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Senate defers SB 8 on jury‑duty exemptions for APRNs and nurses, chair proposes 5‑year pilot
Summary
Lawmakers deferred SB 8, which would exempt advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and related nursing staff from jury duty, after witnesses urged safeguards to avoid blanket exemptions for nonpracticing clinicians and recommended a limited pilot.
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services deferred SB 8, a bill to create jury‑duty exemptions for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and other nursing professionals, and signaled interest in a time‑limited pilot rather than a permanent, blanket exemption.
Jack Lewin, identified in testimony as the administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency, said the agency supported the exemption because of workforce shortages, calling it “a good move” while acknowledging it may be temporary if recruitment increases.
Supporters also included representatives of health provider groups and nursing associations. Angela Melody, speaking for Young Roar Care, urged expanding the exemption to include registered nurses (RNs) and said APRNs and RNs provide essential primary and specialty care and can cause “significant hardship” to patient access if absent for jury service.
Concerns raised: Senator Laura Keohokalole (questioner) and others warned that a title‑only exemption could be misused if applied to APRNs not actively practicing. In the hearing, a senator noted the risk of “a blanket exemption by just having an APRN title, and not actually being in the workforce.” Committee discussion led the chair to propose treating the exemption as a pilot with a set duration to evaluate workforce impacts.
Decision and next steps: The chair said concerns raised by the State Health Planning and Development Agency would be taken into account and proposed a five‑year pilot to protect practicing clinicians while limiting broad title‑based exemptions. The committee deferred the bill to the next hearing for amendments refining eligibility and duration.
