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House advances Nurse Practice Act recodification, retains physician supervision for prescriptive authority
Summary
Senate Bill 61, recodifying the Nurse Practice Act to define advanced practice registered nurses and require national certification and a master's degree for prescriptive authority, passed the House 63‑2 after sponsor testimony and clarifying Q&A about supervision arrangements.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on Feb. 12 passed Senate Bill 61, a recodification of the Nurse Practice Act intended to update definitions of nursing levels, add peer advisory committees and clarify prescriptive authority for advanced practice registered nurses.
Representative Julander, the sponsor, told the chamber SB61 consolidates three specialty nursing types into a single advanced practice registered nurse category and updates licensure standards to require national certification and a minimum master’s degree for that level of practice. Julander said the bill maintained collaborative practice with physicians for prescriptive authority and added temporary licensure and strengthened disciplinary provisions for immediate dangers to the public.
During floor questioning, Representative Valentine asked whether the new prescriptive language represented any substantive change in supervisory arrangements; Julander answered that it did not. “There is no substantive change. The physician and nurse work collaborative practice together,” Julander said. Supporters on the floor, including hospital and practitioner backers, argued the update brings state standards in line with national practice.
The House recorded the final vote as 63 in favor and 2 opposed; the measure was forwarded to the Senate with the House’s passage recorded in the journal.
What’s next: The bill will proceed to the Senate for further consideration and any necessary enrollment actions.
