STAND. COM. REP. NO.  185

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 811

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 811 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REGISTERED NURSES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ease Hawaii's registered nurse licensure requirements for graduates of foreign nursing schools (Graduates) by requiring the Board of Nursing (Board) to have Graduates applying for a licensure in Hawaii arrange for the applicant's school to send to the Board:

 

(1)  The "Breakdown of Educational Program for International Nursing Programs" form; and

 

(2)  A certified school transcript, translated to English if necessary.

 

This bill also removes the requirement that a graduate's transcripts be evaluated by professional evaluators designated by the Board.

 

     The Representative of the 35th District, Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc., Philippine Nurses Association Hawaii, United Filipino Council of Hawaii, Filipino Nurses' Organization of Hawaii, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region XII, Filipino American Citizens League, Oahu Filipino Community Council, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Board, Hawaii Pacific University School of Nursing, and several concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Hawaii Nurses Association submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has heard compelling testimony regarding this bill, but believes that there should be some consideration of developing a waiver program based on need rather than the elimination of current key qualifying elements in current law. 

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 811, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 811, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair