceeding for all purposes. | ||||||
17 | Failure to provide service of process to the Interstate | ||||||
18 | Commission shall render a judgment or order void as to the | ||||||
19 | Interstate Commission, the Compact, or promulgated rules.
| ||||||
20 | SECTION 17. ENFORCEMENT OF INTERSTATE COMPACT | ||||||
21 | (a) The Interstate Commission, in the reasonable exercise | ||||||
22 | of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of | ||||||
23 | the Compact. | ||||||
24 | (b) The Interstate Commission may, by majority vote of the | ||||||
25 | Commissioners, initiate legal action in the United States |
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| |||||||
1 | District Court for the District of Columbia, or, at the | ||||||
2 | discretion of the Interstate Commission, in the federal | ||||||
3 | district where the Interstate Commission has its principal | ||||||
4 | offices, to enforce compliance with the provisions of the | ||||||
5 | Compact, and its promulgated rules and bylaws, against a member | ||||||
6 | state in default. The relief sought may include both injunctive | ||||||
7 | relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is | ||||||
8 | necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of | ||||||
9 | such litigation including reasonable attorney's fees. | ||||||
10 | (c) The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies | ||||||
11 | of the Interstate Commission. The Interstate Commission may | ||||||
12 | avail itself of any other remedies available under state law or | ||||||
13 | the regulation of a profession.
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14 | SECTION 18. DEFAULT PROCEDURES | ||||||
15 | (a) The grounds for default include, but are not limited | ||||||
16 | to, failure of a member state to perform such obligations or | ||||||
17 | responsibilities imposed upon it by the Compact, or the rules | ||||||
18 | and bylaws of the Interstate Commission promulgated under the | ||||||
19 | Compact. | ||||||
20 | (b) If the Interstate Commission determines that a member | ||||||
21 | state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or | ||||||
22 | responsibilities under the Compact, or the bylaws or | ||||||
23 | promulgated rules, the Interstate Commission shall: | ||||||
24 | (1) Provide written notice to the defaulting state and | ||||||
25 | other member states, of the nature of the default, the |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | means of curing the default, and any action taken by the | ||||||
2 | Interstate Commission. The Interstate Commission shall | ||||||
3 | specify the conditions by which the defaulting state must | ||||||
4 | cure its default; and | ||||||
5 | (2) Provide remedial training and specific technical | ||||||
6 | assistance regarding the default. | ||||||
7 | (c) If the defaulting state fails to cure the default, the | ||||||
8 | defaulting state shall be terminated from the Compact upon an | ||||||
9 | affirmative vote of a majority of the Commissioners and all | ||||||
10 | rights, privileges, and benefits conferred by the Compact shall | ||||||
11 | terminate on the effective date of termination. A cure of the | ||||||
12 | default does not relieve the offending state of obligations or | ||||||
13 | liabilities incurred during the period of the default. | ||||||
14 | (d) Termination of membership in the Compact shall be | ||||||
15 | imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have | ||||||
16 | been exhausted. Notice of intent to terminate shall be given by | ||||||
17 | the Interstate Commission to the governor, the majority and | ||||||
18 | minority leaders of the defaulting state's legislature, and | ||||||
19 | each of the member states. | ||||||
20 | (e) The Interstate Commission shall establish rules and | ||||||
21 | procedures to address licenses and physicians that are | ||||||
22 | materially impacted by the termination of a member state, or | ||||||
23 | the withdrawal of a member state. | ||||||
24 | (f) The member state which has been terminated is | ||||||
25 | responsible for all dues, obligations, and liabilities | ||||||
26 | incurred through the effective date of termination including |
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| |||||||
1 | obligations, the | ||||||
2 | performance of which extends beyond the effective date of | ||||||
3 | termination. | ||||||
4 | (g) The Interstate Commission shall not bear any costs | ||||||
5 | relating to any state that has been found to be in default or | ||||||
6 | which has been terminated from the Compact, unless otherwise | ||||||
7 | mutually agreed upon in writing between the Interstate | ||||||
8 | Commission and the defaulting state. | ||||||
9 | (h) The defaulting state may appeal the action of the | ||||||
10 | Interstate Commission by petitioning the United States | ||||||
11 | District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal | ||||||
12 | district where the Interstate Commission has its principal | ||||||
13 | offices. The prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of | ||||||
14 | such litigation including reasonable attorney's fees.
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15 | SECTION 19. DISPUTE RESOLUTION | ||||||
16 | (a) The Interstate Commission shall attempt, upon the | ||||||
17 | request of a member state, to resolve disputes which are | ||||||
18 | subject to the Compact and which may arise among member states | ||||||
19 | or member boards. | ||||||
20 | (b) The Interstate Commission shall promulgate rules | ||||||
21 | providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution as | ||||||
22 | appropriate.
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23 | SECTION 20. MEMBER STATES, EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENT | ||||||
24 | (a) Any state is eligible to become a member state of the |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | Compact. | ||||||
2 | (b) The Compact shall become effective and binding upon | ||||||
3 | legislative enactment of the Compact into law by no less than | ||||||
4 | seven (7) states. Thereafter, it shall become effective and | ||||||
5 | binding on a state upon enactment of the Compact into law by | ||||||
6 | that state. | ||||||
7 | (c) The governors of non-member states, or their designees, | ||||||
8 | shall be invited to participate in the activities of the | ||||||
9 | Interstate Commission on a non-voting basis prior to adoption | ||||||
10 | of the Compact by all states. | ||||||
11 | (d) The Interstate Commission may propose amendments to the | ||||||
12 | Compact for enactment by the member states. No amendment shall | ||||||
13 | become effective and binding upon the Interstate Commission and | ||||||
14 | the member states unless and until it is enacted into law by | ||||||
15 | unanimous consent of the member states.
| ||||||
16 | SECTION 21. WITHDRAWAL | ||||||
17 | (a) Once effective, the Compact shall continue in force and | ||||||
18 | remain binding upon each and every member state; provided that | ||||||
19 | a member state may withdraw from the Compact by specifically | ||||||
20 | repealing the statute which enacted the Compact into law. | ||||||
21 | (b) Withdrawal from the Compact shall be by the enactment | ||||||
22 | of a statute repealing the same, but shall not take effect | ||||||
23 | until one (1) year after the effective date of such statute and | ||||||
24 | until written notice of the withdrawal has been given by the | ||||||
25 | withdrawing state to the governor of each other member state. |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (c) The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the | ||||||
2 | chairperson of the Interstate Commission in writing upon the | ||||||
3 | introduction of legislation repealing the Compact in the | ||||||
4 | withdrawing state. | ||||||
5 | (d) The Interstate Commission shall notify the other member | ||||||
6 | states of the withdrawing state's intent to withdraw within | ||||||
7 | sixty (60) days of its receipt of notice provided under | ||||||
8 | subsection (c). | ||||||
9 | (e) The withdrawing state is responsible for all dues, | ||||||
10 | obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective | ||||||
11 | date of withdrawal, including obligations, the performance of | ||||||
12 | which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal. | ||||||
13 | (f) Reinstatement following withdrawal of a member state | ||||||
14 | shall occur upon the withdrawing state reenacting the Compact | ||||||
15 | or upon such later date as determined by the Interstate | ||||||
16 | Commission. | ||||||
17 | (g) The Interstate Commission is authorized to develop | ||||||
18 | rules to address the impact of the withdrawal of a member state | ||||||
19 | on licenses granted in other member states to physicians who | ||||||
20 | designated the withdrawing member state as the state of | ||||||
21 | principal license.
| ||||||
22 | SECTION 22. DISSOLUTION | ||||||
23 | (a) The Compact shall dissolve effective upon the date of | ||||||
24 | the withdrawal or default of the member state which reduces the | ||||||
25 | membership in the Compact to one (1) member state. |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (b) Upon the dissolution of the Compact, the Compact | ||||||
2 | becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or | ||||||
3 | effect, and the business and affairs of the Interstate | ||||||
4 | Commission shall be concluded and surplus funds shall be | ||||||
5 | distributed in accordance with the bylaws.
| ||||||
6 | SECTION 23. SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION | ||||||
7 | (a) The provisions of the Compact shall be severable, and | ||||||
8 | if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision is deemed | ||||||
9 | unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Compact shall be | ||||||
10 | enforceable. | ||||||
11 | (b) The provisions of the Compact shall be liberally | ||||||
12 | construed to effectuate its purposes. | ||||||
13 | (c) Nothing in the Compact shall be construed to prohibit | ||||||
14 | the applicability of other interstate compacts to which the | ||||||
15 | states are members.
| ||||||
16 | SECTION 24. BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS | ||||||
17 | (a) Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other | ||||||
18 | law of a member state that is not inconsistent with the | ||||||
19 | Compact. | ||||||
20 | (b) All laws in a member state in conflict with the Compact | ||||||
21 | are superseded to the extent of the conflict. | ||||||
22 | (c) All lawful actions of the Interstate Commission, | ||||||
23 | including all rules and bylaws promulgated by the Commission, | ||||||
24 | are binding upon the member states. |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (d) All agreements between the Interstate Commission and | ||||||
2 | the member states are binding in accordance with their terms. | ||||||
3 | (e) In the event any provision of the Compact exceeds the | ||||||
4 | constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any member | ||||||
5 | state, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of the | ||||||
6 | conflict with the constitutional provision in question in that | ||||||
7 | member state.
|