| SUMMARY OF: | Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Board of Nursing |
Purpose of the Report
The audit was performed to determine if there is a continued need for the board and if its termination date should be extended. The board is set to sunset on June 30, 2025, and will have one year from that date to conclude its administrative operations.
Report Conclusions
The audit concluded that the board served the public’s interest by effectively conducting its meetings, actively amending nursing regulations, and effectively licensing nursing professionals. The audit also concluded that board related cases were not consistently investigated in a timely manner, and one board position had been vacant for an extended period.
In accordance with AS 08.03.010(c)(14), the board is scheduled to terminate on June 30, 2025. We recommend that the legislature extend the board’s termination date six years to June 30, 2031, which is two years less than the maximum allowed by statute. The reduced extension reflects the need for more routine oversight due to the licensing and investigation delays identified by the audit.
Findings and Recommendations
- DCCED’s commissioner should work with policy makers to improve the recruitment and retention of investigators.