Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Act
Summary
Kentucky HB36 establishes the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, creating a multi-state licensure system for respiratory therapists. The bill passed unanimously (97-0 House, 37-0 Senate) and creates a 17-member commission to administer the compact, establish data systems, and enforce adverse actions against licensees. The compact enables qualified respiratory therapists to practice across participating state lines under a single home-state license.
What changed
Kentucky HB36 creates a new section of KRS Chapter 314A establishing the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, modeled after similar compacts for nurses and physicians. The legislation defines licensure requirements, establishes a privilege to practice in remote states, creates the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission with rulemaking authority, mandates a coordinated data system, and outlines termination procedures. The bill includes provisions for adverse actions and penalties against licensees who violate compact terms.
Healthcare facilities and respiratory care employers should begin assessing how this affects their staffing and licensure verification processes. The compact will enable multi-state practice once Kentucky and other jurisdictions fully implement the framework. Employers should monitor for commission rules establishing data reporting requirements and practice standards. Respiratory therapists should prepare for new licensure procedures under the compact system.
What to do next
- Identify all respiratory therapists on staff and review their current licensure status under the new compact framework
- Establish procedures to verify licensure privileges in remote states when hiring or contracting respiratory therapists
- Monitor for commission rules establishing data reporting and compliance requirements
Penalties
The compact establishes adverse actions and penalties against licensees who violate compact provisions or applicable state laws
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Kentucky / HB36 Passed HB36 House Bill Passed 2026-03-04
AN ACT relating to respiratory care.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 314A to enact and enter into the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact with all other jurisdictions that legally join in the compact; declare the purpose of the compact; define terms; establish participation requirements; recognize a licensure privilege and establish requirements; designate home state licensure for active military members; establish penalties and adverse actions against a licensee; establish the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission; create membership rules, establish voting requirements, and permit the commission to establish rules and perform duties; require the compact commission to create a data system and outline the requirements; permit the executive and judicial branches within each state to enforce the compact; establish dispute resolution and outline termination procedures.
Bill Details
State Kentucky
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Committee Rules
Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb36.html
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Sponsors
Steve Bratcher (Rep - R) Beverly Chester-Burton (Rep - D) Daniel Grossberg (Rep - D) Vanessa Grossl (Rep - R) Adam Moore (Rep - D) Kimberly Moser (Rep - R) Aaron Thompson (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-03-31 H posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (2) and Committee Amendment (1-title) 2026-03-31 H to Rules (H) 2026-03-31 H received in House 2026-03-31 S passed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (2) and Committee Amendment (1-title) 2026-03-31 S floor amendment (1) withdrawn 2026-03-31 S 3rd reading 2026-03-27 S passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day 2026-03-26 S posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 27 2026 2026-03-26 S floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute 2026-03-24 S floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute 2026-03-24 S reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) as a consent bill 2026-03-20 S returned to Licensing & Occupations (S) 2026-03-20 S 1st reading 2026-03-20 S taken from Licensing & Occupations (S) 2026-03-13 S to Licensing & Occupations (S) 2026-03-04 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-03-04 S received in Senate 2026-03-03 H 3rd reading, passed 97-0 with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-02 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 03 2026 2026-02-26 H 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-02-25 H reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-01-14 H to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H) 2026-01-07 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-01-07 H introduced in House
Votes
2026-03-03 House: Veto Override RCS# 185 Yea: 97 Nay: 0 2026-03-31 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4087 Yea: 37 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-07 H Committee On Committees 2026-01-14 H Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations 2026-02-26 H Rules 2026-03-04 S Committee on Committees 2026-03-13 S Licensing and Occupations 2026-03-31 H Rules
Amendments
0000-00-00 House Committee Substitute 0000-00-00 Senate Committee Substitute 0000-00-00 Senate Committee Amendment 0000-00-00 Senate Floor Amendment 0000-00-00 Senate Floor Amendment
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed
Subjects
Boards and Commissions Compacts, Interstate Health and Medical Services Licensing Physicians Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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