STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3151

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1881

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1881, S.D. 1, 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:

     (1)  Amend the composition of the Hawaii State Center for Nursing Advisory Board (Advisory Board) by decreasing the number of voting members on the Advisory Board to nine;

     (2)  Amend the membership of the Advisory Board to better facilitate the Hawaii State Center for Nursing's mission;

     (3)  Clarify term limits and appointments of members to the Advisory Board; and

     (4)  Amend certain powers and duties of the Advisory Board.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Nursing; Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing; University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; and five individuals.

     Your Committee finds that as the nursing profession transforms to meet a changing health care landscape, the ongoing process of developing a strategic plan requires the Hawaii State Center for Nursing to have an active, engaged Advisory Board with members capable of addressing workforce issues in a timely manner.

     Your Committee further finds that this measure amends the composition of the Advisory Board to align itself more closely with other national nursing workforce centers and encourages collaboration of persons with the technical expertise, knowledge, and experience needed to assist the Hawaii State Center for Nursing with its mission.

     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. 1881, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair