H.C.R. No. 53 Summary

• Requests state agencies (Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Department of Public Safety, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, State Board of Nursing, and Disability and Communication Access Board) to identify barriers in statutes and administrative rules that prevent Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) from practicing to the full extent of their education and training.

• Directs the Department of the Attorney General to assist agencies in identifying barriers and proposing amendments to remove those barriers from respective statutes and rules.

• Requires state agencies to submit findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, by September 1, 2013, with the Attorney General to transmit a draft report to the Legislative Reference Bureau by November 1, 2013.

• Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to submit a final report with agencies' findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2014 Regular Session convenes.

• Acknowledges Hawaii's physician shortage and supports removing scope-of-practice restrictions on APRNs to increase access to quality, cost-effective primary health care, particularly in medically underserved rural areas.