STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3508

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 103

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 103 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF ACT 226, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2007, ON NURSE AIDES WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN STATE-CERTIFIED OR STATE-LICENSED HEALTH CARE SETTINGS TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO AMEND ACT 226, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2007,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a study on the impact of Act 226, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, on nurse aides who work in state-licensed or state-certified health care settings and other persons or areas identified by the Auditor. 

     In addition, this measure requests the Auditor to study the possible sources of funding of the costs for recertification and competency evaluations for nurse aides.  The measure also requests the Auditor to seek input from various interested parties.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that Act 226, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, requires the certification and recertification of nurse aides, but does not address the costs for recertification and competency evaluations.  There is concern that this may present a practical conflict with federal laws that mandate that no charge shall be imposed upon Medicare or Medicaid certified nurse aides.  Your Committee finds that this measure would provide valuable data and analysis to determine the impact of Act 226 on nurse aides who work in state-certified or state-licensed health care settings.  This information would also assist the Legislature in determining whether amendments to Act 226, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, are needed.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 103 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair