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LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION a communication of the Iowa Nurses Association Volume 4, Number 8
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK HF 354 RN Pronouncement Bill Passes House 96-0 With nurses and nursing students looking on from the Gallery, the House of Representatives passed the RN/LPN pronouncement of death bill Wednesday, February 28. Reps Hoverstein, Reynolds and Lensing made comments in support of passage. Rep. Grundberg managed the bill. It goes to the Senate where passage is expected. Successful Lobby Days for INA Approximately 200 INA members, RN to BSN students and nursing students from around the state participated in events to learn the legislative process, lobby their legislators and receive CEU credit on the topic of mental health and substance abuse parity February 28 and March 1. The Des Moines Register ran a "Legislative Brief" on March 1 with the headline "Legislation Would Give More Power to Nurses". The brief included a sentence stating: "Debate came as a large contingent from the Iowa Nurses Association descended on the Statehouse for their lobbying day." Nurses are making an impression with the media! Congratulations to all who attended and made it so. Budget Cut Hearings Republicans held public hearings on Monday evening to let both supporters of the budget cuts, and those opposed to the cuts, to address the legislators who were gathered in the House chamber. Senate Democrats held their own hearings all day on the impact of SF 267 DEAPPROPRIATIONS. The Democrats believe that the bill will lead to layoffs and other disruptions in state government, and that the $40 million in savings will not be fully realized due to higher unemployment insurance costs . Governor Vilsack released his analysis of the proposed cuts. Vilsack said that he believes that the savings for the state do not justify the cuts in services and that at least $10 million in the cuts will return to the state as reversions without SF 267. He said that many of the cuts will lead to higher costs, have a negative impact on the state’s financial standing or could lead to less in federal funds. Republicans negotiate with the Governor on the Deappropriations Bill Senator Iverson said that the Republicans are talking with Governor Vilsack about potential cuts from the current budget before bringing SF 267 DEAPPROPRIATIONS up for debate. Iverson said that the Republicans still support making some cuts from the current budget and that Republican legislators have received support for cuts from their districts. Speaker Siegrist said that the meeting with the Governor on Thursday morning was productive and that the Republicans will meet again with the Governor on Monday. Siegrist said that the state is still looking at a significant shortfall in revenues and that the Legislature faces some difficult choices ahead. The Republicans said that they do expect to make some cuts in the current budget year and that they expect to send a bill down to the Governor. INA is monitoring closely to assure funding for health services is not jeopardized. STATUS OF THE INA AGENDA
HF 200 has been introduced and assigned to an unfavorable committee, Commerce and Regulation. It is not expected to move. Other Bills on Issues on Watch: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Parity: House File 107/Senate File 137 covers neurobiological conditions and calls for a substance abuse study, House File 113/Senate File 136 covers state employees with mental health and substance abuse coverage; House File 153/Senate File 132 covers children only for mental health and substance abuse ; Senate File 131 appears to be very similar to last year’s House passed bill HF 2080 which died in the Senate. The Governor’s bill, Senate File 177 covers serious mental illnesses and substance abuse. HF 72/SF119 (Jochum and Connolly) cover all mental conditions in the ICD and substance abuse and are full parity, but unlikely to be considered by the Republican majority party. The INA Public Policy Committee has recommended support of HF 107/SF 137 because the conditions listed are diagnostic categories and driven more by clinical insight and are clinically consistent with proven efficacy and effectiveness of treatment. MAKING CONTACT Attend local town hall meetings evenings or on Saturdays as locally scheduled. Phone Numbers for leaving a message: Governor’s Office 515/281-5211 Iowa House of Representatives at 515/281-3221 Iowa Senate at 515/281-3371 Website Contacts for sending emails or regular letters: www.state.ia.us/governor / On the "Office of Governor" page, go to "Desk Tops" on left side and hit "Comments", this brings up the "Comments Desk" and #3 is the email hot button. www.legis.state.ia.us On the "Welcome to the Iowa General Assembly" page, go to "Members", then "Find Your Legislator" and you can type in your street address, city and zip code to get to your Congressional and state senator and representative names, phone numbers and email addresses. Deanna McCallum and Linda Goeldner are the INA registered lobbyists. To learn more about the nursing agenda or nursing issues, call the INA office at 515/225-0495 or email either at DmcCall34@aol.com or Lkgoeld@aol.com.
