REFERENCE TITLE: nursing shortage; workforce preparation; plan

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

HB 2103

Introduced by

Representatives Jermaine: Andrade, Bolding, Bowers, Butler, Chávez, DeGrazia, Espinoza, Hernandez D, Lieberman, Meza, Pawlik, Schwiebert, Sierra, Teller, Terán, Senators Alston, Bowie, Engel, Mendez, Rios, Steele

AN ACT

Establishing a nursing workforce preparation and shortage work group in the department of health services.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Nursing workforce preparation and shortage work group; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A.  The nursing workforce preparation and shortage work group is established in the department of health services to address this state's nursing workforce preparation and shortage.  The work group consists of the following members:

1.  The director of the department of health services or the director's designee.

2.  The executive director of the Arizona state board of nursing or the executive director's designee.

3.  Three members who represent each of the three universities under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents and who are appointed by the Arizona board of regents.

4.  Three members who represent any community college district that has a nursing program and who are appointed by the Arizona state board of nursing.

5.  Two members who represent private postsecondary institutions that have a nursing program and who are appointed by the Arizona state board of nursing.

6.  The following members who are appointed by the director of the department of health services:

(a)  One member who represents a rural health care facility employer.

(b)  One member who represents an urban health care facility employer with fewer than three hundred beds.

(c)  One member who represents an urban health care facility employer with at least three hundred beds.

(d)  One member who represents an Indian health service unit located in a county with a population of less than three hundred thousand persons.

(e)  One member who represents a skilled nursing facility.

7.  Two members who represent professional nursing organizations and who are appointed by the director of the department of health services.

8.  One member who represents a nonprofit organization providing research and education regarding this state's health care workforce and who is appointed by the director of the department of health services.

B.  The work group shall:

1.  Review nursing education curricula and potential changes to curricula to facilitate and improve the transition from education to practice, including the benefits of nurse residency programs.

2.  Establish a long‑term plan to address this state's nursing workforce preparation and shortage.

3.  Prepare recommendations for changes to curricula and the feasibility of a nurse residency pilot program.

4.  On or before June 30, 2022, report on its recommendations to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the Arizona board of regents and the joint legislative budget committee and provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state.

C.  This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2023.