---
title: HB 1295. Physician Assistant Licensure Compact; enter into an interstate compact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1295
cite_as: HB 1295, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1295
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1295.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1295/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73172
date: 2026-04-02
status: engrossed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 1278
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1295.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1295
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-03-04
last_action: Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended
sponsors:
- Sharon Cooper
- Ron Stephens
- Lee Hawkins
- Michelle Au
- John LaHood
- Brian Prince
- John Albers
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1295/2025
upstream_id: 2116248
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- physician assistant licensing
- interstate licensing compact
- medical licensing
- criminal background checks
- health care workforce
---
# HB 1295. Physician Assistant Licensure Compact; enter into an interstate compact
## Text
House Bill 1295 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By: Representatives Cooper of the 45th, Stephens of the 164th, Hawkins of the 27th, Au of the
50th, LaHood of the 175th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 4 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to physician assistants, so as to enter into an interstate compact known as the "PA
Licensure Compact"; to revise provisions relating to the Georgia Composite Medical Board;
to revise a definition; to require criminal background checks for licensure as a physician
assistant in this state; to provide for a short title; to provide for the purpose of the compact;
to provide for definitions; to provide for participation; to provide for compact privilege; to
provide for designation of the state from which a licensee is applying for such compact
privilege; to provide for adverse actions; to provide for the establishment of a commission;
to provide for a data system; to provide for rulemaking powers; to provide for oversight,
dispute resolution, and enforcement; to provide for date of implementation, withdrawal, and
amendment; to provide for construction and severability; to provide for effect of the
compact; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 4 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
physician assistants, is amended by revising paragraph (7) of Code Section 43-34-102,
relating to definitions, as follows:
"(7) 'Physician assistant' means a skilled person who is licensed to a supervising
physician and who is qualified by academic and practical training an individual who has
been duly licensed as such under this article or who holds a compact privilege issued
pursuant to Code Section 43-34-111, the 'Physician Assistant Licensure Compact,' and
who is authorized to provide patients' services not necessarily within the physical
presence but under the personal direction or supervision of the supervising physician."
SECTION 2.
Said article is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 43-34-103, relating
to application for licensure as a physician assistant, authorized delegated authority, and
prohibited acts, as follows:
"(a)(1) In order to obtain licensure as a physician assistant in this state, an applicant shall
have satisfactory results from a criminal background check and submit an application to
the board in accordance with this subsection.
(2)(A) An application for licensure as a physician assistant Such application shall
include:
(A)(i) Evidence submitted by the applicant of his or her good moral character; and
(B)(ii) Evidence of his or her competency in a health care area related to the job
description which, as a at minimum, shall include:
(i)(I) Evidence of satisfactory completion of a training program approved by the
board. If the applicant is not a graduate of an accredited school approved by the
board, he or she shall be required to receive board approved refresher training and
testing; and
(ii)(II) Evidence that the applicant has passed the Physician Assistant National
Certification Examination (PANCE) administered by the National Commission for
the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), or its successor, or the National
Association for the Certification of Anesthesia Assistants, (NACAA) or its
successor.
(B) The board may issue a temporary permit to any applicant for licensure who has
satisfied the provisions of division (i) of this subparagraph subdivision (2)(A)(ii)(I) of
this subsection and who is an applicant for the next available board approved or
administered examination or who has completed this examination and is awaiting the
results of such examination. Such The temporary permit shall expire upon notification
of the applicant's failure to achieve a satisfactory score on the board approved or
administered examination. A physician assistant licensed pursuant to this paragraph
subparagraph shall not be authorized to perform any medical acts of any sort except as
approved for utilization by a physician in a job description pursuant to subparagraph
(C) of this paragraph (2) of this subsection. The board may grant an inactive licensure
status to a physician assistant who is licensed pursuant to this article but who is not
practicing with the supervision of a board approved primary supervising physician.
(2)(C) In order to obtain approval for the utilization of a physician assistant, whether
the utilization is in a private practice or through a public or private health care
institution or organization, the licensed physician who will be responsible for the
performance of such physician assistant shall submit an application to the board which
shall include:
(A)(i) Evidence that the physician assistant is licensed pursuant to paragraph (1) of
this subsection;
(B)(ii) A job description meeting the requirements of paragraph (4) of Code
Section 43-34-102; and
(C)(iii) A fee, established by the board; provided, however, that no fee will be
required if the physician assistant is an employee of the state or a county government.
(D)(i) The board is authorized to conduct and receive national criminal background
checks of applicants for licensure as physician assistants by the submission of
fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation through the Georgia Crime
Information Center. An application for licensure under this article shall constitute
express consent and authorization for the board to perform such criminal background
check. The applicant shall be responsible for all fees associated with the performance
of such background check.
(ii) In order to determine an applicant's suitability for licensure as a physician
assistant, each applicant shall furnish the board with any and all information
necessary, including, but not limited to, a full set of fingerprints, to enable a criminal
background check to be conducted. The board shall submit the fingerprints to the
Georgia Crime Information Center. The Georgia Crime Information Center is
authorized to conduct a state criminal background check and to submit the
fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal background
check.
(iii) The Georgia Crime Information Center shall notify the board in writing of any
findings or the absence of any findings that result from any criminal background
checks. All findings received by the board shall be used by it for the exclusive
purpose of carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter, shall not constitute
public records, shall be privileged, and shall not be disclosed to any other person or
agency."
SECTION 3.
Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 43-34-108, relating to powers and
duties of board, as follows:
"43-34-108.
(a) In addition to the powers specifically delegated to it in this article, the board shall:
(1) Administer the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact contained in Code
Section 43-34-111 of this article;
(2) Have have the authority to perform all acts which are necessary, proper, or incidental
to the efficient development of the category of health care healthcare established by this
article. The board shall have; and
(3) Have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations governing the definitions of
delegation by physicians to qualified persons other than physician assistants of any acts,
duties, or functions which are permitted by law or established by custom.
