HI SR118

Hawaii State Center for Nursing requested to convene a working group to study feasibility and impact of adopting the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Working group must include representatives from Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Board of Nursing, legislature committees, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and American Nurses Association–Hawaii Chapter.

Study must assess impacts on state nursing workforce, fiscal obligations, workforce migration, regulation of out-of-state nurses, disciplinary actions, health care workforce planning, licensure differences between states, and regulatory jurisdiction.

Working group required to submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2024 Regular Session convenes.

Background: Hawaii has approximately 15,072 licensed registered nurses with 1,000 vacant positions in 2022 and 16 percent expected to retire within five years; 39 jurisdictions have already adopted the Nurse Licensure Compact as of March 2023.