SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 44
(By Senators Prezioso, Hunter, Sharpe, Boley, Rowe, Minard,
Dempsey and Unger)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct a
study of the shortage of qualified nursing personnel which
should include a study of: Working environments of nurses in
hospitals and other work areas; current funding sources for
nursing education; administration of funding for nursing
education; adequacy of funding levels per nursing student;
capacity for expansion of nursing programs; increasing nursing
faculty salaries; upgrading and enhancing distance education
technology; funding for enhanced distance education; and
providing stipends to support nontuition-related expenses for
nursing education programs.
Whereas, There is a critical shortage of qualified nurses in
several areas of this state; and
Whereas, State-supported nursing programs are struggling with
limited budgets while trying to offer educational courses and
training to nursing students that utilize modern technological and
health care advances; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered
Professional Nurses has established a Nursing Shortage Study
Commission to bring these issues before the Legislature and has filed a report on its findings; and
Whereas, The Legislature has studied this topic during the
2003 interim session and has recommended that this subject receive
further study during the 2004 interim session; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to conduct a study of the shortage of qualified nursing
personnel which should include a study of: Working environments of
nurses in hospitals and other work areas; current funding sources
for nursing education; administration of funding for nursing
education; adequacy of funding levels per nursing student; capacity
for expansion of nursing programs; increasing nursing faculty
salaries; upgrading and enhancing distance education technology;
funding for enhanced distance education; and providing stipends to
support nontuition-related expenses for nursing education programs;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2005, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.