READ FIRST TIME 03/02/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to funding a central resource center for the nursing work force; amending RCW 43.70.110 and 43.70.250; adding a new section to chapter 18.79 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   Washington state is experiencing a critical shortage of registered nurses. To safeguard and promote patient safety and quality of care, the legislature finds that a central resource center for the nursing work force is critical and essential in addressing the nursing shortage and ensuring that the public continue to receive safe, quality care.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.70.110 and 1993 sp.s. c 24 s 918 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The secretary shall charge fees to the licensee for obtaining a license. After June 30, 1995, municipal corporations providing emergency medical care and transportation services pursuant to chapter 18.73 RCW shall be exempt from such fees, provided that such other emergency services shall only be charged for their pro rata share of the cost of licensure and inspection, if appropriate. The secretary may waive the fees when, in the discretion of the secretary, the fees would not be in the best interest of public health and safety, or when the fees would be to the financial disadvantage of the state.
     (2) Except as provided in section 4 of this act, fees charged shall be based on, but shall not exceed, the cost to the department for the licensure of the activity or class of activities and may include costs of necessary inspection.
     (3) Department of health advisory committees may review fees established by the secretary for licenses and comment upon the appropriateness of the level of such fees.

Sec. 3   RCW 43.70.250 and 1996 c 191 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     It shall be the policy of the state of Washington that the cost of each professional, occupational, or business licensing program be fully borne by the members of that profession, occupation, or business. The secretary shall from time to time establish the amount of all application fees, license fees, registration fees, examination fees, permit fees, renewal fees, and any other fee associated with licensing or regulation of professions, occupations, or businesses administered by the department. In fixing said fees, the secretary shall set the fees for each program at a sufficient level to defray the costs of administering that program, except as provided in section 4 of this act. All such fees shall be fixed by rule adopted by the secretary in accordance with the provisions of the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 18.79 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In addition to the licensing fee for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses licensed under this chapter, the department shall impose an additional surcharge of five dollars per year on all initial licenses and renewal licenses for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses issued under this chapter. Advanced registered nurse practitioners are only required to pay the surcharge on their registered nurse licenses.
     (2) The department, in consultation with the commission and the work force training and education coordinating board, shall use the proceeds from the surcharge imposed under subsection (1) of this section to provide grants to a central nursing resource center. The grants may be awarded only to a not-for-profit central nursing resource center that is comprised of and led by nurses. The central nursing resource center will demonstrate coordination with relevant nursing constituents including professional nursing organizations, groups representing nursing educators, staff nurses, nurse managers or executives, and labor organizations representing nurses. The central nursing resource center shall have as its mission to contribute to the health and wellness of Washington state residents by ensuring that there is an adequate nursing work force to meet the current and future health care needs of the citizens of the state of Washington. The grants may be used to fund the following activities of the central nursing resource center:
     (a) Maintain information on the current and projected supply and demand of nurses through the collection and analysis of data regarding the nursing work force, including but not limited to education level, race and ethnicity, employment settings, nursing positions, reasons for leaving the nursing profession, and those leaving Washington state to practice elsewhere. This data collection and analysis must complement other state activities to produce data on the nursing work force and the central nursing resource center shall work collaboratively with other entities in the data collection to ensure coordination and avoid duplication of efforts;
     (b) Monitor and validate trends in the applicant pool for programs in nursing. The central nursing resource center must work with nursing leaders to identify approaches to address issues arising related to the trends identified, and collect information on other states' approaches to addressing these issues;
     (c) Facilitate partnerships between the nursing community and other health care providers, licensing authority, business and industry, consumers, legislators, and educators to achieve policy consensus, promote diversity within the profession, and enhance nursing career mobility and nursing leadership development;
     (d) Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing education and articulation among programs to increase access to nursing education and enhance career mobility, especially for populations that are underrepresented in the nursing profession;
     (e) Provide consultation, technical assistance, data, and information related to Washington state and national nursing resources;
     (f) Promote initiatives to enhance patient safety and quality patient care including encouraging a safe and healthy workplace environment for nurses;
     (g) Educate the public including students in K-12 about opportunities and careers in nursing;
     (h) Other activities as defined by the department and mutually agreed upon with the central nursing resource center.
     (3) The nursing resource center account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the surcharge in subsection (1) of this section must be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for grants to an organization to conduct the specific activities listed in subsection (2) of this section and to compensate the department for the reasonable costs associated with the collection and distribution of the surcharge and the administration of the grant provided for in subsection (2) of this section. No money from this account may be used by the recipient towards administrative costs of the central nursing resource center not associated with the specific activities listed in subsection (2) of this section or lobbying. Only the secretary or the secretary's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. Grants will be awarded on an annual basis and funds will be distributed quarterly. The first distribution after awarding the first grant shall be made no later than six months after the effective date of this section. The central nursing resource center shall report to the department on meeting the grant objectives annually.
     (4) The central nursing resource center shall submit a report of all progress, collaboration with other organizations and government entities, and activities conducted by the center to the relevant committees of the legislature by November 30, 2008.
     (5) The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this act.