STAND. COM. REP. NO. 582

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 805

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 805 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to remove the sunset provision from Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, relating to definitions of "the practice of nursing as a licensed practical nurse" and "the practice of nursing as a registered nurse."

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Nursing, The Queen's Health Systems, and Hawaii Academy of Physician Assistants.

     Your Committee finds that Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012 (Act 255), amended the definitions of "the practice of nursing as a licensed practical nurse" and "the practice of nursing as a registered nurse" to include carrying out the orders of a licensed physician assistant practicing with physician supervision as required by chapter 453, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and acting as an agent of the supervising physician.  Act 255 included a sunset provision to repeal the amended versions of the definitions on July 1, 2017.  Your Committee further finds that there has been ample time to evaluate Act 255 and its effect on public health, and there has been no harm.  Rather, the changes made by Act 255 have provided clarity and improved communications for health care providers and patients.

     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 S.B. No. 805 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