Senate Bill 2032

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



    Florida Senate - 1999                                  SB 2032

    By Senator Silver





    38-1446-99

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the "Nurse Practice Act";

  3         amending s. 464.003, F.S.; defining the term

  4         "telehealth"; amending s. 464.015, F.S.;

  5         prohibiting any person from advertising or

  6         assuming the title of "nurse" unless the person

  7         is certified; amending s. 464.016, F.S.;

  8         providing that the use of the title "nurse"

  9         without being licensed or certified is a crime;

10         providing an effective date.

11

12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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14         Section 1.  Subsection (8) is added to section 464.003,

15  Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, to read:

16         464.003  Definitions.--As used in this chapter:

17         (8)  "Telehealth" means the use of telecommunication

18  technologies to deliver health care services authorized

19  pursuant to this chapter to a patient by transporting the

20  patient to a licensed practitioner's office by use of

21  telecommunications. This is comparable to the patient

22  traveling to the licensed practitioner's office. Therefore,

23  the "site of service" for such health care services means the

24  location of the practitioner when practicing through the use

25  of telecommunication technologies, as long as such

26  practitioner has an active license to practice in such

27  location.

28         Section 2.  Subsection (6) of section 464.015, Florida

29  Statutes, is amended to read:

30         464.015  Titles and abbreviations; restrictions;

31  penalty.--

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                                  SB 2032
    38-1446-99




  1         (6)  No person shall practice or advertise as, or

  2  assume the title of, nurse, registered nurse, licensed

  3  practical nurse, or advanced registered nurse practitioner or

  4  use the abbreviation "R.N.," "L.P.N.," or "A.R.N.P." or take

  5  any other action that would lead the public to believe that

  6  person was certified as such or is performing nursing services

  7  pursuant to the exception set forth in s. 464.022(8), unless

  8  that person is licensed or certified to practice as such.

  9         Section 3.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section

10  464.016, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

11         464.016  Violations and penalties.--

12         (2)  Each of the following acts constitutes a

13  misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.

14  775.082 or s. 775.083:

15         (a)  Using the name or title "Nurse," "Registered

16  Nurse," "Licensed Practical Nurse," "Advanced Registered Nurse

17  Practitioner," or any other name or title which implies that a

18  person was licensed or certified as same, unless such person

19  is duly licensed or certified.

20         Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.

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22            *****************************************

23                          SENATE SUMMARY

24    Defines the term "telehealth" for purposes of the "Nurse
      Practice Act." Prohibits any person from advertising or
25    assuming the title of "nurse" unless the person is
      certified. Provides that the use of the title "nurse"
26    without being certified or licensed is a first-degree
      misdemeanor.
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