(b) Any power vested by law in the board, but not implemented by specific provisions for
the exercise thereof, may be executed and carried out by the board in a reasonable manner,
pursuant to such rules, regulations, and procedures as the board may adopt and subject to
such limitations as may be provided by law."
SECTION 4.
Said article is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"43-34-111.
(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the 'Physician Assistant
Licensure Compact.'
(b) The 'PA Licensure Compact' is enacted into law and entered into by the State of
Georgia with any and all other states legally joining therein in the form substantially as
follows:
'PA Licensure Compact
Section 1. Purpose
In order to strengthen access to Medical Services, and in recognition of the advances in the
delivery of Medical Services, the Participating States of the PA Licensure Compact have
allied in common purpose to develop a comprehensive process that complements the existing
authority of State Licensing Boards to license and discipline PAs and seeks to enhance the
portability of a License to practice as a PA while safeguarding the safety of patients. This
Compact allows Medical Services to be provided by PAs, via the mutual recognition of the
Licensee's Qualifying License by other Compact Participating States. This Compact also
adopts the prevailing standard for PA licensure and affirms that the practice and delivery of
Medical Services by the PA occurs where the patient is located at the time of the patient
encounter, and therefore requires the PA to be under the jurisdiction of the State Licensing
Board where the patient is located. State Licensing Boards that participate in this Compact
retain the jurisdiction to impose Adverse Action against a Compact Privilege in that State
issued to a PA through the procedures of this Compact. The PA Licensure Compact will
alleviate burdens for military families by allowing active duty military personnel and their
spouses to obtain a Compact Privilege based on having an unrestricted License in good
standing from a Participating State.
Section 2. Definitions
In this compact:
A. "Adverse Action" means any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action
permitted by a State's laws which is imposed by a Licensing Board or other authority
against a PA License or License application or Compact Privilege such as License denial,
censure, revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the Licensee, or restriction on
the Licensee's practice.
B. "Compact Privilege" means the authorization granted by a Remote State to allow
a Licensee from another Participating State to practice as a PA to provide Medical
Services and other licensed activity to a patient located in the Remote State under the
Remote State's laws and regulations.
C. "Conviction" means a finding by a court that an individual is guilty of a felony or
misdemeanor offense through adjudication or entry of a plea of guilt or no contest to the
charge by the offender.
D. "Criminal Background Check" means the submission of fingerprints or other
biometric-based information for a License applicant for the purpose of obtaining that
applicant's criminal history record information, as defined in 28 C.F.R. § 20.3(d), from
the State's criminal history record repository as defined in 28 C.F.R. § 20.3(f).
E. "Data System" means the repository of information about Licensees, including but
not limited to License status and Adverse Actions, which is created and administered
under the terms of this Compact.
F. "Executive Committee" means a group of directors and ex-officio individuals
elected or appointed pursuant to Section 7.F.2.
G. "Impaired Practitioner" means a PA whose practice is adversely affected by
health-related condition(s) that impact their ability to practice.
H. "Investigative Information" means information, records, or documents received or
generated by a Licensing Board pursuant to an investigation.
I. "Jurisprudence Requirement" means the assessment of an individual's knowledge
of the laws and Rules governing the practice of a PA in a State.
J. "License" means current authorization by a State, other than authorization pursuant
to a Compact Privilege, for a PA to provide Medical Services, which would be unlawful
without current authorization.
K. "Licensee" means an individual who holds a License from a State to provide Medical
Services as a PA.
L. "Licensing Board" means any State entity authorized to license and otherwise
regulate PAs.
M. "Medical Services" means health care services provided for the diagnosis,
prevention, treatment, cure or relief of a health condition, injury, or disease, as defined
by a State's laws and regulations.
N. "Model Compact" means the model for the PA Licensure Compact on file with The
Council of State Governments or other entity as designated by the Commission.
O. "Participating State" means a State that has enacted this Compact.
P. "PA" means an individual who is licensed as a physician assistant in a State. For
purposes of this Compact, any other title or status adopted by a State to replace the term
"physician assistant" shall be deemed synonymous with "physician assistant" and shall
confer the same rights and responsibilities to the Licensee under the provisions of this
Compact at the time of its enactment.
Q. "PA Licensure Compact Commission," "Compact Commission," or
"Commission" mean the national administrative body created pursuant to Section 7.A
of this Compact.
R. "Qualifying License" means an unrestricted License issued by a Participating State
to provide Medical Services as a PA.
S. "Remote State" means a Participating State where a Licensee who is not licensed as
a PA is exercising or seeking to exercise the Compact Privilege.
T. "Rule" means a regulation promulgated by an entity that has the force and effect of
law.
U. "Significant Investigative Information" means Investigative Information that a
Licensing Board, after an inquiry or investigation that includes notification and an
opportunity for the PA to respond if required by State law, has reason to believe is not
groundless and, if proven true, would indicate more than a minor infraction.
V. "State" means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States.
Section 3. State Participation in this Compact
A. To participate in this Compact, a Participating State shall:
1. License PAs.
2. Participate in the Compact Commission's Data System.
3. Have a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints against
Licensees and License applicants.
4. Notify the Commission, in compliance with the terms of this Compact and
Commission Rules, of any Adverse Action against a Licensee or License applicant and
the existence of Significant Investigative Information regarding a Licensee or License
applicant.
5. Fully implement a Criminal Background Check requirement, within a time frame
established by Commission Rule, by its Licensing Board receiving the results of a
Criminal Background Check and reporting to the Commission whether the License
applicant has been granted a License.
6. Comply with the Rules of the Compact Commission.
7. Utilize passage of a recognized national exam such as the NCCPA PANCE as a
requirement for PA licensure.
