HB378

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that numerous studies have recognized the national shortage of qualified nurses which will reach a twenty per cent staffing shortfall by 2020. In 2006, Hawaii experienced a shortage of nine hundred sixty registered nurses. The nursing shortage is estimated to grow to 2,220 registered nurses by 2016 and 2,670 registered nurses by 2020. A nursing shortage jeopardizes the quality of health care provided in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, clinics, and other health care settings. Without enough registered nurses, patient safety is at risk and the rural and underserved communities are most affected.

The nursing shortage is exacerbated by the increasing number of the aging population. Hawaii's population is aging faster than the rest of the country. Between 2000 and 2020 the number of people aged sixty years or older will increase by almost seventy-five per cent. Because Hawaii's registered nurse workforce is also aging, estimates indicate that by 2015, thirty-one per cent of Hawaii’s registered nurse workforce will retire. By 2020, sixty-one per cent of Hawaii’s current workforce will retire. The already significant shortage of registered nurses is creating a crisis that will be worsened by the State's geographic isolation.

The legislature finds that key to promoting the health of Hawaii are efforts to increase the educational capacity of the State’s nursing programs. The nursing programs are impacted by the number of faculty and support positions and adequate facilities available. Increasing faculty training and nursing graduates requires a minimum of two to five years. The legislature finds that an ongoing and strategic public sector approach is necessary to sustain a robust, qualified nursing workforce to meet Hawaii’s anticipated health care needs.

The legislature agrees with the University of Hawaii’s statewide nursing consortium commitment to maximize the State’s investment in nursing education, without unnecessary duplication among the various campuses. The legislature recognizes that the University of Hawaii plays a vital role in nursing workforce development in Hawaii.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to hire more nursing faculty and support positions, provide nursing scholarships and loans, increase facilities, advance the work of the statewide nursing consortium, and provide distance learning.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $4,664,150, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the University of Hawaii to hire additional nursing personnel for the various campuses, as follows:

(1) School of nursing and dental hygiene, University of Hawaii at Manoa: faculty, program, and student services program support to expand Manoa nursing courses to the leeward-side (at Leeward community college) and to develop an innovative course of study providing a second career master’s program:

18 positions (2007-2008) $2,000,000

18 positions (2008-2009) $2,000,000

(2) Kapiolani community college: faculty and student services program support to expand enrollment:

4 positions (2007-2008) $263,888

10 positions (2008-2009) $749,272

(3) Hawaii community college: faculty and student services program support to expand enrollment:

5 positions (2007-2008) $342,750

2 positions (2008-2009) $186,308

(4) Maui community college: Faculty and student services program support to expand enrollment:

8.5 positions (2007-2008) $606,625

8.5 positions (2008-2009) $606,625

(5) Kauai community college: Faculty and student services program support to expand enrollment:

5 positions (2007-2008) $365,875

10 positions (2008-2009) $749,272

(6) University of Hawaii at Hilo: Faculty and student services program support to expand enrollment:

6 positions (2007-2008) $436,400

2.5 positions (2008-2009) $214,000

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the University of Hawaii to create a graduate nursing faculty loan program with loan forgiveness for those who work as faculty in the State after graduating; provided that to be eligible for the graduate nursing faculty loan, the individual shall be a Hawaii resident and enrolled at a University of Hawaii nursing program as a full- or part-time student in a master of science in nursing program; provided further that the program shall allow loan forgiveness of $5,000 a year up to five years; provided further that for every year of loan forgiveness, the recipient shall work for one year as a nurse educator at the University of Hawaii.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the University of Hawaii to create a nursing student scholarship program; provided that to be eligible for the nursing student scholarship program, the individual shall be enrolled as a full- or part-time student in a University of Hawaii associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree nursing program; provided further that need, and merit such as class rank, grade point average, and service activities, shall be considered in selecting recipients.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $750,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the University of Hawaii school of nursing and dental hygiene to conduct facility planning and development and tasks necessary to expand the school's physical facility to provide optimal educational experiences and for students to participate in cross disciplinary education with other students in the health sciences, and provide temporary classrooms for all nursing programs.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $545,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the University of Hawaii statewide nursing consortium to undertake implementation of a statewide nursing curriculum utilizing a statewide distance-learning network to all islands that will prepare students with the competencies to address the rapidly changing health care needs of the State; provided that funding shall support personnel and staff positions for the curriculum development phase, and expenses to convert existing classroom space and purchase equipment to establish a distance learning center on each island; provided further that distance learning centers shall expand the current distance learning modalities to offer the statewide curriculum; provided further that the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall administer the funding and coordinate the activities of the consortium.

SECTION 7. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	378
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII