R 400
2022 -- H 7268 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/22/2022

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

     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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LC004383/SUB A/2
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