8. Grant the Compact Privilege to a holder of a Qualifying License in a Participating
State.
B. Nothing in this Compact prohibits a Participating State from charging a fee for granting
the Compact Privilege.
Section 4. Compact Privilege
A. To exercise the Compact Privilege, a Licensee must:
1. Have graduated from a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review
Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. or other programs authorized
by Commission Rule.
2. Hold current NCCPA certification.
3. Have no felony or misdemeanor Conviction.
4. Have never had a controlled substance license, permit, or registration suspended or
revoked by a State or by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
5. Have a unique identifier as determined by Commission Rule.
6. Hold a Qualifying License.
7. Have had no revocation of a License or limitation or restriction on any License
currently held due to an adverse action.
8. If a Licensee has had a limitation or restriction on a License or Compact Privilege due
to an Adverse Action, two years must have elapsed from the date on which the License
or Compact Privilege is no longer limited or restricted due to the Adverse Action.
9. If a Compact Privilege has been revoked or is limited or restricted in a Participating
State for conduct that would not be a basis for disciplinary action in a Participating State
in which the Licensee is practicing or applying to practice under a Compact Privilege,
that Participating State shall have the discretion not to consider such action as an Adverse
Action requiring the denial or removal of a Compact Privilege in that State.
10. Notify the Compact Commission that the Licensee is seeking the Compact Privilege
in a Remote State.
11. Meet any Jurisprudence Requirement of a Remote State in which the Licensee is
seeking to practice under the Compact Privilege and pay any fees applicable to satisfying
the Jurisprudence Requirement.
12. Report to the Commission any Adverse Action taken by a non-participating State
within thirty (30) days after the action is taken.
B. The Compact Privilege is valid until the expiration or revocation of the Qualifying
License unless terminated pursuant to an Adverse Action. The Licensee must also comply
with all of the requirements of Subsection A above to maintain the Compact Privilege in
a Remote State. If the Participating State takes Adverse Action against a Qualifying
License, the Licensee shall lose the Compact Privilege in any Remote State in which the
Licensee has a Compact Privilege until all of the following occur:
1. The License is no longer limited or restricted; and
2. Two (2) years have elapsed from the date on which the License is no longer limited
or restricted due to the Adverse Action.
C. Once a restricted or limited License satisfies the requirements of Subsection B.1 and 2,
the Licensee must meet the requirements of Subsection A to obtain a Compact Privilege
in any Remote State.
D. For each Remote State in which a PA seeks authority to prescribe controlled
substances, the PA shall satisfy all requirements imposed by such State in granting or
renewing such authority.
Section 5. Designation of the State from Which Licensee is Applying for a Compact
Privilege
A. Upon a Licensee's application for a Compact Privilege, the Licensee shall identify to
the Commission the Participating State from which the Licensee is applying, in accordance
with applicable Rules adopted by the Commission, and subject to the following
requirements:
1. When applying for a Compact Privilege, the Licensee shall provide the Commission
with the address of the Licensee's primary residence and thereafter shall immediately
report to the Commission any change in the address of the Licensee's primary residence.
2. When applying for a Compact Privilege, the Licensee is required to consent to accept
service of process by mail at the Licensee's primary residence on file with the
Commission with respect to any action brought against the Licensee by the Commission
or a Participating State, including a subpoena, with respect to any action brought or
investigation conducted by the Commission or a Participating State.
Section 6. Adverse Actions
A. A Participating State in which a Licensee is licensed shall have exclusive power to
impose Adverse Action against the Qualifying License issued by that Participating State.
B. In addition to the other powers conferred by State law, a Remote State shall have the
authority, in accordance with existing State due process law, to do all of the following:
1. Take Adverse Action against a PA's Compact Privilege within that State to remove
a Licensee's Compact Privilege or take other action necessary under applicable law to
protect the health and safety of its citizens.
2. Issue subpoenas for both hearings and investigations that require the attendance and
testimony of witnesses as well as the production of evidence. Subpoenas issued by a
Licensing Board in a Participating State for the attendance and testimony of witnesses or
the production of evidence from another Participating State shall be enforced in the latter
State by any court of competent jurisdiction, according to the practice and procedure of
that court applicable to subpoenas issued in proceedings pending before it. The issuing
authority shall pay any witness fees, travel expenses, mileage and other fees required by
the service statutes of the State in which the witnesses or evidence are located.
3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, subpoenas may not be issued by a Participating State
to gather evidence of conduct in another State that is lawful in that other State for the
purpose of taking Adverse Action against a Licensee's Compact Privilege or application
for a Compact Privilege in that Participating State.
4. Nothing in this Compact authorizes a Participating State to impose discipline against
a PA's Compact Privilege or to deny an application for a Compact Privilege in that
Participating State for the individual's otherwise lawful practice in another State.
C. For purposes of taking Adverse Action, the Participating State which issued the
Qualifying License shall give the same priority and effect to reported conduct received
from any other Participating State as it would if the conduct had occurred within the
Participating State which issued the Qualifying License. In so doing, that Participating
State shall apply its own State laws to determine appropriate action.
D. A Participating State, if otherwise permitted by State law, may recover from the
affected PA the costs of investigations and disposition of cases resulting from any Adverse
Action taken against that PA.
E. A Participating State may take Adverse Action based on the factual findings of a
Remote State, provided that the Participating State follows its own procedures for taking
the Adverse Action.
F. Joint Investigations
1. In addition to the authority granted to a Participating State by its respective State PA
laws and regulations or other applicable State law, any Participating State may participate
with other Participating States in joint investigations of Licensees.
2. Participating States shall share any investigative, litigation, or compliance materials
in furtherance of any joint or individual investigation initiated under this Compact.
