STAND. COM. REP. NO.  541-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 1847

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1847, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF NURSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help ensure a consistent practice of quality nursing by, among other things:

     (1)  Defining the practice of nursing;

     (2)  Directing the State Board of Nursing to adopt certain provisions of the National Council of State Board of Nursing Model Nursing Practice Act and Model Nursing Administrative Rules; and

     (3)  Delineating the scope of practice for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including:

          (A)  Removing the dispensing of drugs from the scope of practice for an APRN; and

          (B)  Specifying that, for purposes of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, APRNs are not authorized to request, receive, or sign for professional controlled substance samples.

     The Department of Public Safety, Board of Nursing, University of Hawaii System, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1847, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair