What's happening
This bill creates a certification process and title protection for certified registered nurse anesthetists in New York State.
Why it matters
Establishes clear qualifications and ongoing requirements. for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), including specific education, national certification, and state licensure, which could help ensure a consistent standard of care and professional competence in anesthesia services.
Provides legal title protection. for CRNAs, making it illegal for anyone who is not certified under the new process to use the title “certified registered nurse anesthetist.” This can help patients and employers identify properly credentialed providers and reduce confusion or misrepresentation in healthcare settings.
Does not expand or alter the scope of practice. for nurse anesthetists or any other health professionals, meaning CRNAs will not gain independent practice rights or new authorities under this bill. The certification is strictly a credentialing and title-protection measure, addressing professional recognition rather than clinical autonomy.
Creates a framework for state oversight and regulation. by authorizing the commissioner to establish rules for certification, allowing the state to adapt requirements or processes over time and potentially respond to changes in healthcare standards or workforce needs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Certify Nurse Anesthetists
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 59
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Certify Nurse Anesthetists
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1385
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sens. GALLIVAN, FUNKE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to certification of certified registered nurse anesthetists
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6912 to read as follows:
§ 6912. Certification of certified registered nurse anesthetists. 1. For issuance of a certificate as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, the applicant shall fulfill the following requirements:
(a) Application: file an application with the department;
(b) License: be licensed as a registered professional nurse in the state;
(c) Education: (i) have satisfactorily completed an educational program that is designed and conducted to prepare graduates to practice in the specialty area of nurse anesthesia and is registered by the department or determined by the department to be the equivalent; and (ii) submit evidence of current certification or recertification by a national certifying body, recognized by the department;
(d) Fees: pay a fee to the department of fifty dollars for an initial certificate authorizing nurse anesthesia practice and a triennial registration fee of thirty dollars. After a certified registered nurse anesthetist's initial registration, registration under this section shall be coterminous with the certified registered nurse anesthetist's registration as a registered professional nurse.
2. Only a person certified under this section shall use the title "certified registered nurse anesthetist".
3. The commissioner is authorized to promulgate regulations to implement the certification process set forth in this section.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00276-01-7
S. 1385 2
4. Nothing in this section shall be construed to define a scope of practice or permit independent practice for certified registered nurse anesthetists or to alter the scope of practice of any practitioner or professional certified or licensed under title eight of this chapter or under the public health law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law, except that subdivision 2 of section 6912 of the education law, as added by section one of this act shall take effect three years after this act shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to certification of certified registered nurse anesthetists
Purpose
The bill provides for the certification by the education department of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA).
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the education law by establishing criteria for certification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, including application filing, license requirements, education and certification fees.
This provision prohibits any individual other than certified persons from using the title "certified registered nurse anesthetist." Those currently practicing as certified registered nurse anesthetists would be "grandfathered" in order to include them under this act. This act does not apply to existing laws, rules, regulations or certification standards. The Commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the CRNA certification.
This section also provides that nothing in this section shall be construed to define a scope of practice or permit independent practice for certified registered nurse anesthetists or to alter the scope of practice of any certified or licensed practitioner or professional.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) play an essential role in providing high quality, cost-effective care. They provide anesthesia services to all categories of patients, all types of surgical procedures and in all practice settings.
Protecting the title of CRNA is necessary to maintain safe patient care and to ensure that only those who are properly educated and qualified are performing CRNA services. Competencies for CRNA practice have been nationally validated and recognized. Numerous studies have demonstrated that CRNA Practice represents the highest level of safe quality care at the lowest cost to the patient and the system. Furthermore, with the health care environment growing increasingly complex due to new technologies and treatment modalities, title, recognition for CRNAs is essential for the public's protection.
This bill would protect the title "certified registered nurse anesthetist" and the designation "CRNA" to ensure that only those properly educated and prepared to be certified registered nurse anesthetists hold themselves out as such. The state would be able to identify those nurses who have been properly educated to provide specialized care and prohibit health care facilities from inappropriately utilizing unqualified persons in the CRNA role. Specifically, enacting this legislation will better enable the State Education Department to investigate claims of unlicensed practice and thus help the Department to fully protect the public from professional misconduct in this specialty area.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.7166-A/A.140-A Referred to Higher Education/Ordered to Third Reading 2013-14: S.3277-B/A.4228-B Referred to Higher Education (both houses) 2012: S.5356-D/A.8392-C Passed both houses, Vetoed Memo. 165 2011: S.5356-D/A.8392-C Referred to Higher Education (both houses)
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 180 days after it shall have become law, except that subdivision 2 of section 6912 of the Education Law, as added by section one of this act shall take effect three years after this act shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.