G. If an Adverse Action is taken against a PA's Qualifying License, the PA's Compact
Privilege in all Remote States shall be deactivated until two (2) years have elapsed after all
restrictions have been removed from the State License. All disciplinary orders by the
Participating State which issued the Qualifying License that impose Adverse Action against
a PA's License shall include a Statement that the PA's Compact Privilege is deactivated in
all Participating States during the pendency of the order.
H. If any Participating State takes Adverse Action, it promptly shall notify the
administrator of the Data System.
Section 7. Establishment of the PA Licensure Compact Commission
A. The Participating States hereby create and establish a joint government agency and
national administrative body known as the PA Licensure Compact Commission. The
Commission is an instrumentality of the Compact States acting jointly and not an
instrumentality of any one State. The Commission shall come into existence on or after the
effective date of the Compact as set forth in Section 11.A.
B. Membership, Voting, and Meetings
1. Each Participating State shall have and be limited to one (1) delegate selected by that
Participating State's Licensing Board or, if the State has more than one Licensing Board,
selected collectively by the Participating State's Licensing Boards.
2. The delegate shall be either:
a. A current PA, physician or public member of a Licensing Board or PA
Council/Committee; or
b. An administrator of a Licensing Board.
3. Any delegate may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the laws of
the State from which the delegate is appointed.
4. The Participating State Licensing Board shall fill any vacancy occurring in the
Commission within sixty (60) days.
5. Each delegate shall be entitled to one (1) vote on all matters voted on by the
Commission and shall otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the business and
affairs of the Commission. A delegate shall vote in person or by such other means as
provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for delegates' participation in meetings
by telecommunications, video conference, or other means of communication.
6. The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional
meetings shall be held as set forth in this Compact and the bylaws.
7. The Commission shall establish by Rule a term of office for delegates.
C. The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
1. Establish a code of ethics for the Commission;
2. Establish the fiscal year of the Commission;
3. Establish fees;
4. Establish bylaws;
5. Maintain its financial records in accordance with the bylaws;
6. Meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this Compact and
the bylaws;
7. Promulgate Rules to facilitate and coordinate implementation and administration of
this Compact. The Rules shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in
all Participating States;
8. Bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the name of the Commission,
provided that the standing of any State Licensing Board to sue or be sued under
applicable law shall not be affected;
9. Purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;
10. Borrow, accept, or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited to,
employees of a Participating State;
11. Hire employees and engage contractors, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation,
define duties, grant such individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of this
Compact, and establish the Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to
conflicts of interest, qualifications of personnel, and other related personnel matters;
12. Accept any and all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies,
materials and services, and receive, utilize and dispose of the same; provided that at all
times the Commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest;
13. Lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise own, hold,
improve or use, any property, real, personal or mixed; provided that at all times the
Commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety;
14. Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose of
any property real, personal, or mixed;
15. Establish a budget and make expenditures;
16. Borrow money;
17. Appoint committees, including standing committees composed of members, State
regulators, State legislators or their representatives, and consumer representatives, and
such other interested persons as may be designated in this Compact and the bylaws;
18. Provide and receive information from, and cooperate with, law enforcement
agencies;
19. Elect a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and such other officers of the
Commission as provided in the Commission's bylaws.
20. Reserve for itself, in addition to those reserved exclusively to the Commission under
the Compact, powers that the Executive Committee may not exercise;
21. Approve or disapprove a State's participation in the Compact based upon its
determination as to whether the State's Compact legislation departs in a material manner
from the Model Compact language;
22. Prepare and provide to the Participating States an annual report; and
23. Perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the
purposes of this Compact consistent with the State regulation of PA licensure and
practice.
D. Meetings of the Commission
1. All meetings of the Commission that are not closed pursuant to this subsection shall
be open to the public. Notice of public meetings shall be posted on the Commission's
website at least thirty (30) days prior to the public meeting.
2. Notwithstanding subsection D.1 of this section, the Commission may convene a public
meeting by providing at least twenty-four (24) hours prior notice on the Commission's
website, and any other means as provided in the Commission's Rules, for any of the
reasons it may dispense with notice of proposed rulemaking under Section 9.L.
3. The Commission may convene in a closed, non-public meeting or non-public part of
a public meeting to receive legal advice or to discuss:
a. Non-compliance of a Participating State with its obligations under this Compact;
b. The employment, compensation, discipline or other matters, practices or procedures
related to specific employees or other matters related to the Commission's internal
personnel practices and procedures;
c. Current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated litigation;
d. Negotiation of contracts for the purchase, lease, or sale of goods, services, or real
estate;
e. Accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person;
f. Disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged
or confidential;
g. Disclosure of information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
h. Disclosure of investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes;
I. Disclosure of information related to any investigative reports prepared by or on
behalf of or for use of the Commission or other committee charged with responsibility
of investigation or determination of compliance issues pursuant to this Compact;
j. Legal advice; or
k. Matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal or Participating States'
statutes.
4. If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed pursuant to this provision, the chair of
the meeting or the chair's designee shall certify that the meeting or portion of the meeting
may be closed and shall reference each relevant exempting provision.
5. The Commission shall keep minutes that fully and clearly describe all matters
discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken,
including a description of the views expressed. All documents considered in connection
with an action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed
meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the Commission
or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
E. Financing of the Commission
1. The Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of, the reasonable expenses of
its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities.
2. The Commission may accept any and all appropriate revenue sources, donations, and
grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services.
