(a) General rule.--For the purpose of administering the criminal history background check required under Article V of the compact,¹ the Department of State shall require a nurse licensed in this Commonwealth or a practical/vocational nurse licensed in this Commonwealth who resides in this Commonwealth to apply for a multistate license under the compact and to submit to the Federal Bureau of Investigation a national criminal history background check.

(b) Submission.--In addition to the requirement under subsection (a), an applicant shall submit a set of fingerprints and other identifying information to the Pennsylvania State Police or its designee. The Pennsylvania State Police or its designee shall submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history background check.

(c) Use of criminal history information.--Criminal history information under this section shall be interpreted and used by the Department of State solely to determine an applicant's eligibility for the issuance of a multistate license. The Department of State shall not disseminate the criminal history information to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators. The criminal history information under this subsection shall be exempt from the limitations under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121(b)(2) (relating to general regulations).