Report Title:

UH; Center for Nursing; Established

Description:

Establishes a center for nursing at the University of Hawaii to research, analyze, and report on the status of the nursing shortage in Hawaii and to make recommendations. Makes an appropriation for the center for nursing to perform its duties. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

668

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

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 ensure the quality of healthcare for the people of Hawaii by proactively addressing issues related to the State's current and expected future shortage of nurses and others within the healthcare workforce that provide nursing care. In particular, the primary nursing workforce issues are the supply and demand for nursing services, recruitment and retention of other healthcare personnel, and the development of a strategic plan.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a center for nursing to address nursing workforce issues.

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 Center for nursing; established. (a) There is established within the University of Hawaii, school of nursing and dental hygiene, a center for nursing.

(b) The activities of the center for nursing shall be directed by the dean of the school of nursing and dental hygiene or the dean's designee. There shall be an advisory board consisting of fifteen members appointed by the governor for staggered terms under chapter 91 as follows:

(1) Five members from the business and labor community, one of whom shall represent the healthcare association of Hawaii, two of whom shall represent other business entities, and two of whom shall represent labor organizations;

(2) Five members from the nursing profession, one of whom shall represent the American Organization of Nurse Executives, one of whom shall represent the Hawaii Government Employees Association, and three of whom shall represent the Hawaii Nurses Association professional component;

(3) Two members from among the State's nurse educators, one of whom shall be a doctorally prepared nurse educator and the other a doctorally prepared nurse researcher; and

(4) Three members from community agencies or consumer groups in with interest in healthcare.

(c) The members of the advisory board for the center for nursing shall serve without compensation.

§ -2 Board; powers and duties. The advisory board for the center for nursing shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) Employ an independent, doctorally prepared researcher;

(2) Determine a mission statement and operational policy;

(3) Elect a chairperson;

(4) Establish committees of the board as needed;

(5) Seek input from individuals and community groups interested in the issue of nursing shortages;

(6) Implement the major functions of the center for nursing; and

(7) Seek and accept non-state funds for carrying out the mission of the center for nursing.

§ -3 Functions of the center. The center for nursing shall perform the following functions:

(1) Collect and analyze data, and prepare and disseminate written reports and recommendations regarding the current and future status and trends of the nursing workforce;

(2) Conduct research on best practices and quality outcomes;

(3) Develop a plan for implementing strategies to recruit and retain nurses; and

(4) Research, analyze, and report data related to the retention of the nursing workforce.

§ -4 Collaboration. The University of Hawaii school of nursing and dental hygiene, the state board of nursing, other schools of nursing within the State, professional nursing organizations, employers in the healthcare industry, and labor unions representing nurses and healthcare workers shall collaborate with the center for nursing and provide workforce data to the center for nursing when requested.

§ -5 Center for nursing special fund. There is established in the treasury of the State a center for nursing special fund into which shall be deposited each year, funds collected to implement this chapter. Funding sources may include federal and private grants or appropriations authorized by the legislature. The fund shall be administered by the board of regents of the University of Hawaii and shall be used to sponsor the center's activities. The special fund shall not be subject to sections 36-27 and 36-30 relating to special fund reimbursements to the state general fund."

SECTION 3. Chapter 457, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§457- Fees; disposition. The fees shall be deposited with the director to the credit of the compliance resolution fund established pursuant to section 26-9(o); provided that ten per cent each year of all revenues from the fees collected under this chapter shall be transferred for deposit into the center for nursing special fund."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the compliance resolution fund the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, for deposit into the center for nursing special fund.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the center for nursing special fund the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, for center for nursing to perform its duties under this Act.

SECTION 6. The sum appropriated in section 5 shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 7. The center for nursing shall submit a status report on its activities to the legislature twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2004.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.