Change to License Requirements???

U.S.A. Florida

Published

My school sent out a memo today saying that the Florida Board of Nursing has changed its rules - in order to sit for your license you must be criminal free for 15 years on a level 1 background check. This is a change from the case by case basis.

Just wondered if anyone else has heard this news. It effects a few girls in my class and they were told to drop out of the program. Needless to say there were some on year 2 that were in the same boat. Sure I know that it was always risky - because the board could turn you down - but this is incredible.

Love to hear what others have heard.

Suz

IT is a bad law for many reasons, one it only pertains to florida residents who have been convicted or plead guilty in this state. As I found out at the board meeting nurses with conviction in other states dont fall under this law because the statute is worded to only affect this state not other jurisdictions. Which the consumer attorney at the board meeting made clear.There were nurses receiving there licenses with felony convictions commited in other states as recent as last year but since the statute does not adress other jurisdictions they were licensed. Another reason why it is wrong is that once an adjudication is withheld one is not a convict and keeps all his civil rights.Remember one has to be cleared by a nationwide database confirming that no conviction on record in order to start most nursing programs if not all.Florida is the only state with the 15 year stipulation in this absurd law.Keep in mind TSA agents which guard our aiports from terrorism are employed as long as the conviction is 10 years old which is the federal standard across the board.Lawmakers in florida are not allowing the board to use their judgement and resources to make their decisions like it is in all the other states and like it was here until this law in 2009.

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It's such a shame that a doctor can serve 3 years in jail for rape and get his license back but a nurse can't because he/she made a mistake that is no where near the severity that this doctor was guilty of. It should be on a case by case basis.

I have written the governor, the Board of Nursing and need to know who else I can write to. Anyone know? We need to fight this law.

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There is a promising law in called the jimmy king right to work law which is looking like the house and senate are all in agreement with this law from my understanding will supercedes the old law.

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I can't seem to find it. Are you talking about a law that allows people who have 3rd degree felonies to get their license back?

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Senate bill 146 which is the house bill 449 is on the governors desk to be signed as of the 13th of june.IF and when he signs it becomes law by the first of the year 2012.Go to myfloridahouse.gov or mysenate.gov and rea the bill text and u will see what it says about the state can not deny a license because of prior criminal conviction except i believe sexual offenses and drug traffickers,but they will deny it if it relates directly with the job description but i think the licensing board has the final say.

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Thank you for the info Angel. The bill is sitting on the Governors desk as of June 13th!

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yep yep read the bill and let me kno if it helps u out.

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I'm not sure if this law will help my friend. She made a mistake and now can't get her license renewed. She pleade NO Contest because that is what the attorney told her to do. It was a 3rd degree felony which he told her she could later get expunged. That was not true. She kited a check but put the money in her bank before it bounced. But the bank pressed charges. When they closed her account they had to give her a check back for $900. So there was no restitution. Her life is ruined now and she can't get a job. An attorney said he coulde help get her license back...for $5,000. Of course with no job.. that is hard to pay. I am hoping this law (HB 449) will help her be able to get her license back. She has small kids and loves working as a nurse taking care of special needs kids. What she did has nothing to do with her ability to be the wonderful nurse she is. She made a mistake and has paid dearly.

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thats so unfortunate, attorneys a-lot times do things that are very wrong, i believe from this new law she will be able to license once enacted.You might want to let her kno that compact states like north carolina do not have this law and can apply for the license to work in another state .

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Thanks for the info. I will let her know!:)

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The Governor signed the bill on June 21st!:yeah:

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Hi can tell me more about this new bill...thank you.

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