STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2499

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2672

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2672 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 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 received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Nursing; Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing; Hawai‘i Pacific Health; Prime Care Services Hawaii, Inc.; American Organization of Nurse Executives, Hawaii Chapter; Bradley Kuo, LLC; and five individuals.

     Your Committee 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 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  The outdated statutes must be amended to authorize increased participation by advanced practice registered nurses and recognize appropriately trained advanced practice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 has amended this measure by inserting a provision to preserve the amendments made to section 334-59(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, when that section is reenacted on July 1, 2020, pursuant to section 24 of Act 221, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2672, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2672, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair