2015 -- H 6364

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LC002958

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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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 REVIEW RHODE

ISLAND'S ONGOING PARTICIPATION IN THE NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT AND TO

PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO STAFFING OF

NURSES IN RHODE ISLAND'S HOSPITALS

     Introduced By: Representative Robert E. Craven

     Date Introduced: June 25, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

consisting of sixteen (16) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

House of Representatives, who shall serve as co-chairs and shall be appointed by the Speaker of

the House; one of whom shall be a member of The Service Employees International Union

(SEIU), to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be the President of the Hospital

Association of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the United

Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP), or designee; one of whom shall be a representative of

Care New England - Women and Infants Hospital, to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom

shall be the Director of the Department of Labor and Training, or designee; one of whom shall be

the Director of the Department of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of

Lifespan, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of Stepping Up, or designee; one of

whom shall be a representative of Rhode Island College, to be appointed by the Speaker; one of

whom shall be a representative of the University of Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker;

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

designee; one of whom shall be a representative of the Community College of Rhode Island, to be

appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be the Chairperson of the State Board of Nurse

Licensure; and one of whom shall be a nurse representative of the Nurse Licensure Compact, to

be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any 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 be to make a comprehensive study and analysis of

the efficacy and status of Rhode Island’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact and to

make recommendations for possible alternatives to staffing for Rhode Island's nurses and

hospitals. The commission's review and recommendations shall include, but not be limited to:

     (1) Analysis of the state's continued participation in the Compact and the effectiveness of

the Compact including data collection on the following:

     Efforts by health care institutions to use local nurses;

     The number of nurses used when using the Compact; and

     The state of origin, jurisdiction of licensure, license expiration date(s), licensure

     classification(s) and status(es), public emergency and final disciplinary actions, as

     defined by contributing state authority, and status of multi licensure privileges, duration

     in Rhode Island, compensation package, specialty area, and all other relevant information

     on the nurses used;

     (2) The potential creation of a program by the Department of Labor and training, in

collaboration with the Rhode Island Nursing Education Center, to meet the flexible staffing needs

for nurses at Rhode Island 's health care institutions including, but not limited to, nurse residency

programs, reciprocity with other states, float pools, flex time, and/or per diems.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize.

     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

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

House of Representatives no later than April 5, 2016, and said commission shall expire on June 5,

2016.

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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 REVIEW RHODE

ISLAND'S ONGOING PARTICIPATION IN THE NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT AND TO

PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO STAFFING OF

NURSES IN RHODE ISLAND'S HOSPITALS

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     This resolution would create a sixteen (16) member legislative study commission whose

purpose it would be to study and review Rhode Island's ongoing participation in the Nurse

Licensure Compact and to provide recommendations for possible alternatives to staffing of nurses

in Rhode Island's hospitals, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later

than April 5, 2016, and whose life would expire on June 5, 2016.

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LC002958

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