STAND. COM. REP. NO.  835

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 79

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 79, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to modify the graduate-level education program requirement for advanced practice registered nurse recognition.

Specifically, this measure changes the requirement from a program leading to a master's degree in one of four specified roles to instead a graduate program in preparation of one of four recognized, but unspecified, roles.

Testimony in support of the measure was received from the Board of Nursing; the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene of the University of Hawaii at Manoa; the School of Nursing of the University of Hawaii at Hilo; the Queen's Health Systems; Hawaii Pacific Health; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; the Hawaii State Center for Nursing; the American Organization of Nurse Executives, Hawaii Chapter; Prime Care Services Hawaii, Incorporated; the American Association of Nurse Practitioners; the Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses; and several individuals.

     Your Committee finds that under present law, nurses can be recognized as advanced practice registered nurses only if they have a master's degree in nursing.  This restriction evidently excludes nurses who have a doctor of nursing practice and other nationally recognized clinical doctorates in nursing.  By modifying the recognition requirement, this measure will conform the educational requirements for advanced practice registered nurses to the consensus model of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

     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. 79, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair