STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3034

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2165

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2165 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NURSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide additional means to qualify for licensure as a registered nurse by allowing bachelor's degree graduates who have completed the pre-licensure portion of a master's entry program in nursing, to apply for a license as a registered nurse by examination.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, the Board of Nursing, the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Hawaii Pacific Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Government Employees Association, and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is experiencing a severe nursing workforce shortage.  This measure will help to address this shortage by authorizing an accelerated program with entry at the master's level that provides licensure by examination for qualifying registered nurses.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2165, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair