Title: An act relating to the nursing care quality assurance commission.

Brief Description: Modifying the composition of the nursing care quality assurance commission.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Kenney, Morrell, Campbell, Cody, Santos, Skinner, Green, Bailey, Schual-Berke and Chase).

Brief History:

Health Care: 2/10/05, 2/15/05 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/7/05, 94-2.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Appleton, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Hinkle, Lantz, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).

Background:

Responsibilities for the regulation of the 57 health care professions is divided between the Secretary of Health (Secretary), 12 health profession boards, and four health profession commissions. Regulatory responsibilities may include: establishing credentialing standards; approving education and training programs; investigating complaints of unprofessional conduct; conducting disciplinary proceedings and issuing findings based on those proceedings; and ordering sanctions for determinations of unprofessional conduct.

The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (Commission) is responsible for the regulation of advanced registered nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, and registered nursing assistants. This constitutes approximately 136,000 credentialed health care professionals. The Commission currently has 11 members consisting of advanced registered nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, members of the public, and a midwife. In comparison, the Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission has 14 members, the Dental Quality Assurance Commission has 14 members, and the Medical Quality Assurance Commission has 19 members.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The membership of the Commission is increased from 11 to 15 members.

The number of members on the Commission who must be registered nurses is increased from three to seven. Of the members who are registered nurses: at least one must be on the faculty at a four-year university nursing program; at least one must be on the faculty at a two-year college nursing program; at least two must be staff nurses providing direct patient care; and at least one must be a nurse manager or nurse executive. Experience requirements for all members of the Commission who are nurses are reduced from five years to three.

The number of public members on the Commission is increased from two to three. The nonvoting midwife member of the Commission is eliminated.

When appointing members of the Commission, the Governor shall consider the recommendations of appropriate professional associations. When appointing pro tem members, the Secretary must make reasonable efforts to appoint one practicing registered nurse who graduated from a nursing program within three years of appointment.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Nurses are the largest health profession in Washington and, therefore, there should be a larger commission to better serve these professionals. Having faculty members from nursing programs on the Commission will help it better monitor nursing schools.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Morrell for Representative Kenney, prime sponsor; Lauri St. Ours, Northwest Assisted Living Facilities Association; Helen Kuebel, Lower Columbia College; Joanna Boatman, Washington State Nurses Association; and Julie Peterson, Washington Association of Housing and Services for the Aging.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.