2022 -- H 7268 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UNIFORM MULTI-STATE NURSING LICENSE

REQUIREMENTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Abney, Vella-Wilkinson, Azzinaro, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: February 02, 2022

     Referred To: House Corporations

     WHEREAS, The health and safety of the public are affected by the degree of compliance

with and the effectiveness of enforcement activities related to state nurse licensure laws; and

     WHEREAS, Uniformity of nurse licensure requirements throughout the states promotes

public safety and public health benefits; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of thirteen (13) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a registered nurse employed in a Rhode Island

healthcare facility that provides care to patients, to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom

shall be the Director of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education, RIDOH, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Dean of the Rhode Island College School of Nursing, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Chief Nursing Officer for Care New England, or designee; one of whom shall

be the Chief Nursing Officer at Rhode Island Hospital, or designee; one of whom shall be the

Executive Vice President of SEIU, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the United

Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP/RI), or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive

Director of the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the

President of the Organization of Nurse Leaders (ONL), or designee; and one of whom shall be the

President and CEO of the Rhode Island Health Care Association, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a

member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator; provided that, the majority leader or

the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the appointment consents to the

member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall include review of statewide data including but not

limited to nursing job vacancies, enrollment in state nursing school programs, nurse retirements,

and length of time when hiring registered nurses, and in addition, be to make a comprehensive

study and provide recommendations for uniform multi-state nursing license requirements that

would allow nurses to hold a multi-state license that enables them to practice across state lines

without having to obtain multiple licenses, including, but not limited to, oversight, dispute

resolution, and enforcement.

     Upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet on or after

October 25, 2022, and organize and shall select, from among the legislators, a Chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

House of Representatives no later than April 13, 2023, and said commission shall expire on June

29, 2023.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UNIFORM MULTI-STATE NURSING LICENSE

REQUIREMENTS

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     This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special legislative commission

whose purpose it would be to review statewide data and to make a comprehensive study and

provide recommendations for uniform multi-state nursing license requirements, and who would

report back to the House of Representatives on or before April 13, 2023, and said commission

would expire on June 29, 2023.

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