STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2852

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2023

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2023 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR NURSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make permanent the assessment and deposit of Center for Nursing fees into the compliance resolution fund and the disbursement of those monies to the Center for Nursing special fund.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Nursing; Hawaii State Center for Nursing; University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Medical Service Association; The Queen's Medical Center; American Organization of Nurse Executives, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and eight individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the Center for Nursing has provided education, service, and research through collaborative leadership since its establishment in 2003.  The Center has also become a leader in workforce planning, nursing research, and professional practice in the State.

     Your Committee further finds that the fees credited to the Center for Nursing special fund are the main source of funding for the Center for Nursing.  Repealing these fees would in essence cause the demise of the Center for Nursing.  Your Committee therefore concludes that the fees should be made permanent to allow the Center for Nursing to continue its important mission of addressing nursing workforce issues.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2023, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair