STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2138

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2272

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2272 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR NURSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to include a continuing education component to nurse licensure requirements.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, Kapi‘olani Medical Center at Pali Momi, The Queen's Medical Center, Straub Clinic & Hospital, The University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition of this measure from the Board of Nursing, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, and three individuals.  Testimony in support of the intent of the measure with amendments was received from Kaiser Permanente Hawaii.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that although there is a widespread desire to specify continuing education requirements for nurses, there is disagreement about the best way to do so.  Your Committee further finds that postponing the effective date of this measure will allow suitable continuing education programs to be developed.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date of the measure to June 1, 2013; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes to ensure clarity and accuracy in the language of this measure.

     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 S.B. No. 2272, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2272, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair