An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact; providing for the form of the compact; and imposing additional powers and duties on the Governor, the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact.

This bill authorizes Pennsylvania to join the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, a legal agreement designed to allow licensed respiratory therapists to practice in other member states without needing separate licenses for each location. The legislation establishes a framework where a therapist's home state retains primary regulatory authority while granting temporary practice privileges in other states to improve patient access and support military families. Key provisions include creating a central data system to track licenses, defining strict rules for handling disciplinary actions across state lines, and setting requirements for criminal background checks and jurisprudence exams. By adopting this compact, the state aims to streamline administrative processes and address workforce shortages while maintaining public safety standards.