Because the timeframe to introduce new legislation for the current session has already expired, a bill to regulate the practice of nursing in American Samoa, was not allowed to be introduced last Friday in the House.

Both the House and Senate have their rules to follow, including the cut-off time to introduce bills before a legislative session closes. The current 4th Regular Session of the 34th Legislature has only three days left and officially ends Oct. 14. The Fono is currently in a week and a half recess and reconvenes on Oct. 12.

At last Friday’s House session, the American Samoa Nurse Practice Act, sponsored by Reps. Atalina Asifoa and Vesi Talalelei Fautanu was presented for introducing in first reading, but Rep. Vaetasi Tuumolimoli Saena Moliga pointed out that the timeframe to introduce new legislation has expired and motioned to table the measure.

(Samoa News notes that any bills pending in the current Legislature not acted on by lawmakers are automatically defeated and cannot be carried over to the 35th Legislature.)

Asifoa, who is a nurse by profession, argued for a chance for lawmakers to discuss this issue saying the legislation is very important for all nurses in the territory. However, House Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui Jr., who conducted the session that day, sided with Vaetasi.

Asifoa explained the reason for the delay in presenting the bill before the House is because of the delay from the Fono’s legal team in writing up the measure. Rep. Vui Florence Saulo, who supported the introduction of the measure, said she too had trouble getting some of her proposed measures presented to the House, because the Fono’s legal team was unable to get them written up for this session.

Some nurses contacted for comments about the bill say they were aware Asifoa was working on the proposed legislation, which would help to further improve nursing in the territory.

The Nurse Practice Act would provide for the regulation of the practice of nursing, a practice affecting the public health, safety and welfare; establish a seven-member Board of Nursing, according to language of the bill.

The bill would also define the powers and duties of the Board, including licensure of practitioners of nursing, establishment of standards for nursing practice and nursing education programs, and adoption of administrative rules to implement this Act.

The 38-page bill covers a wide range of issues including the definition and duties of a Registered Nurse (RN) as well as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and a Vocational Nurse. It also provides in detail duties and responsibilities of the Board of Nursing — and the reason the board would deny issuing a licensure for a nurse to practice in American Samoa.