Bill restricting membership to nurses' board axed
Saying the existing law is sufficient, acting Gov. Jesus R. Sablan has vetoed a legislation that would restrict membership of the local Board of Nurse Examiners to registered nurses only.
The measure, offered by Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider, was prompted by dispute over required qualifications for the board’s appointments early this year.
Sablan, however, said the problems had been addressed and that the proposed law would no longer be necessary, even to prevent future conflict within the government body.
At present, the five-member board tasked with setting rules and regulations for nurses practicing in the Commonwealth is equally represented by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.
Current members of the board “strongly feel that the current provision in the law should be retained to ensure representation of both registered nurses (RN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) in the Board,” Sablan said in his veto message.
Under Hofschneider’s proposal, the board, which is within the Department of Public Health, would be comprised of five members, all of whom will be registered nurses.
One would come from Rota and another from Tinian, while Saipan would be represented by three members.
The measure, introduced last December and passed by both chambers of the Legislature in April and June, was an amendment to the existing Commonwealth Code.
