SB 504 prohibits most noncompete agreements that restrict healthcare professionals from practicing patient care after leaving a job. It directly affects physicians and mid-level practitioners (like nurse practitioners) who may have faced such restrictions. The bill allows limited 24-month restrictions only if an employee voluntarily leaves, capped at 15 miles from the practice location, and requires employers to offer a financial buyout covering unamortized recruitment costs - prohibiting penalties for lost profits or training. It does not affect confidentiality agreements or medical practice sale terms. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, voiding existing post-employment restrictions.
HB 2534 creates an interstate agreement (compact) allowing respiratory therapists licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed respiratory therapists and patients in participating states by establishing a "compact privilege" that permits practice under the laws of the state where the patient is located. Therapists must maintain an active home-state license, pass background checks, and comply with each state's scope of practice. The goal is to improve access to respiratory therapy services, support military families relocating across state lines, and address workforce shortages.
HB 2532 establishes a voluntary "impaired provider program" for Kansas nurses and other licensed nursing professionals (including registered nurses, LPNs, and nurse anesthetists) who may be impaired due to substance use, mental health conditions, or other factors affecting their practice. The program allows licensees to enter treatment instead of facing immediate disciplinary action, requiring participation in random drug/alcohol testing, evaluations, and a minimum one-year commitment. Successful completion removes disciplinary records and protects participation confidentiality, while expanding the grounds for disciplinary action for other violations. This bill replaces punitive processes with rehabilitation options for eligible licensees under the Kansas Nurse Practice Act.
SB 328 allows pharmacists to provide stock epinephrine auto-injectors to Kansas schools for emergency use in treating severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). It updates school medication policies to include these kits, requiring a doctor or nurse practitioner's prescription in the school's name, and shields pharmacists from liability when distributing them. This directly affects public and private schools by enabling them to maintain emergency medication kits without requiring individual student prescriptions for each incident.
HB 2509 amends Kansas law to explicitly include "licensed advanced practice registered nurse" (specifically those authorized as nurse-midwives) in the definition of "healthcare provider" under the Healthcare Provider Insurance Availability Act. This change directly affects advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who practice as nurse-midwives, ensuring they qualify under the same professional liability insurance requirements as other defined healthcare providers. The bill modifies K.S.A. 40-3401 to add new subsections (S) and (U) to the definition, aligning APRNs with existing categories like physicians and nurses. This adjustment ensures APRNs are covered by the state's framework for professional liability insurance availability, without altering insurance benefits or costs. The bill is currently pending in the Health and Human Services Committee.
HB 2478 requires advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and registered nurse anesthetists (RNAs) to undergo criminal background checks when applying for a nursing license in Kansas. The bill amends Kansas law to mandate fingerprinting and state/national criminal history checks for these specific nursing applicants during the licensing process. Applicants must pay fees that cover the cost of background checks, with funds collected into a new "criminal background and fingerprinting fund" managed by the Board of Nursing. This policy change directly affects APRN and RNA license seekers by adding a mandatory background check step to their application requirements.
SB 334 requires nursing schools in Kansas seeking state approval to ensure their instructors hold nursing degrees at least one level higher than the program they teach (e.g., instructors for practical nursing programs must have a professional nursing degree). This directly affects all Kansas nursing schools applying for or renewing state approval. The bill amends existing law to mandate this faculty qualification standard as part of the approval process, with limited exemptions for schools facing hiring challenges. It does not alter nursing curricula or student requirements.
HB 2563 requires Kansas day care facilities to maintain health assessment records for enrolled children under 10 (or under 16 if residing at the facility). These assessments must be completed by specific healthcare providers - such as physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, chiropractors, or approved nurses - and include a parent-provided medical history. Facilities must annually review each child’s medical history with their parent or guardian. The bill mandates that these records be kept on file at the facility, using a standardized form from the Kansas Office of Early Childhood. This directly affects day care facilities, parents/guardians, and the listed healthcare providers who complete the assessments.
HB 2374 establishes a new specialty practice student loan repayment program by consolidating existing funds from the OBGYN and psychiatry medical student loan repayment programs (which are abolished) into a single specialty fund. The University of Kansas School of Medicine will administer the program, offering loan repayment to medical students who commit to practicing in approved specialties - such as gynecology, general psychiatry, or other specialties designated by the chancellor - in designated service areas like rural communities or state medical facilities. The bill requires the university to annually report changes to eligible specialties and service areas based on workforce needs, population data, and community needs. This reorganization reallocates existing state funds without creating new spending to address healthcare workforce shortages in underserved regions.
HB 2069 establishes a compact enabling school psychologists licensed in one state to practice in other participating states without duplicative licensing requirements. This improves access to school psychological services by allowing qualified professionals to work across state lines, particularly to address workforce shortages in schools. The compact requires practitioners to follow the scope of practice laws of the state where services are provided and ensures only licensed professionals deliver these services, while preserving each state's authority to protect public health and safety.
