SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6567
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Health & Long-Term Care, January 29, 2004
Title: An act relating to the nursing care quality assurance commission.
Brief Description: Refining membership of the nursing care quality assurance commission.
Sponsors: Senators Deccio, Franklin, Winsley and Prentice.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 1/29/04 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Deccio, Chair; Winsley, Vice Chair; Brandland, Parlette and Thibaudeau.
Staff: Tanya Karwaki (786-7447)
Background: The State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission consists of 11 members, appointed by the Governor to four-year terms. No person may serve as a member of the commission for more than two consecutive full terms.
The commission consists of three registered nurse members, two advanced registered nurse practitioner members, three licensed practical nurse members, two public members, and one nonvoting midwife member.
Among its duties, the commission approves curricula, establishes criteria for minimum standards for schools preparing persons for licensing as registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and licensed practical nurses, and functions as the disciplinary authority for purposes of the Uniform Disciplinary Act.
Summary of Bill: The State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission is increased to 15 members. The number of registered nurse members is increased from three to seven, the number of public members in increased from two to three, and the nonvoting midwife member is removed.
The registered nurse members, advanced registered nurse practitioner members, and the licensed practical nurse members of the commission must have at least three years' of experience rather than five years' of experience.
Additionally, for the registered nurse members, at least one member must be on the faculty at a four-year university nursing program, at least one member must be on the faculty at a two-year community college or technical college nursing program, at least two members must be staff nurses providing direct patient care, and at least one member must be a nurse executive or nurse manager.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission needs to be expanded to meet the demands on the commission. There is a need to expand and to have further designated membership positions to ensure a broad spectrum of background knowledge of the issues the commission oversees.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Helen Rocbel, Lower Columbia College (pro); Joanna Bratman, WA State Nurses Assoc. (pro).