Committee advances bill creating voluntary nurse assistance program

Representative Stevens presented House Bill 219 to the Senate committee as "an alternative to discipline, essentially for our nurses," saying the measure would let nurses voluntarily enter a treatment-and-monitoring program modeled on existing programs for physicians, dentists and pharmacists. Stevens said program participants pay their own costs, receive testing and supervision, and can return to work once they meet program conditions.

The committee’s chair and members asked whether the bill duplicates existing programs for other health professions and whether it would keep practitioners working while addressing underlying problems. Stevens replied that the proposal mirrors other state programs and emphasized its voluntary nature and goal of rehabilitation. Senator Dolezal moved that the committee "do pass" the measure; Senator Williams seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. The chair said Senator Rhett will carry the bill on the floor as sponsor.

The committee took no amendments during the meeting and the chair said staff and stakeholders should submit any proposed changes for a future committee substitute. No formal fiscal or implementation details (for example, estimated participant counts or program budget) were provided in the hearing record.