Summary

Creates a new Stafford Act authority that lets the President certify private “health care workforce platforms” and enter voluntary agreements to use them during federally declared emergencies. The law lets the federal government work with states to temporarily waive state licensure rules for out-of-state independent contractor health care workers deployed via certified platforms, requires model procedures and annual reporting to Congress, and provides limited liability protections for workers and platforms acting under the new authority.

Key Points

• Creates a federal process to certify private health care workforce platforms for emergency deployment.
• Allows the President to enter voluntary agreements with certified platforms (minimum one-year term).
• Authorizes federal coordination to facilitate temporary state licensure waivers for out-of-state independent contractor health workers deployed via certified platforms.
• Requires the President to issue model procedures and vetting criteria (qualifications, background checks, deployment priorities).
• Mandates a report to Congress within one year of enactment and annually on licensure waivers and deployments.
• Provides limited liability protection for participating workers and platforms, excluding willful misconduct, gross negligence, or bad faith.
• Deems certain contracting private entities as federal employees for FTCA purposes when federal primary responsibility is determined.
• Directs the President to issue regulations to implement the new authorities and to clarify FTCA applicability.

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