Report Title:
Center for Nursing
Description:
Creates a new chapter for a center for nursing within the department of commerce and consumer affairs to assist with nursing issues such as nurse shortfalls. Appropriates 100,000 for the purpose of this Act.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2524 |
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TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to a center for nursing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a need for a state center for nursing to address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse workforce resources. The legislature further finds that the center will repay the State’s investment by providing an ongoing strategy for the allocation of the State’s resources directed towards nursing. Therefore, the legislature feels justified in creating the center to address these very important issues and needs.
SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"Chapter
CENTER FOR NURSING
§ -1 Administration. (a) There is established within the department of commerce and consumer affairs a center for nursing.
(b) The center for nursing shall be governed by a board of directors. The board shall consist of twelve members appointed by the governor for staggered terms pursuant to section 26-34 as follows:
(1) Two members shall be nurses, one of which shall be a doctoral prepared nurse educator and one of which shall be a doctoral prepared nurse researcher;
(2) Five members shall represent business and labor, one of which shall represent the health care industry;
(3) Three members shall represent community agencies, at least one of which shall represent a consumer group;
(4) Two members shall be nurses practicing in direct care selected from a list of five names submitted by the Hawaii Nurses’ Association.
The members of the board of directors of the center for nursing shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.
§ -2 Powers and duties of board. The board of directors of the center for nursing shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Employ the executive director, nurse researchers, and nurse educators;
(2) Determine operational policy;
(3) Elect a chairperson and officers to serve one three year term;
(4) Establish committees of the board as needed;
(5) Appoint an advisory council for input and advice on policy matters;
(6) Implement the major functions of the center for nursing; and
(7) Seek and accept non-state funds for carrying out the center for nursing's policy.
§ -3 Functions. The center for nursing shall:
(1) Develop a strategic statewide plan for a nursing workforce in Hawaii by establishing and maintaining a database on current nursing supply, demand, and workforce concerns in the State, and future workforce projections and needs;
(2) Convene various groups representative of nursing, business, and community groups to review, publish, and comment on data analysis prepared by the center; recommend systemic changes, including strategies for implementation of recommended changes; and evaluate and report the results of these efforts to the legislature and others chosen by the center for nursing; and
(3) Promote and publish an analysis of the collected nursing workforce data and evaluate the effectiveness of staffing analysis and acuity measurements by:
(A) Sharing and collaborating with other states which collect health data, nursing workforce outcomes, and related data, including direct nursing care quantitative data;
(B) Evaluating and conducting research on registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurses’ aides to ensure that distinctions in scope, practice, and practice settings are properly analyzed;
(C) Utilizing data compiled by other sources, including academia, which facilitates analysis of nurse staffing, patient outcomes, and quality analysis;
(D) Determining and publishing information on state, regional, and local shortages;
(E) Conducting and evaluating research focused on ensuring quality patient care and developing data on nurse staffing, including the amount of direct nursing care, outcome indicators, acuity systems, nurse competence, and the impact of unlicensed assistive personnel on nursing care; and
(F) Using data to promote recruitment and retention of nurses.
§ -4 Sharing of information with authorized health data collection agencies. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit or preclude any institution, the center for nursing, or any other government entity from sharing workplaces, staffing, or health data collected by the State with any state authorized health data collection entity or any other entity that is authorized by the State to obtain the data for research purposes. Any public or private entity which obtains data under this chapter shall comply with state or federal confidentiality requirements and shall only use the data for health research purposes.
§ -5 Schools of nursing. The schools of nursing in Hawaii shall work with the center for nursing and collect data on nursing supply and shortages and use such data to determine enrollment, educational curriculum, and other nursing workforce need."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, for the center of nursing.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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