,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #feci ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #i1 #bjbe,mr4 ,rouzer introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to permit the use of health care workforce platforms during declared emergencies1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,strategic ,teams for ,organized ,response ,mobilization ,act or the ,,storm ,act4 #b4 ,use of health care workforce platforms during state of emergency ,title ,v of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaia et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ejd4 ,health care workforce platforms 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,emergency ,the term emergency means an emergency declared under section #eja4 7#b7 ,health care workforce platform ,the term health care workforce platform means a private entity technology platform that-- 7,a7 partners with credentialed independent contractor health care workers2 7,b7 has the capability to facilitate health care workforce surge capacity during an emergency2 and 7,c7 is self-sustaining during times other than those in which an emergency is declared4 7#c7 ,independent contractor health care worker ,the term independent contractor health care worker means a health care professional who-- 7,a7 holds a valid license to practice as a health care professional in not less than #a ,state2 7,b7 provides health care services on a contractual basis1 rather than as an employee of a health care facility or organization2 7,c7 is credentialed and verified by a health care workforce platform2 and 7,d7 is engaged to respond to health care needs during an emergency4 7b7 ,public-,private partnership 7#a7 ,certification ,the ,president may certify health care workforce platforms as eligible to enter into an agreement under paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,voluntary agreements 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,president may enter into an agreement with a health care workforce platform certified under paragraph 7#a7 under which the ,president may use the health care workforce platform for the duration of any emergency declared during the term of the agreement4 7,b7 ,term ,the duration of the term of an agreement entered into under subparagraph 7,a7 shall be not less than #a year4 7c7 ,facilitation of ,state licensure waivers 7#a7 ,in general ,during any emergency1 the ,president may coordinate with ,states to facilitate a waiver of licensure requirements of the ,state for out-of-state independent contractor health care workers responding to an emergency through a health care workforce platform with which the ,president has entered into an agreement under subsection 7b77#b7 if-- 7,a7 the services of the independent contractor health care worker are being used by the ,president or the ,state or a local government affected by the emergency for the purpose of responding to the emergency2 and 7,b7 the independent contractor health care worker holds a valid license to practice as a health care worker in not less than #a ,state4 7#b7 ,procedures and criteria ,the ,president shall establish model procedures and criteria for the waiver of ,state licensure requirements under paragraph 7#a7 that a ,state affected by an emergency may adopt at the time of the emergency that-- 7,a7 include requirements that independent contractor health care workers demonstrate qualifications and undergo background checks2 7,b7 prioritize the expedited deployment of qualified independent contractor health care workers to areas affected by an emergency2 and 7,c7 may rely on vetting of independent contractor health care workers by a health care workforce platform with which the ,president has entered into an agreement under subsection 7b77#b74 7#c7 ,coordination with ,state authorities ,in carrying out this subsection1 the ,president shall-- 7,a7 coordinate with relevant ,state authorities to ensure the efficient implementation of licensure waivers or temporary licenses2 and 7,b7 consider ,state-specific regulations and requirements4 7d7 ,reporting requirements ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,strategic ,teams for ,organized ,response ,mobilization ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,president shall submit to ,congress a report on the use of ,state licensure waivers during emergencies under this section1 including-- 7#a7 information on the number of independent contractor health care workers for whom a ,state waives a licensure requirement under subsection 7c77#a7 to facilitate deployment during an emergency2 7#b7 the duration of the deployment of independent contractor health care workers described in paragraph 7#a72 and 7#c7 any challenges encountered in the process of carrying out subsection 7c77#a74 7e7 ,liability protections 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 an independent contractor health care worker or health care workforce platform that engages in activities authorized under this title and complies with or reasonably attempt to comply with this title shall not be liable for any injury or damage sustained to a person or property as a result of such activities4 7#b7 ,exception ,paragraph 7#a7 shall not apply in a case of willful misconduct1 gross negligence1 or bad faith4 7#c7 ,federal ,tort ,claims ,act ,any private entity1 including an independent contractor health care worker and a health care workforce platform1 that enters into a contract or agreement with the ,federal ,government or acts at the direction of a ,federal agency to respond to an emergency during an emergency the primary responsibility for the response to which the ,president determines rests with the ,united ,states under section #eja7;b71 shall be deemed an employee of the government for purposes of chapter #aga of title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 with respect to claims arising from acts or omissions within the scope of such contract or agreement4 7#d7 ,applicability ,this subsection shall apply only to activities-- 7,a7 conducted in response to an emergency the primary responsibility for the response to which the ,president determines rests with the ,united ,states under section #eja7;b72 and 7,b7 that are within the scope of the duties authorized by this ,act4 7#e7 ,regulations ,the ,president shall issue such regulations as are necessary to implement this section1 including regulations to determine the applicability of chapter #aga of title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 to independent contractor health care workers and health care workforce platforms under this section4 4