§34-21-85. Joint committee designated to recommend rules and regulations; requirements to engage in advanced practice nursing.

The joint committee shall be the state authority designated to recommend rules and regulations to the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing for the purpose of regulating the collaborative practice of physicians and certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives. No person may practice as a certified registered nurse practitioner or a certified nurse midwife in this state unless that person possesses a certificate of qualification issued by the Board of Nursing and practices under written protocols approved by the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing and signed by a qualified collaborating physician or physicians and certified registered nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife or is exempt from the requirement of a written protocol according to rules promulgated by the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing. The joint committee shall recommend to the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing rules and regulations designed to govern the collaborative relationship between physicians and certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives certified by the Board of Nursing to engage in these areas of advanced practice nursing. These rules and regulations shall be finally adopted by July 1, 1996. These rules and regulations and any and all additions, deletions, corrections, or changes thereto shall be considered rules and regulations requiring publication under the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act; however, the following shall not be considered rules or regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act:

(1) Protocols for use by certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives certified to engage in these two areas of advanced practice nursing in collaboration with a physician; and

(2) The formulary of legend drugs that may be prescribed by certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives authorized to do so.

(Acts 1995, No. 95-263, p. 464, §6.)