NM Legislature moving swiftly to adopt new Nurse Licensure Compact
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Nordstrum (505) 986-4819 Chris.Nordstrum@nmlegis.gov
(Santa Fe, NM) Today leaders from both the House and Senate announced that the 2018 Legislature has begun the process to officially adopt the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) before a critical deadline at week’s end.
Senate Bill 1 was introduced in the Senate as a first order of business on the first day of the session. It was then heard in and reported out of Committee’s Committee.
Tomorrow the bill will be heard and if passed will be reported out of Senate Judiciary Committee and placed on 3rd reading before being sent to the House for consideration.
By Thursday it is expected that both chambers will accept and sign the bill to send to the Governor’s office for her signature.
New Mexico has been a member of the existing compact since 2004, but the agreement that allows qualified nurses to practice in other compact states has been updated, requiring that states pass legislation to adopt the new, or “enhanced,” compact in order to maintain reciprocity status with those who have entered into the new agreement. In order for New Mexico nurses to be grandfathered in to the eNLC, a bill must be introduced, passed and signed by the Governor by the end of this week.
The enactment of the compact will allow registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses to have one multistate license, with the ability to practice in person or via telehealth in both their home state and other eNLC states.
Tomorrow, January 17, is New Mexico Nurses Association Day at the Legislature. Nursing groups from around New Mexico, along with many of the legislators working to pass the Licensure Compact, will be speaking at 2pm in the State Capitol Rotunda to address the importance of this legislation to our healthcare system throughout the state.
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