3. The Commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each
Participating State and may impose Compact Privilege fees on Licensees of Participating
States to whom a Compact Privilege is granted to cover the cost of the operations and
activities of the Commission and its staff, which must be in a total amount sufficient to
cover its annual budget as approved by the Commission each year for which revenue is
not provided by other sources. The aggregate annual assessment amount levied on
Participating States shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by
Commission Rule.
a. A Compact Privilege expires when the Licensee's Qualifying License in the
Participating State from which the Licensee applied for the Compact Privilege expires.
b. If the Licensee terminates the Qualifying License through which the Licensee
applied for the Compact Privilege before its scheduled expiration, and the Licensee has
a Qualifying License in another Participating State, the Licensee shall inform the
Commission that it is changing to that Participating State the Participating State through
which it applies for a Compact Privilege and pay to the Commission any Compact
Privilege fee required by Commission Rule.
4. The Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds
adequate to meet the same; nor shall the Commission pledge the credit of any of the
Participating States, except by and with the authority of the Participating State.
5. The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The
receipts and disbursements of the Commission shall be subject to the financial review and
accounting procedures established under its bylaws. All receipts and disbursements of
funds handled by the Commission shall be subject to an annual financial review by a
certified or licensed public accountant, and the report of the financial review shall be
included in and become part of the annual report of the Commission.
F. The Executive Committee
1. The Executive Committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Commission
according to the terms of this Compact and Commission Rules.
2. The Executive Committee shall be composed of nine (9) members:
a. Seven voting members who are elected by the Commission from the current
membership of the Commission;
b. One ex-officio, nonvoting member from a recognized national PA professional
association; and
c. One ex-officio, nonvoting member from a recognized national PA certification
organization.
3. The ex-officio members will be selected by their respective organizations.
4. The Commission may remove any member of the Executive Committee as provided
in its bylaws.
5. The Executive Committee shall meet at least annually.
6. The Executive Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
a. Recommend to the Commission changes to the Commission's Rules or bylaws,
changes to this Compact legislation, fees to be paid by Compact Participating States
such as annual dues, and any Commission Compact fee charged to Licensees for the
Compact Privilege;
b. Ensure Compact administration services are appropriately provided, contractual or
otherwise;
c. Prepare and recommend the budget;
d. Maintain financial records on behalf of the Commission;
e. Monitor Compact compliance of Participating States and provide compliance reports
to the Commission;
f. Establish additional committees as necessary;
g. Exercise the powers and duties of the Commission during the interim between
Commission meetings, except for issuing proposed rulemaking or adopting
Commission Rules or bylaws, or exercising any other powers and duties exclusively
reserved to the Commission by the Commission's Rules; and
h. Perform other duties as provided in the Commission's Rules or bylaws.
7. All meeting of the Executive Committee at which it votes or plans to vote on matters
in exercising the powers and duties of the Commission shall be open to the public and
public notice of such meetings shall be given as public meetings of the Commission are
given.
8. The Executive Committee may convene in a closed, non-public meeting for the same
reasons that the Commission may convene in a non-public meeting as set forth in
Section 7.D 3 and shall announce the closed meeting as the Commission is required to
under Section 7.D.4 and keep minutes of the closed meeting as the Commission is
required to under Section 7.D.5.
G. Qualified Immunity, Defense, and Indemnification
1. The members, officers, executive director, employees and representatives of the
Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, both personally and in their official
capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil
liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that
occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for
believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or
responsibilities; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any
such person from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the
intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person. The procurement of insurance
of any type by the Commission shall not in any way compromise or limit the immunity
granted hereunder.
2. The Commission shall defend any member, officer, executive director, employee, and
representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising
out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of
Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or as determined by the commission
that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing
occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities;
provided that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining their
own counsel at their own expense; and provided further, that the actual or alleged act,
error, or omission did not result from that person's intentional or willful or wanton
misconduct.
3. The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer, executive
director, employee, and representative of the Commission for the amount of any
settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged
act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties,
or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred
within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that
the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from the intentional or willful
or wanton misconduct of that person.
4. Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the Commission shall be
brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal
office of the Commission is located. The Commission may waive venue and
jurisdictional defenses in any proceedings as authorized by Commission Rules.
5. Nothing herein shall be construed as a limitation on the liability of any Licensee for
professional malpractice or misconduct, which shall be governed solely by any other
applicable State laws.
6. Nothing herein shall be construed to designate the venue or jurisdiction to bring
actions for alleged acts of malpractice, professional misconduct, negligence, or other such
civil action pertaining to the practice of a PA. All such matters shall be determined
exclusively by State law other than this Compact.
7. Nothing in this Compact shall be interpreted to waive or otherwise abrogate a
Participating State's state action immunity or state action affirmative defense with respect
to antitrust claims under the Sherman Act, Clayton Act, or any other State or federal
antitrust or anticompetitive law or regulation.
8. Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to be a waiver of sovereign immunity by
the Participating States or by the Commission.
Section 8. Data System
A. The Commission shall provide for the development, maintenance, operation, and
utilization of a coordinated data and reporting system containing licensure, Adverse Action,
and the reporting of the existence of Significant Investigative Information on all licensed
PAs and applicants denied a License in Participating States.
B. Notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, a Participating State shall submit
a uniform data set to the Data System on all PAs to whom this Compact is applicable
(utilizing a unique identifier) as required by the Rules of the Commission, including:
1. Identifying information;
2. Licensure data;
3. Adverse Actions against a License or Compact Privilege;
4. Any denial of application for licensure, and the reason(s) for such denial (excluding
the reporting of any Criminal history record information where prohibited by law);
5. The existence of Significant Investigative Information; and
6. Other information that may facilitate the administration of this Compact, as
determined by the Rules of the Commission.
C. Significant Investigative Information pertaining to a Licensee in any Participating State
shall only be available to other Participating States.
D. The Commission shall promptly notify all Participating States of any Adverse Action
taken against a Licensee or an individual applying for a License that has been reported to
it. This Adverse Action information shall be available to any other Participating State.
