STAND. COM. REP. NO.276-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2065

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2065 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NURSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Authorize the Board of Nursing to grant prescriptive authority to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and to designate formularies instead of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and the Board of Medical Examiners; and

(2) Establish an advisory committee on formularies.

The University of Hawaii School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, Board of Nursing, Hawaii Nurses' Association, Hawaii Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and several APRNs testified in support of this measure.

The Hawaii Medical Association and Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association opposed this measure.

Your Committee finds that in most states, prescriptive authority is granted by its board of nursing. One APRN testified that although she is qualified to prescribe, she has not been able to acquire state recognition because of DCCA's cumbersome rules. Your Committee finds that APRNs are highly trained, qualified, and capable. Additionally, the advisory board established in this measure provides protection and disciplinary oversight, as it includes physicians and pharmacists, in addition to other health-related representatives.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2065 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair