SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE COMPACT
Sponsored By: Andrew Gray (Democratic)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
22 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 3 costs, 13 mixed.
License required to practice respiratory care
You must hold a state license to practice respiratory care or use titles like “licensed respiratory care practitioner” or “R.C.P.” Using these titles or practicing without a license is illegal and may bring criminal charges.
New licenses for respiratory therapists
Beginning January 1, 2027, Alaska licenses respiratory care practitioners. You can get a license with approved national credentials, sworn proof, and fees, or by credentials if you are licensed elsewhere with similar standards. Workers already employed in Alaska before that date can apply within one year and be grandfathered without the new initial certification. To renew, you must complete 20 hours of continuing education and list all past licenses and their standing. The law defines what tasks you may do under a medical director, and adds strict discipline and a class B misdemeanor for unlawful practice; the Department sets the detailed rules.
Insurers barred from unfair provider discrimination
Starting January 1, 2027, insurers and HMOs cannot unfairly refuse or limit covered services by licensed providers when the service is within their license. This includes listed providers such as licensed clinical social workers. Insurers may still make limits required by other laws.
EMS workers get interstate practice rights
The state joins and implements the EMS licensure compact. If you are 18 or older with a current, unrestricted EMS license, you can use a compact privilege to practice in other member states under a medical director. State EMS authorities can enforce the rules, including issuing subpoenas across states and restricting a compact privilege within the state. Courts in other member states must enforce these subpoenas.
Rural health grants and oversight council
The Department of Health runs a Rural Health Transformation Program and Advisory Council. The department posts the state’s federal application and updates online and uses federal funds to award grants for approved rural health projects. These council provisions end December 31, 2031.
Easier interstate licensure for doctors and PAs
The medical board puts the medical and physician assistant licensure compacts into practice. The board writes rules and procedures to run them. This helps eligible doctors and PAs get licensed across member states more easily.
More fingerprinting for health license applicants
More health professions now require fingerprints and a national criminal-history check when you apply. This includes certain physician, physician assistant, psychologist, EMT, and paramedic credentials. EMTs, advanced EMTs, and mobile intensive care paramedics must submit fingerprints and pay Department of Public Safety fees. The health department sends them to DPS and uses the results only to decide if you qualify.
Faster multistate licenses for doctors
The state joins the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Eligible doctors apply through their state of principal license and, after fingerprint‑based background checks, can get expedited licenses in other member states. You must meet strict standards: accredited medical school, exams within three attempts, accredited training, board certification, an unrestricted license, and no convictions or prior discipline. You must renew, keep your principal license clean, meet continuing education, and pay required fees. Discipline in one state can trigger action in others, and member boards can share investigations and data.
Easier multistate practice for social workers
The Board implements the Social Work Licensure Compact and appoints a delegate to its commission. If you practice under a valid multistate authorization, you are not guilty of practicing without a license. The law adds clear definitions for multistate authorization and regulated social worker. Starting January 1, 2027, multistate social work applicants must submit fingerprints and pass a national background check.
EMTs and paramedics can work across states
The EMS Compact sets common rules so qualified EMTs, advanced EMTs, and paramedics can work across member states. A home state can grant privileges only if it meets standards: national exams for new EMTs and paramedics, complaint and investigation systems, timely background checks, and reporting. States must report adverse actions and major investigations, and can limit or revoke a person’s privilege within their borders. A multistate EMS Commission runs the Compact, keeps a shared database, and can enforce rules, use mediation, or go to court.
Multistate licenses and rules for social workers
The law creates a Social Work Licensure Compact. If your Home State grants you a Multistate License, you can practice in other Member States. States require accredited education, a national exam, and fingerprint‑based background checks, and you must keep a valid Home State license. Only your Home State can act against your Multistate License, but a Remote State can limit your practice there and issue subpoenas. A secure data system shares license status and discipline, with privacy rules and removal of expunged records. The Compact Commission runs the system, makes rules after public notice (and emergency rules when needed), and may charge fees to states and license holders. Active‑duty military members and spouses can keep their Home State while on active duty.
Multistate licenses for social workers
Alaska adopts the Social Work Licensure Compact. Your Home State issues a Multistate License (bachelor’s, master’s, or clinical) that other member states recognize when you qualify. To qualify and renew, you need an active, unencumbered Home State license, continuing competence, fees, and fingerprints for FBI and state checks; clinical licenses also require a master’s degree and 3,000 supervised hours or two years. The board sends your fingerprints and fees to Public Safety and uses the results only to judge fitness. You must follow the laws of the state where the client is. Remote states can suspend or fine you, and any encumbrance can turn off your authorization there until fixed. The Compact Commission can make rules with public comment (and emergency rules), charge assessments, and the Compact starts once at least seven states enact it.