E. Participating States contributing information to the Data System may, in accordance
with State or federal law, designate information that may not be shared with the public
without the express permission of the contributing State. Notwithstanding any such
designation, such information shall be reported to the Commission through the Data
System.
F. Any information submitted to the Data System that is subsequently expunged pursuant
to federal law or the laws of the Participating State contributing the information shall be
removed from the Data System upon reporting of such by the Participating State to the
Commission.
G. The records and information provided to a Participating State pursuant to this Compact
or through the Data System, when certified by the Commission or an agent thereof, shall
constitute the authenticated business records of the Commission, and shall be entitled to
any associated hearsay exception in any relevant judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative
proceedings in a Participating State.
Section 9. Rulemaking
A. The Commission shall exercise its Rulemaking powers pursuant to the criteria set forth
in this Section and the Rules adopted thereunder. Commission Rules shall become binding
as of the date specified by the Commission for each Rule.
B. The Commission shall promulgate reasonable Rules in order to effectively and
efficiently implement and administer this Compact and achieve its purposes. A
Commission Rule shall be invalid and have not force or effect only if a court of competent
jurisdiction holds that the Rule is invalid because the Commission exercised its rulemaking
authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of this Compact, or the
powers granted hereunder, or based upon another applicable standard of review.
C. The Rules of the Commission shall have the force of law in each Participating State,
provided however that where the Rules of the Commission conflict with the laws of the
Participating State that establish the medical services a PA may perform in the Participating
State, as held by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Rules of the Commission shall be
ineffective in that State to the extent of the conflict.
D. If a majority of the legislatures of the Participating States rejects a Commission Rule,
by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt this Compact
within four (4) years of the date of adoption of the Rule, then such Rule shall have no
further force and effect in any Participating State or to any State applying to participate in
the Compact.
E. Commission Rules shall be adopted at a regular or special meeting of the Commission.
F. Prior to promulgation and adoption of a final Rule or Rules by the Commission, and at
least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting at which the Rule will be considered and
voted upon, the Commission shall file a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking:
1. On the website of the Commission or other publicly accessible platform; and
2. To persons who have requested notice of the Commission's notices of proposed
rulemaking, and
3. In such other way(s) as the Commission may by Rule specify.
G. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking shall include:
1. The time, date, and location of the public hearing on the proposed Rule and the
proposed time, date and location of the meeting in which the proposed Rule will be
considered and voted upon;
2. The text of the proposed Rule and the reason for the proposed Rule;
3. A request for comments on the proposed Rule from any interested person and the date
by which written comments must be received; and
4. The manner in which interested persons may submit notice to the Commission of their
intention to attend the public hearing or provide any written comments.
H. Prior to adoption of a proposed Rule, the Commission shall allow persons to submit
written data, facts, opinions, and arguments, which shall be made available to the public.
I. If the hearing is to be held via electronic means, the Commission shall publish the
mechanism for access to the electronic hearing.
1. All persons wishing to be heard at the hearing shall as directed in the Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, not less than five (5) business days before the scheduled date of
the hearing, notify the Commission of their desire to appear and testify at the hearing.
2. Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing each person who wishes to
comment a fair and reasonable opportunity to comment orally or in writing.
3. All hearings shall be recorded. A copy of the recording and the written comments,
data, facts, opinions, and arguments received in response to the proposed rulemaking
shall be made available to a person upon request.
4. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a separate hearing on each
proposed Rule. Proposed Rules may be grouped for the convenience of the Commission
at hearings required by this section.
J. Following the public hearing the Commission shall consider all written and oral
comments timely received.
K. The Commission shall, by majority vote of all delegates, take final action on the
proposed Rule and shall determine the effective date of the Rule, if adopted, based on the
Rulemaking record and the full text of the Rule.
1. If adopted, the Rule shall be posted on the Commission's website.
2. The Commission may adopt changes to the proposed Rule provided the changes do
not enlarge the original purpose of the proposed Rule.
3. The Commission shall provide on its website an explanation of the reasons for
substantive changes made to the proposed Rule as well as reasons for substantive changes
not made that were recommended by commenters.
4. The Commission shall determine a reasonable effective date for the Rule. Except for
an emergency as provided in subsection L, the effective date of the Rule shall be no
sooner than thirty (30) days after the Commission issued the notice that it adopted the
Rule.
L. Upon determination that an emergency exists, the Commission may consider and adopt
an emergency Rule with twenty-four (24) hours prior notice, without the opportunity for
comment, or hearing, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures provided in this
Compact and in this section shall be retroactively applied to the Rule as soon as reasonably
possible, in no event later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of the Rule. For the
purposes of this provision, an emergency Rule is one that must be adopted immediately by
the Commission in order to:
1. Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare;
2. Prevent a loss of Commission or Participating State funds;
3. Meet a deadline for the promulgation of a Commission Rule that is established by
federal law or Rule; or
4. Protect public health and safety.
M. The Commission or an authorized committee of the Commission may direct revisions
to a previously adopted Commission Rule for purposes of correcting typographical errors,
errors in format, errors in consistency, or grammatical errors. Public notice of any
revisions shall be posted on the website of the Commission. The revision shall be subject
to challenge by any person for a period of thirty (30) days after posting. The revision may
be challenged only on grounds that the revision results in a material change to a Rule. A
challenge shall be made as set forth in the notice of revisions and delivered to the
Commission prior to the end of the notice period. If no challenge is made, the revision will
take effect without further action. If the revision is challenged, the revision may not take
effect without the approval of the Commission.
N. No Participating State's rulemaking requirements shall apply under this Compact.
Section 10. Oversight, Dispute Resolution, and Enforcement
A. Oversight
1. The executive and judicial branches of State government in each Participating State
shall enforce this Compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to implement
the Compact.
2. Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the Commission shall be
brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal
office of the Commission is located. The Commission may waive venue and
jurisdictional defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to participate in alternative
dispute resolution proceedings. Nothing herein shall affect or limit the selection or
propriety of venue in any action against a licensee for professional malpractice,
misconduct or any such similar matter.
3. The Commission shall be entitled to receive service of process in any proceeding
regarding the enforcement or interpretation of the Compact or the Commission's Rules
and shall have standing to intervene in such a proceeding for all purposes. Failure to
provide the Commission with service of process shall render a judgment or order in such
proceeding void as to the Commission, this Compact, or Commission Rules.
B. Default, Technical Assistance, and Termination
1. If the Commission determines that a Participating State has defaulted in the
performance of its obligations or responsibilities under this Compact or the Commission
Rules, the Commission shall provide written notice to the defaulting State and other
Participating States. The notice shall describe the default, the proposed means of curing
the default and any other action that the Commission may take and shall offer remedial
training and specific technical assistance regarding the default.
2. If a State in default fails to cure the default, the defaulting State may be terminated
from this Compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the delegates of the
Participating States, and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this Compact
upon such State may be terminated on the effective date of termination. A cure of the
default does not relieve the offending State of obligations or liabilities incurred during
the period of default.
3. Termination of participation in this Compact shall be imposed only after all other
means of securing compliance have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or
terminate shall be given by the Commission to the governor, the majority and minority
leaders of the defaulting State's legislature, and to the Licensing Board(s) of each of the
Participating States.
4. A State that has been terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and
liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination, including obligations that
extend beyond the effective date of termination.
5. The Commission shall not bear any costs related to a State that is found to be in
default or that has been terminated from this Compact, unless agreed upon in writing
between the Commission and the defaulting State.
6. The defaulting State may appeal its termination from the Compact by the Commission
by petitioning the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district
where the Commission has its principal offices. The prevailing member shall be awarded
all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.
7. Upon the termination of a State's participation in the Compact, the State shall
immediately provide notice to all Licensees within that State of such termination:
a. Licensees who have been granted a Compact Privilege in that State shall retain the
Compact Privilege for one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of
such termination.
b. Licensees who are licensed in that State who have been granted a Compact Privilege
in a Participating State shall retain the Compact Privilege for one hundred eighty (180)
days unless the Licensee also has a Qualifying License in a Participating State or
obtains a Qualifying License in a Participating State before the one hundred eighty
(180)-day period ends, in which case the Compact Privilege shall continue.
C. Dispute Resolution
1. Upon request by a Participating State, the Commission shall attempt to resolve
disputes related to this Compact that arise among Participating States and between
participating and non-Participating States.
2. The Commission shall promulgate a Rule providing for both mediation and binding
dispute resolution for disputes as appropriate.
D. Enforcement
1. The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the
provisions of this Compact and Rules of the Commission.
2. If compliance is not secured after all means to secure compliance have been
exhausted, by majority vote, the Commission may initiate legal action in the United
States District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the
Commission has its principal offices, against a Participating State in default to enforce
compliance with the provisions of this Compact and the Commission's promulgated Rules
and bylaws. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the
event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs
of such litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.
3. The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies of the Commission. The
Commission may pursue any other remedies available under federal or State law.
E. Legal Action Against the Commission
1. A Participating State may initiate legal action against the Commission in the U.S.
District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission
has its principal offices to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Compact and its
Rules. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event
judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such
litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.
2. No person other than a Participating State shall enforce this Compact against the
Commission.
Section 11. Date of Implementation of the PA Licensure Compact Commission
A. This Compact shall come into effect on the date on which this Compact statute is
enacted into law in the seventh Participating State.
1. On or after the effective date of the Compact, the Commission shall convene and
review the enactment of each of the States that enacted the Compact prior to the
Commission convening ("Charter Participating States") to determine if the statute enacted
by each such Charter Participating State is materially different than the Model Compact.
a. A Charter Participating State whose enactment is found to be materially different
from the Model Compact shall be entitled to the default process set forth in
Section 10.B.
b. If any Participating State later withdraws from the Compact or its participation is
terminated, the Commission shall remain in existence and the Compact shall remain in
effect even if the number of Participating States should be less than seven.
Participating States enacting the Compact subsequent to the Commission convening
shall be subject to the process set forth in Section 7.C.21 to determine if their
enactments are materially different from the Model Compact and whether they qualify
for participation in the Compact.
2. Participating States enacting the Compact subsequent to the seven initial Charter
Participating States shall be subject to the process set forth in Section 7.C.21 to determine
if their enactments are materially different from the Model Compact and whether they
qualify for participation in the Compact.
3. All actions taken for the benefit of the Commission or in furtherance of the purposes
of the administration of the Compact prior to the effective date of the Compact or the
Commission coming into existence shall be considered to be actions of the Commission
unless specifically repudiated by the Commission.
B. Any State that joins this Compact shall be subject to the Commission's Rules and
bylaws as they exist on the date on which this Compact becomes law in that State. Any
Rule that has been previously adopted by the Commission shall have the full force and
effect of law on the day this Compact becomes law in that State.
C. Any Participating State may withdraw from this Compact by enacting a statute
repealing the same.
1. A Participating State's withdrawal shall not take effect until one hundred eighty (180)
days after enactment of the repealing statute. During this one hundred eighty (180)
day-period, all Compact Privileges that were in effect in the withdrawing State and were
granted to Licensees licensed in the withdrawing State shall remain in effect. If any
Licensee licensed in the withdrawing State is also licensed in another Participating State
or obtains a license in another Participating State within the one hundred eighty (180)
days, the Licensee's Compact Privileges in other Participating States shall not be affected
by the passage of the one hundred eighty (180) days.
2. Withdrawal shall not affect the continuing requirement of the State Licensing Board(s)
of the withdrawing State to comply with the investigative, and Adverse Action reporting
requirements of this Compact prior to the effective date of withdrawal.
3. Upon the enactment of a statute withdrawing a State from this Compact, the State shall
immediately provide notice of such withdrawal to all Licensees within that State. Such
withdrawing State shall continue to recognize all licenses granted pursuant to this
Compact for a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of such notice
of withdrawal.
D. Nothing contained in this Compact shall be construed to invalidate or prevent any PA
licensure agreement or other cooperative arrangement between Participating States and
between a Participating State and non-Participating State that does not conflict with the
provisions of this Compact.
E. This Compact may be amended by the Participating States. No amendment to this
Compact shall become effective and binding upon any Participating State until it is enacted
materially in the same manner into the laws of all Participating States as determined by the
Commission.
Section 12. Construction and Severability
A. This Compact and the Commission's rulemaking authority shall be liberally construed
so as to effectuate the purposes, and the implementation and administration of the
Compact. Provisions of the Compact expressly authorizing or requiring the promulgation
of Rules shall not be construed to limit the Commission's rulemaking authority solely for
those purposes.
B. The provisions of this Compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence
or provision of this Compact is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to
the constitution of any Participating State, a State seeking participation in the Compact, or
of the United States, or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or
circumstance is held to be unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity
of the remainder of this Compact and the applicability thereof to any other government,
agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.
C. Notwithstanding subsection B or this section, the Commission may deny a State's
participation in the Compact or, in accordance with the requirements of Section10.B,
terminate a Participating State's participation in the Compact, if it determines that a
constitutional requirement of a Participating State is, or would be with respect to a State
seeking to participate in the Compact, a material departure from the Compact. Otherwise,
if this Compact shall be held to be contrary to the constitution of any Participating State,
the Compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining Participating States
and in full force and effect as to the Participating State affected as to all severable matters.
Section 13. Binding Effect of Compact
A. Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a Participating State that
is not inconsistent with this Compact.
B. Any laws in a Participating State in conflict with this Compact are superseded to the
extent of the conflict.
C. All agreements between the Commission and the Participating States are binding in
accordance with their terms."
SECTION 5.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2027.
SECTION 6.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
House Bill 1295 would have Georgia join the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, letting physician assistants licensed in other member states practice in Georgia without getting a separate Georgia license, while also adding a criminal background check requirement for Georgia PA licensure.
### Plain-language summary
Currently, a physician assistant (PA) who wants to work in Georgia generally has to obtain a Georgia license through the Georgia Composite Medical Board, even if already licensed elsewhere. This bill would have Georgia enter the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, an interstate agreement that lets a PA who holds an unrestricted license in one member state gain a 'compact privilege' to practice in any other member state, including Georgia, without a separate license there.
The bill rewrites the legal definition of 'physician assistant' to include those practicing under a compact privilege, and it requires all PA applicants for Georgia licensure to pass a state and FBI criminal background check using fingerprints submitted through the Georgia Crime Information Center. It also directs the Georgia Composite Medical Board to administer the compact. The compact itself sets up a national commission to manage a shared licensing database, handle discipline across states, and make rules binding on member states. The changes take effect July 1, 2027.
### What it does
- Enrolls Georgia in the interstate Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, letting PAs licensed in other member states practice in Georgia through a 'compact privilege' instead of a separate Georgia license.
- Rewrites the definition of 'physician assistant' in Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 43-34-102) to cover people licensed in Georgia or holding a compact privilege under the new law.
- Requires anyone applying for a Georgia PA license to pass a state and FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Georgia Crime Information Center, at the applicant's expense.
- Directs the Georgia Composite Medical Board to administer the new compact alongside its existing licensing duties (O.C.G.A. § 43-34-108).
- Creates a national Physician Assistant Licensure Compact Commission with rulemaking, discipline-tracking, and dispute-resolution powers over all participating states.
- Sets the effective date of the entire Act as July 1, 2027.
### Who it affects
Physician assistants seeking to practice in Georgia or move between compact states, the Georgia Composite Medical Board, supervising physicians who employ PAs, patients receiving care from PAs, and the Georgia Crime Information Center, which will process new background checks.
### Why it matters
PAs licensed in other compact states could start practicing in Georgia faster, without going through Georgia's full separate licensing process, which could ease staffing in Georgia's health care system. At the same time, every Georgia PA applicant would face a new mandatory criminal background check before being licensed.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 amends the definition of 'physician assistant' (O.C.G.A. § 43-34-102) to include people licensed in Georgia or holding a compact privilege under the new Code Section 43-34-111.
- Section 2 amends licensure application rules (O.C.G.A. § 43-34-103) to require a satisfactory criminal background check, including fingerprint submission to the Georgia Crime Information Center and FBI, before Georgia licensure is granted.
- Section 2 also states that background check results are confidential, not public records, and usable only by the board for licensing purposes.
- Section 3 amends the Georgia Composite Medical Board's powers (O.C.G.A. § 43-34-108) to add administering the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact to its duties.
- Section 4 creates new Code Section 43-34-111, adopting the full text of the 'PA Licensure Compact,' which defines terms like 'Compact Privilege,' 'Qualifying License,' and 'Adverse Action.'
- The compact requires member states to license PAs, share data through a national Data System, investigate complaints, and report disciplinary actions to a new national Commission.
- The compact takes effect once seven states enact it, and a state may withdraw by repealing the compact, with a 180-day wind-down period for existing compact privileges.
- Section 5 sets the Act's effective date as July 1, 2027, and Section 6 repeals conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Engrossed (2026-03-04)
- Last action: Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended (2026-04-02)
- Sponsors: Sharon Cooper, Ron Stephens, Lee Hawkins, Michelle Au, John LaHood, Brian Prince, John Albers
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73172
> The history, votes, and amendments (1,278 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1295.md?full=1