STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2239

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2492

       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 Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2492 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 improve patient access to medical care by amending several sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to clarify the circumstances under which advanced practice registered nurses may practice their profession to the fullest extent of their training and education.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing, Hawaii Pacific Health, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses, Pali Momi Medical Center, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, The Queen's Health Systems, and several individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Nursing.

     Your Committee finds that certain sections within the Hawaii Revised Statutes omit advanced practice registered nurses from the definitions or designations of health care entities who may provide health care, prescribe drugs, or sign forms.  Your Committee further finds that advanced practice registered nurses provide a wide variety of health care services and are recognized as participating primary health care providers for insurance purposes.  This measure will enable improved access to health care services, expedite the processing of paperwork, and provide optimal care at the initial point of access for patients across the State, especially in rural and underserved areas.

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

     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 S.B. No. 2492, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2492, 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, Chair