119-s1701

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1701 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 1701

 To permit the use of health care workforce platforms during declared 
 emergencies, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 May 8, 2025

 Mr. Budd introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To permit the use of health care workforce platforms during declared 
 emergencies, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Strategic Teams for Organized 
Response Mobilization Act'' or the ``STORM Act''.

SEC. 2. USE OF HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE PLATFORMS DURING STATE OF 
 EMERGENCY.

 Title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``

SEC. 504. HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE PLATFORMS.

 ``

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Emergency.--The term `emergency' means an emergency 
 declared under 

section 501.
 ``

    (2) Health care workforce platform.--The term `health 
 care workforce platform' means a private entity technology 
 platform that--
 ``
        (A) partners with credentialed independent 
 contractor health care workers;
 ``
        (B) has the capability to facilitate health care 
 workforce surge capacity during an emergency; and
 ``
            (C) is self-sustaining during times other than 
 those in which an emergency is declared.
 ``

    (3) Independent contractor health care worker.--The term 
 `independent contractor health care worker' means a health care 
 professional who--
 ``
        (A) holds a valid license to practice as a health 
 care professional in not less than 1 State;
 ``
        (B) provides health care services on a 
 contractual basis, rather than as an employee of a 
 health care facility or organization;
 ``
            (C) is credentialed and verified by a health care 
 workforce platform; and
 ``
            (D) is engaged to respond to health care needs 
 during an emergency.
 ``

    (b) Public-Private Partnership.--
 ``

    (1) Certification.--The President may certify health care 
 workforce platforms as eligible to enter into an agreement 
 under paragraph

    (2) .
 ``

    (2) Voluntary agreements.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The President may enter into an 
 agreement with a health care workforce platform 
 certified under paragraph

    (1) under which the President 
 may use the health care workforce platform for the 
 duration of any emergency declared during the term of 
 the agreement.
 ``
        (B) Term.--The duration of the term of an 
 agreement entered into under subparagraph
        (A) shall be 
 not less than 1 year.
 ``
            (c) Facilitation of State Licensure Waivers.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--During any emergency, 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

    (b)

    (2) if--
 ``
        (A) 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 
 emergency; and
 ``
        (B) the independent contractor health care worker 
 holds a valid license to practice as a health care 
 worker in not less than 1 State.
 ``

    (2) Procedures and criteria.--The President shall 
 establish model procedures and criteria for the waiver of State 
 licensure requirements under paragraph

    (1) that a State 
 affected by an emergency may adopt at the time of the emergency 
 that--
 ``
        (A) include requirements that independent 
 contractor health care workers demonstrate 
 qualifications and undergo background checks;
 ``
        (B) prioritize the expedited deployment of 
 qualified independent contractor health care workers to 
 areas affected by an emergency; and
 ``
            (C) 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

    (b)

    (2) .
 ``

    (3) Coordination with state authorities.--In carrying out 
 this subsection, the President shall--
 ``
        (A) coordinate with relevant State authorities to 
 ensure the efficient implementation of licensure 
 waivers or temporary licenses; and
 ``
        (B) consider State-specific regulations and 
 requirements.
 ``
            (d) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of the Strategic Teams for Organized Response Mobilization 
Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit to Congress a 
report on the use of State licensure waivers during emergencies under 
this section, including--
 ``

    (1) information on the number of independent contractor 
 health care workers for whom a State waives a licensure 
 requirement under subsection
            (c) (1) to facilitate deployment 
 during an emergency;
 ``

    (2) the duration of the deployment of independent 
 contractor health care workers described in paragraph

    (1) ; and
 ``

    (3) any challenges encountered in the process of carrying 
 out subsection
            (c) (1) .
 ``

    (e) Liability Protections.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph

    (2) , 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 activities.
 ``

    (2) Exception.--Paragraph

    (1) shall not apply in a case 
 of willful misconduct, gross negligence, or bad faith.
 ``

    (3) Federal tort claims act.--Any private entity, 
 including an independent contractor health care worker and a 
 health care workforce platform, 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 501

    (b) , shall be deemed an employee of the government 
 for purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, 
 with respect to claims arising from acts or omissions within 
 the scope of such contract or agreement.
 ``

    (4) Applicability.--This subsection shall apply only to 
 activities--
 ``
        (A) conducted in response to an emergency the 
 primary responsibility for the response to which the 
 President determines rests with the United States under 
 

section 501

    (b) ; and
 ``
        (B) that are within the scope of the duties 
 authorized by this Act.
 ``

    (5) Regulations.--The President shall issue such 
 regulations as are necessary to implement this section, 
 including regulations to determine the applicability of chapter 
 171 of title 28, United States Code, to independent contractor 
 health care workers and health care workforce platforms under 
 this section.''.
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