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Committee hears broad workforce proposals: nursing education benchmarks, PA MOLST/DNR inclusion, apprenticeships and limited licenses
Summary
Witnesses across the hearing urged policy changes to address workforce shortages: align Connecticut’s NCLEX reporting with national accreditors and allow multi‑year pass metrics; include physician assistants in MOLST/DNR authority; create apprenticeship pathways for water operators and limited student licenses for respiratory therapists; repeal outdated executive salary caps on many nonprofit providers.
Several witnesses framed the public hearing around a common concern: workforce shortages and regulatory barriers that impede hiring and training across healthcare professions.
Nursing education and NCLEX: Nursing educators and the Connecticut Nurses Association urged the committee to align the state’s ENLEX benchmarking with national accreditors (CCNE/ACEN). They proposed allowing multiple pathways to demonstrate sound program quality (first‑time pass rate, graduates passing within one year, or a rolling three‑year average) to avoid over‑penalizing small programs for year‑to‑year statistical variance. Nursing leaders also recommended quarterly pass‑rate data sharing with programs and a regulatory work group to modernize nursing education rules.
PAs and MOLST/DNR: Physician assistant leaders asked that statutes be updated so PAs may determine MOLST eligibility and complete DNR bracelet forms, harmonizing practice laws with current clinician roles and reducing delays during critical moments.
Allied workforce proposals: Respiratory care educators asked for a limited student license that would allow accredited respiratory students to perform supervised clinical duties in hospitals, a model used during Covid emergency orders and in other states to expand capacity. Water utilities and apprenticeship proponents asked HB5519 support for apprenticeship pathways and more flexible retake processes for water operator certification to reduce attrition and speed credentialing.
Nonprofit compensation and recruitment: Nonprofit sector representatives asked repeal of outdated statutory executive salary caps tied to DDS/DMHAS funding (caps that have not kept pace with market), arguing the limits make it hard to recruit leaders for specialized providers; the alliance asked repeal as the cleanest solution.
Why it matters: Shortages in nurses, respiratory therapists, PAs, and operators are already affecting access and patient safety in some facilities. Witnesses pushed for reforms that loosen administrative barriers while preserving safety through training, supervision and accreditation.
What’s next: Committee members asked agencies to provide technical language and to study implementation impacts. Several proposals were offered as immediate legislation (ENLEX alignment, PA/MOLST language, student RT limited license) or as items for DPH study and rulemaking (apprenticeship, water operator retake rules).
