Report Title:

Nursing Education; Workforce Development

 

Description:

Makes appropriations to University of Hawaii campuses to implement nursing education workforce development.  (HB1531 HD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1531

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that numerous studies have recognized a national shortage of qualified nurses that will reach a twenty per cent staffing shortfall by the year 2020.  In 2006, Hawaii experienced a shortage of nine hundred sixty registered nurses, which is estimated to grow to two thousand two hundred twenty by 2016 and two thousand six hundred seventy by 2020.  A nursing shortage jeopardizes the quality of health care provided in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, clinics, and other health care settings.  Without enough registered nurses, patient safety is at risk, with rural and underserved communities being most affected.

     The nursing shortage is exacerbated by the aging population which is steadily increasing.  Hawaii's population is aging faster than the rest of the country.  Between 2000 and 2020, the number of people aged sixty and older will increase by almost seventy-five per cent.  Hawaii's registered nurse workforce is also aging, with an increasing number of registered nurses soon to retire.  Estimates indicate that by 2015, thirty-one per cent of Hawaii's current registered nurse workforce will retire.  By 2020, sixty-one per cent of Hawaii's current workforce will retire.  The already significant shortage of registered nurses will worsen.

     The legislature finds that the key to promoting health in Hawaii lies in efforts to increase the educational capacity of the state's nursing programs, which are hampered by the number of faculty and support positions--limiting the admission of additional students--and by inadequate facilities.  Increasing faculty training and nursing graduates requires a minimum of two to five years.  Adding teaching staff would allow additional students to be admitted and expand learning resource opportunities to satisfy growing student demand.  The legislature finds that an ongoing and strategic public-sector approach is necessary to sustain a robust, qualified nursing workforce to meet Hawaii's health care needs into the future.

     The legislature agrees with the University of Hawaii's statewide nursing consortium commitment to maximize the State's investment in nursing education, without unnecessary duplication among the various campuses.  The legislature recognizes that the University of Hawaii plays a vital role in nursing workforce development in Hawaii.

     The purpose of this Act is to make appropriations to the University of Hawaii to hire more nursing faculty and support positions, provide nursing scholarships and loans, and increase facilities.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $4,260,508 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the University of Hawaii to hire additional nursing personnel for the various campuses, as follows:

     (1)  School of nursing and dental hygiene, University of Hawaii at Manoa:  faculty, program, and student services program support to expand University of Hawaii at Manoa nursing courses to leeward Oahu through Leeward community college and to develop an innovative course of study that provides a second career master's program:

              18 positions (2007-2008)              $2,000,000

              18 positions (2008-2009)              $2,000,000

     (2)  Kapiolani community college:  faculty and student services program support to expand enrollment:


              4 positions (2007-2008)           $263,888

              10 positions (2008-2009)              $749,272

     (3)  Hawaii community college:  faculty and student services program support to expand enrollment:

              5 positions (2007-2008)           $342,750

              2 positions (2008-2009)           $186,308

     (4)  Maui community college:  faculty and student services program support to expand enrollment:

              8.5 positions (2007-2008)         $606,625

              8.5 positions (2008-2009)         $606,625

     (5)  Kauai community college:  faculty and student services program support to expand enrollment:

              5 positions (2007-2008)           $365,875

              10 positions (2008-2009)              $749,272

     (6)  University of Hawaii at Hilo:  faculty and student services program support to expand enrollment:

               6 positions (2007-2008)           $436,400

              2.5 positions (2008-2009)         $214,000.

     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 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the University of Hawaii to create a graduate nursing faculty loan program to provide loan forgiveness for individuals who work as faculty in the state after graduation; provided that:

     (1)  The individuals shall be residents of Hawaii and enrolled at a University of Hawaii nursing program as a full- or part-time student in a master of science in nursing program; and

     (2)  For every year of loan forgiveness, the loan recipient shall work for one year as a nurse educator at the University of Hawaii;

provided further that the graduate nursing faculty loan program shall allow loan forgiveness of $5,000 a year for up to five years.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the University of Hawaii to create a nursing student scholarship program; provided that an individual shall be eligible for the program if the individual is enrolled as a full- or part-time student in a University of Hawaii associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree nursing program; provided further the process of selecting scholarship recipients shall take into consideration the individual's need and merit, such as class rank, grade point average, and service activities.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $750,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene to:

     (1)  Conduct facility planning and development and tasks necessary to expand the school's physical facility to provide optimal educational experiences;

     (2)  Enable students to participate in cross-disciplinary education with other students in the health sciences; and

     (3)  Provide temporary classrooms for all nursing programs.

     SECTION 6.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $400,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for the continued operations of the Hawaii Quentin Burdick rural health interdisciplinary training program, which has been co-sponsored since 2000 by the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene, Kauai Rural Health Association, and University Health Group, and which:

     (1)  Addresses the lack of opportunities for University of Hawaii students from a variety of disciplines, including nursing, social work, medical technology, public health, psychology, medicine, dental hygiene, and education, to gain experience by working in interdisciplinary teams with professionals and community members in Hawaii's rural areas; and

     (2)  Provides culturally- and place-appropriate health promotion and disease prevention services for rural residents.

     SECTION 7.  The sums appropriated in this Act shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.