HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1353
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care
Title: An act relating to funding a central resource center for the nursing work force.
Brief Description: Providing for a central resource center for the nursing work force.
Sponsors: Representatives Kenney, Morrell, Cody, Clibborn, Campbell, Williams, Conway and Santos.
Brief History:
Health Care: 2/10/05, 2/15/05 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Alexander, Appleton, Clibborn, Green, Lantz, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Condotta and Hinkle.
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (Commission) regulates advanced
registered nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and nursing
technicians. The Commission also has some responsibilities over nursing assistants. There
are approximately 136,000 of these health care professionals credentialed in Washington.
In 2002, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board convened a task force to
examine the extent of the shortage of trained health care providers in Washington and to
develop recommendations to increase the supply of providers. The task force's 2002 report to
the Legislature cited that hospital registered nurse vacancy rates were 9.2 percent statewide in
2001 and that there is potential for a more severe shortage as the population ages.
Summary of Bill:
The "Nursing Resource Center Account" (Account) is created. The Account is to be funded
through a $5 surcharge added to the license fee for registered nurses and licensed practical
nurses. The Department of Health (Department) shall award grants from the account to a
nonprofit organization that is led by nurses and coordinates with representatives of different
nursing organizations. The organization shall use the funds to:
The Account is a non-appropriated account and the Secretary of Health (Secretary) may authorize expenditures. The organization may not use any funds from the Account for administrative costs, lobbying, or activities not specifically listed. The Secretary may be reimbursed for the reasonable costs of collecting and distributing the surcharge. The Secretary may also adopt rules to implement the Account.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: A central nursing resource center is necessary to resolve the nursing shortage and assure a sufficient supply of appropriately trained nurses. Data on the nursing workforce is necessary to assist in making public policy decisions.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Morrell for Representative Kenney, prime sponsor; Dorothy Detlon, Dean of Washington State University College of Nursing; Marilyn Savage, UFCW Local 141 Union; and Susan Jacobson, Washington State Nurses Association.