SB 1596: RELATING TO NURSING.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2025-02-13
Current Status:
Failed
(2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Requires the State Board of Nursing to identify one facility in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui that has the capability to establish a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center as a test site to administer a National Council Licensure Examination for nurses; equip each facility identified with the technical and facility requirements necessary for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; and submit an application for each facility to Pearson Education, Inc. to be authorized and contracted as a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)
Requires the Department of Health to identify one facility in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui that has the capability to establish a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center as a test site to administer a NCLEX for nurses; equip each facility identified with the technical and facility requirements necessary for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; and submit an application for each facility to Pearson Education, Inc. to be authorized and contracted as a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center. Requires a report to the Legislature.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1596 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO NURSING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the state board of nursing to establish one Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui to offer and expand the testing availability of the NCLEX for nurses.
SECTION 2. (a) The state board of nursing shall:
(1) Identify one facility in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui that has the capability to establish a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center;
(2) Equip each facility identified in paragraph (1) with the technical and facility requirements necessary for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; and
(3) No later than , submit an application for each facility identified and equipped with the technical and facility requirements pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) to Pearson Education, Inc. to be authorized and contracted as a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center.
(b) The board shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of .
(c) For the purposes of this section:
"Board" means the state board of nursing.
"Pearson Education, Inc." refers to the educational publishing and services subsidiary of the international corporation Pearson plc.
"Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center" refers to a test center contracted and authorized by Pearson Education, Inc. to offer certification exams.
"Technical and facility requirements" means the requirements listed on the application for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center as posted on the website of Pearson Education, Inc.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2050.
Report Title:
State Board of Nursing; NCLEX for Nurses; Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; Possible Test Sites; Identification; County of Hawaii; County of Kauai; County of Maui; Report
Description:
Requires the State Board of Nursing to identify one facility in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui that has the capability to establish a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center as a test site to administer a National Council Licensure Examination for nurses; equip each facility identified with the technical and facility requirements necessary for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; and submit an application for each facility to Pearson Education, Inc. to be authorized and contracted as a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1596 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to nursing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the department of health to establish one Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui to offer and expand the testing availability of the NCLEX for nurses.
SECTION 2. (a) The department of health shall:
(1) Identify one facility in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui that has the capability to establish a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center;
(2) Equip each facility identified in paragraph (1) with the technical and facility requirements necessary for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; and
(3) No later than , submit an application for each facility identified and equipped with the technical and facility requirements pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) to Pearson Education, Inc. to be authorized and contracted as a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center.
(b) The department shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of .
(c) For the purposes of this section:
"Department" means the department of health.
"Pearson Education, Inc." refers to the educational publishing and services subsidiary of the international corporation Pearson plc.
"Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center" refers to a test center contracted and authorized by Pearson Education, Inc. to offer certification exams.
"Technical and facility requirements" means the requirements listed on the application for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center as posted on the website of Pearson Education, Inc.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
DOH; National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Nurses; Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; Possible Test Sites; Identification; County of Hawaii; County of Kauai; County of Maui; Report
Description:
Requires the Department of Health to identify one facility in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui that has the capability to establish a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center as a test site to administer a NCLEX for nurses; equip each facility identified with the technical and facility requirements necessary for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; and submit an application for each facility to Pearson Education, Inc. to be authorized and contracted as a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center. Requires a report to the Legislature.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Dec 8, 2025 | Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. |
| Feb 14, 2025 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
| Feb 14, 2025 | Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 558) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. |
| Feb 5, 2025 | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. |
| Jan 31, 2025 | The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. |
| Jan 27, 2025 | Referred to HHS, WAM. |
| Jan 27, 2025 | Passed First Reading. |
| Jan 23, 2025 | Introduced. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Feb 5, 2025 | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| UH Maui College | *** Support | Feb 5, 2025 |
| University of Hawaiʻi Maui College | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 558
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 1596
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1596 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NURSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Health to:
(1) Identify one facility in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui that has the capability to establish a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center as a test site to administer a National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for nurses;
(2) Equip each identified facility with the technical and facility requirements necessary for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; and
(3) Submit an application for each facility to Pearson Education, Inc. to be authorized and contracted as a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing.
Your Committee finds that there is currently one location in the State for newly graduated nursing students to take the NCLEX, which is the qualifier for initial nursing licensure as well as one of two options available to nurses who are seeking to reinstate their license. Your Committee further finds that the limitation of the testing site places a significant burden on many new graduates from other islands who are requested to pay for lodging, travel, and other related costs to take the test on Oahu. This measure provides equitable access for nurses located outside of Oahu to take the NCLEX and will improve the livelihood of the State's residents by making nursing a more accessible career.
Your Committee acknowledges the concerns raised in testimony by the Department of Health that this measure subverts the authority of the State Board of Nursing, who has the statutory authority over regulating, rulemaking, and monitoring nursing licensing and examinations in the State. Your Committee further believes that this measure may create parallel, duplicative, and unnecessary authorities to the Department of Health. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this concern.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requiring the State Board of Nursing, rather than the Department of Health to establish one Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui to offer and expand the testing availability of the NCLEX for nurses;
(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;
(3) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1596, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1596, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,
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________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Feb 5, 2025 | SB1596_TESTIMONY_HHS_02-05-25_.PDF |
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):