Report Title:

Nursing Faculty Position; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for two full-time nursing faculty positions, one each at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Hilo, for fiscal year 2003-2004.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

750

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR NURSING FACULTY POSITIONs AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA AND HILO.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a national and statewide shortage of registered nurses available to provide care in hospitals and in the community. Shortages exist for practicing nurses and nursing faculty. In Hawaii, there is a shortage of at least two hundred nurses. Registered nurses are the largest group of health care professionals in the country. In addition, nurses have a relatively high rate of employment. However, the supply continues to lag significantly behind the demand. The current average age of registered nurses in Hawaii is forty-seven, and for nursing faculty the average age is fifty-two. Registered nurses less than thirty-years of age account for less than ten per cent of the employed nursing population. Data indicates that the nursing shortage will peak around 2010.

The legislature further finds that the nursing shortage in Hawaii cannot be resolved without first addressing the lack of faculty members who are responsible for educating our future nurses. Without additional nursing faculty, nursing programs cannot accommodate more nursing students.

The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation to fund two full-time nursing faculty positions to ensure the continued viability of the nursing programs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, for one full-time nursing faculty position (1.00 FTE) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and one full-time nursing faculty position (1.00 FTE) at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, in the baccalaureate nursing degree program.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Hawaii at Hilo for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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