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Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania House Bill 588 requires nurses to complete older adult abuse training for license renewal
Last action · February 12, 2025: Referred to PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, Feb. 12, 2025Sponsors: Tarik Khan and 31 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Pennsylvania registered nurses and licensed practical nurses must complete one hour of Board-approved in older adult abuse recognition and reporting during each two-year renewal period, starting 60 days after enactment.
Nurses failing to complete the mandatory older adult abuse training face license renewal denials, civil penalties, or disciplinary actions, and cannot practice until the requirement is met.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
registered nurses
Registered nurses must complete one hour of older adult abuse continuing education during each two-year renewal period and retain documentation for audit.
licensed practical nurses
Licensed practical nurses must complete one hour of older adult abuse continuing education during each two-year renewal period and retain documentation for audit.
Key Facts
- Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses seeking license renewal must complete at least one hour of Board-approved continuing education in older adult abuse recognition and reporting during each biennial period.
- The one-hour older adult abuse course is part of the existing mandatory thirty hours of continuing education required every two years.
- Initial license applicants are exempt from general continuing education requirements on their first renewal, but must still complete the older adult abuse training.
- Nurses must retain completion certificates for at least five years and comply with Board audit requests.
Show all 8 facts
- Continuing education hours for older adult abuse cannot be carried over from one biennial renewal period to the next.
- Nurses failing to complete the requirement face license non-renewal, civil penalties, and possible disciplinary action under section 13(b) or section 14(a)(3).
- Nurses may request a waiver for serious illness, military service, or other demonstrated hardship by submitting a request in writing at least 90 days before license expiration.
- This act takes effect in 60 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this requirement apply to nurses newly applying for a license in Pennsylvania?
Can older adult abuse training hours be carried over to the next renewal period?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Feb 12, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, Feb. 12, 2025
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 27 more sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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