Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 145 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to establish a testing center to conduct the National Council Licensure Examination in the city of Manila in the Republic of the Philippines.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association and the Board of Nursing.

Your Committees find that enabling nurse candidates to take the National Council Licensure Examination in the Philippines is a proactive approach to addressing the nursing shortage in Hawaii. The examination is offered at many other overseas locations. Currently, Filipinos who wish to work as nurses in the United States must apply for B-2 visas and overcome financial barriers. Offering the examination in the Philippines will eliminate these barriers and improve recruitment of nurses in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Energy, Environment, and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 145 and recommend its adoption.