CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 24-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2016

RE:    S.B. No. 2672

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2672, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to amend various statutes to clarify the role of advanced practice registered nurses with regard to their authority and participation in the health care system.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that advanced practice registered nurses provide a wide variety of health care services to people in Hawaii.  Section 323-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires each hospital within the State to allow advanced practice registered nurses to practice within the full scope of their practice, including as primary care providers.  Advanced practice registered nurses are also recognized as participating primary health care providers for insurance purposes under the State's insurance code.

     Your Committee on Conference further finds that certain sections within state law omit advanced practice registered nurses from the definitions or designations of health care entities who may provide health care, prescribe drugs, or sign forms.  The outdated statutes must be amended to authorize increased participation by advanced practice registered nurses and recognize appropriately trained advanced practice registered nurses as primary care providers.  Authorizing increased participation by advanced practice registered nurses in certain circumstances, especially with regard to global signature authority, will enable improved access to health care services, expedite the processing of paperwork, and provide optimal care at the initial point of access for Hawaii patients, especially in rural and underserved areas.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing the effective date to upon approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2672, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2672, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair
____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Co-Chair
____________________________ JAMES KUNANE TOKIOKA, Co-Chair