STAND. COM. REP. NO. 494-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1758

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1758, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NURSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow for temporary permits to be issued to registered nurses and licensed practical nurses from a territory or foreign country that are seeking a state license by endorsement.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Friends of Civil Rights, Hawaii Medical Service Association, The Legal Clinic, Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Hawai‘i–American Nurses Association, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Nursing, Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing, and The Queen's Health Systems.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has exacerbated the State's nursing shortage. According to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, nearly five thousand nurses left the field between 2019 and mid-year 2021, shrinking the total active nursing workforce from 33,410 to 28,548 in that timeframe.

Your Committee further finds that expanding the eligibility for a temporary permit to certain registered nurses and qualified licensed practical nurses from other territories and foreign jurisdictions will enable more qualified health care professionals to quickly find employment and enter into the State's health care field. This measure thereby has the potential to enlarge the pool of qualified health care professionals, relieving some of the strain on the State's existing nursing workforce.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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. 1758, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1758, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair