SB 736

This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Emergency Medical Services

Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (compact), which provides emergency

medical services personnel the ability to obtain a “privilege to practice” in a remote

state without obtaining a license in that remote state. Under the bill, “privilege to

practice” means an individual's authority to deliver emergency medical services in

remote states as authorized under the compact, “member state” means a state that

has enacted the compact, “home state” means a member state where an individual

is licensed to practice emergency medical services, and “remote state” means a

member state in which an individual is not licensed. Significant provisions of the

compact as ratified in the bill include:

1. The compact establishes a joint public agency called the Interstate

Commission for Emergency Medical Services Personnel Practice. Each member

state has one delegate to the commission. The commission meets at least once during

each calendar year. The commission has the authority to promulgate bylaws that

regulate the activities of the commission, and rules binding on the member states.

The compact prescribes a rule-making process that requires public notice and

opportunity for comment. The commission delegates vote on all proposed rules by

majority vote. Further, the commission has the power to bring and prosecute legal

proceedings, to purchase and maintain insurance and bonds, to hire employees, and

to take other actions appropriately related to the function of the commission. All

meetings of the commission are open to the public unless closed to discuss sensitive

matters. If a meeting of the commission is closed to the public, the compact requires

that meeting minutes be prepared and kept under seal.

2. Under the compact, a home state's license authorizes an individual who

holds that license to practice in a remote state under a privilege to practice if the

home state meets certain conditions. Those conditions include that the home state

has a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints about

individuals, and the home state requires a criminal background check of all

applicants for initial licensure. If the home state is in compliance with the conditions

of the compact, then an individual licensed in the home state has a privilege to

practice in all other member states under the conditions set by the compact. Under

the compact, an individual practicing in a remote state is subject to the remote state's

authority and laws. Besides the conditions of membership in the compact, the

compact does not affect the authority of a member state to issue a license or to

establish requirements for the license.

3. Under the compact, a state has the exclusive power to impose adverse action

against an individual's license that is issued by that state. If an individual's license

in any home state is restricted or suspended, the individual is not eligible to practice

in a remote state until the individual's home state license is restored. Further, under

the compact, a member state has the authority to issue subpoenas for both hearings