H. B. 2344


(By Delegates Hatfield, Ashley, Linch, Marshall and Louisos)
[Introduced January 22, 1999; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization then Finance.]



A BILL to amend article one, chapter sixteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-two, relating to the requirement that at least one registered nurse serve on every state advisory board, insurance commission, study commission or task force which creates or affects health care policy.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article one, chapter sixteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-two, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. DIVISION OF HEALTH.
§16-1-22. Nurse membership on health boards and commissions.
Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, at least one registered nurse who regularly provides clinical services directly to patients shall be appointed to represent the interests of patients on every state advisory board, insurance commission, study commission or task force which creates or affects health care policy. The state advisory boards, insurance commissions, study commissions or task forces include only those created by law, and include but are not limited to, those created under the provisions of this chapter, chapter twenty-nine and articles twenty-five and twenty-five-a, chapter thirty-three of this code.
If the total number of members on any board, commission or task force after the appointment of one nurse is an even number, an additional clinically practicing registered nurse shall be appointed. The nurse members serve in addition to any other members otherwise provided by law or rule.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require that at least one registered nurse who regularly provides patient care is appointed to every state advisory board, insurance commission, study commission or task force which creates or affects health care policy.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.