STAND. COM. REP. NO. 89-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1758

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1758 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 jurisdiction who are seeking a state license by endorsement.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Friends of Civil Rights, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. 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 COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the State's nurse shortage. Your Committee further finds that while the State has a mechanism to provide temporary permits for qualified nurses who are applying for licensure by endorsement, this mechanism is limited to nurses who are licensed in other states and excludes other qualified nurses who may be licensed in a territory or foreign jurisdiction. This measure addresses the State's ongoing nurse shortage by expanding the eligibility of the existing temporary permit program to include qualified nurses who are licensed in a territory or foreign jurisdiction.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1758, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1758, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair