STAND. COM. REP. NO. 855

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 484

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 484 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require each hospital within the State to allow advanced practice registered nurses to practice within the full scope of the practice, including as primary care providers, to ensure that advanced practice registered nurses are used to their full potential.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Nursing; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing; Hawaii Medical Association; Kaiser Permanente; University of Phoenix, Hawaii Campus; American Academy of Nurse Practitioners; Hawai‘i Association of Professional Nurses; and nine private individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

     Your Committee recognizes the importance of advanced practice registered nurses to the community and the State's integrated health care delivery service.  Your Committee received testimony suggesting that this measure could be improved by allowing employers to specify the scope of employment at the time of hire so that the requirements and limitations of the position are clear prior to the commencement of work.  Your Committee finds merit in this suggestion and urges its consideration as this measure advances through the legislative process.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to allow for further discussion.

     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. 484, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 484, 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,

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair