AN ACT authorizing the north carolina board of nursing to recognize retired nurses by special licensure status and to establish a fee for this status.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 9A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 90-171.36A.  Retired nurse status; reinstatement.
(a)	After a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse has retired, upon payment of the one-time fee required by G.S. 90-171.27(b), the Board may issue a special license to a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse in recognition of the nurse's retired status.
(b)	If a retired registered nurse or licensed practical nurse wishes to return to the practice of nursing, the retired nurse shall apply for reinstatement on a form provided by the Board and satisfy any requirements the Board deems necessary to reinstate the license."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 90‑171.27(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The schedule of fees shall not exceed the following rates: 
Application for examination leading to certificate and license as 
	registered nurse	$75.00
Application for certificate and license as registered nurse by 
	endorsement	150.00
Application for each re‑examination leading to certificate and 
	license as registered nurse	75.00
Renewal of license to practice as registered nurse(two‑year period)	100.00
Reinstatement of lapsed license to practice as a registered nurse
	and renewal fee	180.00
Application for examination leading to certificate and license as
	licensed practical nurse by examination	75.00
Application for certificate and license as licensed practical nurse
	by endorsement	150.00
Application for each re‑examination leading to certificate and
	license as licensed practical nurse	75.00
Renewal of license to practice as a licensed practical nurse 
	(two‑year period)	100.00
Reinstatement of lapsed license to practice as a licensed practical
	nurse and renewal fee	180.00
Application fee for retired registered nurse status or retired
licensed practical nurse status	………………………………………....50.00
Reinstatement of retired registered nurse to practice as a 
registered nurse or a retired licensed practical nurse to 
practice as a licensed practical nurse (two-year period)	……………100.00
Reasonable charge for duplication services and materials.
A fee for an item listed in this schedule shall not increase from one year to the next by more than twenty percent (20%)."
SECTION 3.  The Board shall initially charge a twenty‑five dollar ($25.00) application fee for retired registered nurse status or retired licensed practical nurse status. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Board from amending the fee pursuant to Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 24th day of April, 2003.

	_____________________________________
		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	_____________________________________
		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2003