Bill Text: HI SCR180 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Health To Convene A Working Group To Prepare And Develop Solutions And Make Recommendations For The Recruitment And Retention Of Nurses To Address The Shortage Of The Nursing And Health Care Workforce In The State.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-24 - The committee on HHS deferred the measure. [SCR180 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2023-SCR180-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	180
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the Department of Health to CONVENE a working group to prepare and develop solutions and make recommendations for the recruitment and retention of nurses to address the shortage of the nursing and health care workforce in the State.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the State has historically had a shortage of health care workers, which was exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has pushed the State's health care system to its breaking point; and

 

     WHEREAS, nurses, nurse aides, and other health care workers who directly care for and support patients at hospitals and care homes have continued to provide high quality care despite the incredible challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, often at significant personal costs to themselves; and

 

     WHEREAS, health care workers faced high levels of stress and job turnover before the COVID-19 pandemic began, which were greatly exacerbated by the pandemic; and

 

     WHEREAS, improving nurse and health care worker safety and working conditions leads to better patient care and staffing standards, such as minimum staff-to-patient ratios, adequate break and overtime protections, and hospital staffing plans, should be collaboratively developed by interested stakeholders to allow the health care system to better serve patients and Hawaii's communities; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to convene a working group to prepare and develop solutions and make recommendations for the recruitment and retention of nurses to address the shortage of the nursing and health care workforce in the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to examine and make recommendations regarding the following strategies and their potential effects on recruiting or retaining nurses:

 

     (1)  Establishing certain minimum staff-to-patient ratios for hospitals, care homes, and dialysis facilities;

 

     (2)  Requiring hospitals to create hospital staffing committees and staffing plans; and

 

     (3)  Establishing certain meal break, rest break, and overtime provisions applicable to health care personnel at hospitals, care homes, and dialysis facilities; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members or their designees:

 

     (1)  The Director of Health, who is requested to serve as chair of the working group;

 

     (2)  One representative of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii;

 

     (3)  One representative of the Hawaii State Center for Nursing;

 

     (4)  One representative of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation;

 

     (5)  One representative of the Hawaii Nurses Association;

 

     (6)  One representative of the Hawaii Government Employees Association; and

 

     (7)  One representative of the Hawaii – American Nurses Association; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group should dissolve on Jun 30, 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, President of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Director of the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, President of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, President of the Hawaii Nurses Association, President of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, and Executive Director of the Hawaii – American Nurses Association.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Working Group; Nurses; Nursing shortage; Working Standards