Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 76 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge healthcare facilities in Hawaii to implement the "Utilization Guide for the American Nurses Association Principles for Safe Staffing."

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai`i Nurses' Association and the Hawaii Government Employees Association. The Department of Health and The Queen's Medical Center submitted testimony in support of this measure with amendments. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the measure from Kaiser Permanente. The Hawaii Long Term Care Association submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that quality health care and patient safety are priorities of health care facilities. Safe nurse staffing is essential to ensuring these priorities are fulfilled. The "Utilization Guide For The American Nurses Association Principles For Safe Staffing" appropriately sets guidelines for Hawaii's health care facilities to follow.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

Your Committee further amended this measure by making technical, non-substantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 76, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 76, S.D. 1.