ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: HHS DPA 8-0-0-1

HB 2633: nursing shortage; workforce preparation; plan.

Sponsor: Representative Shah, LD 24

Caucus & COW

Overview

Establishes the Nursing Workforce Preparation and Shortage Work Group (Work Group) in the Department of Health Services (DHS) to address this state's nursing workforce preparation and shortage.

History

The powers and duties of the Arizona State Board of Nursing (Board) include the following: 1) approving regulated training and educational programs that meet statutory requirements and Board-adopted rules; 2) publishing advisory opinions on registered and practical nursing practice and nursing education; 3) maintaining a list of approved nursing programs to prepare registered and practical nurses whose graduates are eligible for licensing; and 4) collecting or assisting in the collection of workforce data (A.R.S. § 32-1606).

According to the Board's nurse statistics, there are 97,489 registered nurses and 10,668 licensed practical nurses in Arizona.

Provisions

1. Establishes the Work Group in DHS to address this state's nursing workforce preparation and shortage. (Sec. 1)

2. States the Work Group consists of the following members:

a) The Director of DHS or their designee;

b) The Executive Director of the Board or their designee;

c) Three members who represent each of the three state universities appointed by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR);

d) Three members who represent any community college district that has a nursing program and who are appointed by the Board;

e) Two members who represent private postsecondary institutions that have a nursing program and who are appointed by the Board;

f) The following members who are appointed by the Director of DHS;

i. One member who represents a rural health care facility employer;

ii. One member who represents an urban health care facility employer with fewer than 300 beds;

iii. One member who represents an urban health care facility employer with at least 300 beds;

iv. One member who represents an Indian health service unit located in a county with a population of less than 300,000 people; and

v. One member who represents a skilled nursing facility;

g) Two members who represent professional nursing organizations and who are appointed by the Director of DHS; and

h) 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 DHS. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires the Work Group to do the following:

a) 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;

b) Establish a long-term plan to address this state's nursing workforce preparation and shortage;

c) Prepare recommendations for changes to curricula and the feasibility of a nurse residency pilot program; and

d) Report, by June 30th, 2022, on its recommendations to the Legislature, ABOR and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State. (Sec. 1)

4. Repeals the Work Group on January 1, 2024. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on Health and Human Services

1. Requires the Work Group to review the causes of enrollment capacity at nursing education programs and recommendations for increasing enrollment capacity.

2. Makes the required report due by December 31, 2021, rather than June 30th, 2022.

3. Adds an emergency clause.

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7. HB 2633

8. Initials EB/IR Page 0 Caucus & COW

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