Physician assistants can practice across states
The state joins the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. Member states must use the data system, take and investigate complaints, share adverse actions, run criminal background checks, and use a national exam. If you graduated from an approved program, keep NCCPA certification, and have no disqualifying convictions or controlled‑substance actions, you can get a Compact Privilege to work in other member states. Your privilege lasts while your qualifying license is valid; after adverse action, you lose privileges until limits are removed and two years pass. The Compact Commission can set rules, charge state assessments, and licensees pay compact‑privilege fees; the Department also sets a state “compact privilege” fee.
Stronger cross-state discipline for social workers
Your Home State treats reports from other member states like local cases and uses its own laws to decide action. If you change Home State during an investigation, the original state must finish it and report the result. States may take action based on another state’s factual findings, do joint investigations, and share investigation materials. A state may bill you for investigation and case costs if that state’s law allows it.
Multistate licensing system for doctors
The law creates a multistate commission to run the medical licensure compact. The commission can make binding rules under a formal process, and anyone can ask a federal court in Washington, D.C., to review a rule within 30 days. It may charge member states yearly assessments, cannot spend beyond its funds, and must have an annual audit. If a state breaks the rules, the commission can give notice, offer help, and end its membership; a state that withdraws stays liable for dues until withdrawal takes effect one year later.
Clearer roles in occupational therapy
The law defines who is an occupational therapy assistant under a licensed therapist’s supervision. It also updates the definition of occupational therapy to focus on daily living, independence, disability prevention, and health. This gives clearer guidance on duties and scope.
Wider duties for occupational therapists
The law clarifies what occupational therapists can do. Therapists can evaluate, diagnose, and start care without a referral. They can provide listed treatments and supervise assistants who do delegated tasks, and the therapist stays responsible.
Fingerprint checks for doctors and therapists
Applicants for some health licenses must give fingerprints and pay background‑check fees to the Department of Public Safety. This includes doctors and physician assistants seeking expedited licenses, physical therapists and assistants, and audiologists and speech‑language pathologists seeking a compact privilege. Boards send the prints and fees to DPS and may use the results only to decide fitness for the license or privilege. The PT fingerprint rule does not apply to graduates of foreign PT programs outside the U.S.
New licensing rules for respiratory care
The law brings respiratory care practitioners under state licensing. Starting January 1, 2027, people already practicing the day before can keep working for up to one year while they get licensed, if qualified. Some people do not need a license, like supervised students in accredited programs, family caregivers, certain military or federal staff, emergency responders, and equipment delivery staff who do not assess patients. This adds oversight but gives time and clear exemptions as the rules take effect.
Penalties for unlicensed social work titles
It is a class B misdemeanor to use social worker titles without a valid license or Multistate Authorization to Practice. The law protects patients from false claims. It also says two sections do not apply to an applicant who is already a regulated social worker.
Providers must show credentials in ads
Licensed health practitioners must display letters or a title after their name that show their field. These must appear on signs, stationery, and ads. Doctors using “M.D.” or “doctor” must add specialty designations when needed. This helps patients know who treats them and adds minor compliance steps for providers.
Updated who counts as health providers
The law updates which licensed professions and organizations count as health care providers under several statutes, including adding respiratory care practitioners. It also updates the provider list used in civil laws that govern coverage and liability. Starting January 1, 2027, the school law lists specific clinicians (like physicians, advanced practice nurses, respiratory care practitioners, PAs, village health aides, and pharmacists). This can expand some protections and coverage and also clarify responsibilities for those providers.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Andrew Gray
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
(S) REFERRED TO FINANCE
5/8/2026Senate(S) FN3: ZERO(DPS)
5/8/2026Senate(S) FN2: ZERO(CED)(SUBMITTED BY RULES)
5/8/2026Senate(S) NR: DUNBAR, MERRICK, YUNDT
5/8/2026Senate(S) DP: BJORKMAN, GRAY-JACKSON
5/8/2026Senate(S) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 25
5/8/2026Senate(S) L&C RPT SCS 2DP 3NR NEW TITLE
5/8/2026Senate(S) Moved SCS HB 110(L&C) Out of Committee
5/6/2026Senate(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
5/6/2026SenateAudio/Video
5/6/2026House(S) Heard & Held
4/10/2026Senate(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
4/10/2026SenateAudio/Video
4/10/2026House(S) Heard & Held
3/25/2026Senate(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
3/25/2026SenateAudio/Video
3/25/2026House(S) Heard & Held
3/13/2026Senate(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
3/13/2026SenateAudio/Video
3/13/2026House(S) L&C, FIN
2/13/2026Senate(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2/13/2026Senate(H) VERSION: HB 110 AM
2/11/2026House(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
2/11/2026House(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
2/11/2026House(H) PASSED Y40
2/11/2026House
Bill Text
SCS HB 110(L&C)
5/8/2026
HB 110 am
2/9/2026
HB 110
2/21/2025