2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 37:1007 — Nursing supply and demand commission; creation; membership; vacancies; compensation; staff and facilities; powers and duties

SUBPART C.  NURSING SUPPLY AND DEMAND COMMISSION

§1007.  Nursing Supply and Demand Commission; creation; membership; vacancies; compensation; staff and facilities; powers and duties

A.(1)  There is hereby created in the Department of Health and Hospitals the Nursing Supply and Demand Commission, hereafter referred to as the "commission".

(2)(a)  The following groups, organizations, and agencies shall each appoint one member of the commission who shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing group, organization, or agency:

(i)  The Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurses Examiners.

(ii)  The Louisiana State Board of Nursing.

(iii)  The Louisiana State Medical Society.

(iv)  The Louisiana Nursing Home Association.

(v)  The Louisiana Nurses Association.

(vi)  The Louisiana Hospital Association.

(vii)  The Board of Regents.

(viii)  The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(ix)  The office of Charity Hospital at New Orleans.

(x)  The office of public health.

(xi)  The Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

(xii)  The Louisiana State Medical Association for Physicians.

(xiii)  The Louisiana Black Nurses Organization New Orleans, Louisiana.

(xiv)  The Louisiana Council of Administrators of Nursing Education.

(xv)  The Louisiana Alliance of Nursing Organizations.

(xvi)  The Louisiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

(xvii)  The Louisiana Organization of Nurse Executives.

(xviii)  The Louisiana Practical Nurses Association.

(xix)  The Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners.

(xx)  Association of periOperative Registered Nurses.

(xxi)  The Louisiana School Nurses Organization.

(b)  One consumer of nursing services shall be appointed by the governor, subject to Senate confirmation.

(c)  Additional members of the commission may be added at any time upon a majority vote of the members named in Subparagraphs (a) and (b).

(3)  Vacancies on the commission shall be filled by the group, organization, or agency whose appointee created the vacancy.

(4)  Members shall serve without compensation.

(5)  The commission shall adopt rules of procedure and shall elect its own chairperson who shall organize the commission and its work, call meetings, represent the commission, and do such other tasks as the commission directs or its rules require.

(6)  The Department of Health and Hospitals shall provide whatever staff and facility the commission needs to accomplish its tasks.

B.  The commission shall:

(1)  Study all aspects of the supply of and demand for nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, nurses who have a baccalaureate degree, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and nurse educators, particularly the following issues:

(a)  Training and licensing requirements for each level and type of nurse or nurse assistant.

(b)  The availability of nursing training for each level and type of nurse or nurse assistant, whether the training is provided in a public, quasi-public, or private institution or agency.

(c)  The nature and difficulties of articulation among the various nurse training programs.

(d)  The size of the potential student pool, particularly including the number of applicants who are not admitted to the program of their choice because of a lack of available space.

(e)  The employment opportunities for nurses and the number of unfilled nursing vacancies in the public and private sector.

(f)  The nature and level of compensation for nurses in various employment fields and its relationship, if any, to the availability of nurses.

(2)  Make annual reports to the education and health and welfare committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives on all issues required in this Subsection to be studied, particularly including any changes in the nature of the supply and demand situation since the last report.

(3)  Recommend action necessary to the resolution of any shortage of nurses to the group, agency, organization, or institution that has any power to effect the solution, particularly including the legislature.

(4)  Work closely with the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the vocational institutes under its jurisdiction, institutions of higher education, and the boards of nursing examiners to alleviate any shortage of opportunities to undertake nursing training.

C.  The commission may:

(1)  Request the assistance of any state agency or any state official in acquiring information or cooperation necessary to fulfilling its duties.

(2)  Accept and expend any contributions, pecuniary or otherwise, which would assist in meeting the requirements of this Section.

Acts 1991, No. 818, §4; Acts 1992, No. 1104, §1; Acts 2001, No. 675, §1.