Health Professions Act - Bylaws

Nursing BC, Oct 2004

Before British Columbia's Health Professions Act is enacted for registered nursing, RNABC's Board of Directors must develop, for government approval, bylaws under the Act. These bylaws will replace the Rules under the Nurses (Registered) Act and the RNABC Constitution and Bylaws.

At its June meeting, the Board provided direction regarding bylaws under the Health Professions Act for RNABC committees, the Board of Directors and registration.

Committees

The Board decided to continue to have a Finance Committee after RNABC becomes the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia under the Health Professions Act. Currently, this committee is composed of three members of the Board and at least two other RNABC registrants. It recommends policies to the Board with respect to the financial affairs of RNABC and proposes the annual budget.

The Board decided to not have an Executive Committee for the College of Registered Nurses of B.C. Currently, this committee is composed of the elected officers and a public representative from the Board. As reported in the June 2004 issue of Nursing BC, the Board decided to reduce the number of voting board members from 24 to 18, which includes deleting three elected officer positions (vice-president and two directors-at-large). The Board would thus comprise 10 electoral district directors, one president-elect, one president and six public representatives, plus the executive director who is a non-voting member.

Chapters

As there is no provision under the Health Professions Act for a college to make bylaws regarding chapters or other registrant groups, the Board must establish what the purpose and function of chapters would be under the Act before deciding whether or not to propose a bylaw for the establishment of chapters or other types of registrant groups. RNABC has conducted a random survey of registrants to determine their involvement with chapters. As well, RNABC is surveying other regulatory organizations regarding registrant groups. The findings from these surveys will be considered by the Board in it's decisionmaking regarding the future role of chapters or other registrant groups.

Board Of Directors

The Board agreed to develop draft bylaws that would preclude an officer, executive director or chief administrative officer, director or other member of the governing body of any international, national or provincial bargaining unit that represents registered nurses from being a member of the RNABC Board of Directors.

The Board also decided to draft bylaws under the Health Professions Act that would require candidates for electoral district director to reside and/or work in the electoral district for which they are a candidate.

Registration

The Board adopted in principle the content for proposed bylaws related to registration under the Health Professions Act. These bylaws set out classes of registrants, the process for registration in each of those classes, examinations to qualify for registration and the processes for registration renewal and reinstatement.