STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3446

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 53

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 53, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING COLLABORATION AMONG VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE BARRIERS RELATING TO WORKFORCE DATA SHARING AND NURSING PRACTICE IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the provision of health care in the State.

     Specifically, this measure requests collaboration among the State Board of Nursing, the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, and the Department of the Attorney General to identify and remove barriers relating to workforce data sharing and nursing practice in the State.

     Written comments in support of this measure were submitted by the Hawaii State Center for Nursing and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that recent legislation was enacted to improve health care in the State by:

     (1)  Increasing the scope of practice of nurses and advanced practice registered nurses; and

     (2)  Requiring collaboration among state agencies, educational institutions, hospitals, and professional organizations to provide workforce data to the Hawaii State Center for Nursing.

However, the measures have not been fully implemented by the State Board of Nursing and the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division due to various barriers.  In addition, improved collaboration between the various stakeholders is necessary to meet the demands of recent federal health care reform.  Your Committee further finds that the barriers to workforce data sharing and nursing practice should be identified and removed to assist nurses in providing quality health care to Hawaii residents.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.

     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. 53, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 53, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair