2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Act 100 - PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS (STATE LICENSED) (63 PA.C.S.) - VIRTUAL OPERATION
Session of 2021
No. 2021-100
SB 869
AN ACT
Amending Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in powers and duties, further providing for definitions and providing for virtual operation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3102 of Title 63 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
§ 3102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
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"Distance education." Instruction offered by any means where the licensee is in a separate physical location from the instructor and communication is accomplished through one or more technological media. The term includes real-time or delayed interaction using voice, video, data or text, including instruction provided online, via correspondence or interactive video.
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"Practice act." A statute governing the licensure, certification, registration or permit of a profession that is under the jurisdiction of a licensing board or licensing commission.
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"Virtual platform." Live-stream synchronous videoconferencing or similar virtual presence technology.
"Virtual supervision." The act of supervision of hours necessary for a license, certificate, registration or permit in a practice act done in a manner that allows the supervisor to be in a separate physical location from the supervisee while using a virtual platform to maintain a continuous real-time virtual presence as if in person.
Section 2. Title 63 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 3107.1. Virtual operation.
(a) Virtual meetings.--In addition to the requirements of a practice act to hold public meetings to conduct business, each licensing board and licensing commission shall use a virtual platform to conduct business when a public meeting is held.
(b) Quorum.--Notwithstanding the provisions of a practice act, for the purposes of a quorum, a licensing board or licensing commission may use a virtual platform to establish a quorum and effectuate business if the platform allows for live participation. Licensing board or licensing commission meetings conducted in this manner shall not need to meet location requirements as may be required in a practice act.
(c) Distance education.--Each licensing board and licensing commission shall establish rules and regulations for continuing education that provides for distance education if continuing education is required for a license, certificate, registration or permit in a practice act.
(d) Virtual supervision.--In order to meet the supervision requirements for license, certificate, registration or permit hours in a practice act, each licensing board and licensing commission shall establish rules and regulations providing for virtual supervision in a manner that meets the requirements for licensure, certification, registration or permit and is acceptable to the licensing board and licensing commission.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
APPROVED--The 22nd day of December, A.D. 2021.
TOM WOLF
