CHAPTER 90
HB 542 – FINAL VERSION
05/10/07 1420s
2007 SESSION
08/05
HOUSE BILL 542
AN ACT establishing a study committee to study the approval process of nursing education programs and allowing registered nurses to pronounce an anticipated death in an assisted living residence.
SPONSORS: Rep. Harding, Graf 11; Rep. Millham, Belk 5; Rep. Skinder, Sull 1; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill establishes a committee to study the approval process of nursing education programs. This bill also allows a registered nurse to pronounce an anticipated death in an assisted living residence.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/10/07 1420s
07-0786
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT establishing a study committee to study the approval process of nursing education programs and allowing registered nurses to pronounce an anticipated death in an assisted living residence.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
90:1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the process for approval of new educational programs preparing students to take national licensing examinations for registered nursing.
90:2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
90:3 Duties. The committee shall:
I. Review the existing statutes and administrative procedures for obtaining approval to grant degrees in nursing.
II. Consider recommendations made by the New Hampshire board of nursing, the New Hampshire postsecondary education commission, the New Hampshire Nurses Association, and other interested entities.
III. Recommend approval standards or procedures for new educational programs preparing students to take national licensing examinations for nursing.
90:4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Two members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
90:5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2007.
90:6 Pronouncement of Death by Registered Nurses. Amend RSA 290:1-b to read as follows:
290:1-b Pronouncement of Death by Registered Nurses. If an anticipated death occurs in a hospital, a nursing home, a private home served by a home health care provider licensed under RSA 151, an assisted living residence as defined in RSA 161-J:2, II, or a hospice, the registered nurse attending at the last sickness may pronounce the person dead and release the body to the funeral director, next-of-kin as defined in RSA 290:16, IV, or designated agent after certifying the fact of death and completing the death record by hand or other approved electronic process. If a contagious disease is known to be present at the time of death, that fact shall be indicated on the death record in accordance with RSA 5-C:62.
90:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: June 11, 2007
Effective: June 11, 2007