BILLS PASSED OF INTEREST TO NURSING
Senate and House Debate & Bills Signed by the Governor Bills to the Governor : (1) SF 258 TOBACCO SETTLEMENT - Extends the existence of the Tobacco Settlement Authority Act until December 31, 2001. The Senate PASSED the Bill, 46-0; The House PASSED the Bill, 97-0; The Governor signed the bill. Senate Debate SF 114 MEDICAID COUNCIL REFERENCES - Updates references to organizations on the Medical Assistance Advisory Council. The Senate PASSED the Bill 47-0; it now goes to the House SF 170 MINOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS - Allows 14 and 15 year-olds to work as aides in hospitals, health care facilities and assisted living programs if the person receives training regarding exposure to biohazards. Allows a person under 18 to enroll in training programs for nurses, nursing assistants or aides and to be employed in those positions following the completion of the program. S-3113 by Schuerer - Strikes the specific language authorizing 14 and 15 year-olds to work as aides in hospitals and related facilities but keeps the language which allows persons under the age of 18 to do this kind of work. Prohibits 14 and 15-year -olds from working in positions with exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Includes hospices in the places of employment. Makes language corrections. WITHDRAWN S-3118 by Schuerer - Strikes the specific language authorizing 14 and 15 year-olds to work as aides in hospitals and related facilities. Prohibits 14 and 15-year -olds from working in positions with exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Includes hospices in the places of employment. Makes language corrections. ADOPTED Governor’s Appointments as of February 26 Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrator: Susan Frey, Judy Weller Commission on Tobacco Use Prevention: Gilda Bettis; Kermit Dahlen, Dixie Daugherty; Randy Meyer Frank O' Conner; Paul Pomrehn, Sharon Wellendorf BILLS IN COMMITTEE OF INTEREST TO NURSINGUse the website address above to find 1) the bill language and 2) the email address for the legislators listed below. Legislators serving on the following subcommittees are the individuals to whom comments should be initially made. Legislators give first priority to those living in their House or Senate District. Make sure the legislator knows you are a registered nurse. House Appropriations: Assigned to Subcommittee: HF 365 TOBACCO SETTLEMENT Heaton(C); Alons , Seng House Human Resources Committee: Voted out : HF 262 NURSING FACILITIES ACCOUNTING - Requires nursing facilities that are reimbursed under the Medicaid program use generally accepted accounting principles. AMENDED & PASSED , 21-0; FM: De Boef HF 341 INFORMED CONSENT - Creates new code section known as the "Woman’s Right to Know Act. Requires informed consent from women including information a doctor is required to provide prior to the medical termination of a pregnancy. Makes a medical emergency exception. Makes it a simple misdemeanor for a doctor to violate informed consent provisions. Effective October 1, 2001. PASSED , 13-7; FM: Hoversten House Local Government: Assigned to Subcommittee: HF 395 SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT Houser (C), D. Taylor, Van Engelenhoven SF 186 COUNTY HOSPITAL TAX LEVY Shey (C), Boal, Eichhorn , Fallon, Huser House Judiciary: SF 258 TOBACCO SETTLEMENT - Extends the existence of the Tobacco Settlement Authority Act until December 31, 2001. PASSED , 17-0; FM: Broers BILLS INTRODUCED OF INTEREST TO NURSING Resolutions Introduced House Study Bills: HSB 179 TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT (Human Resources) Transfers the authority for tobacco licensing authority within the Alcoholic Beverages Division. Allows the division to keep 35% of licensing fees for enforcement purposes. Consolidates tobacco enforcement laws into one Code chapter. Requires a minor who is issued a citation for tobacco use to appear before a magistrate. Makes other changes. (DPH) Boddicker (C), Hoversten, Atteberry House Files: HF 365 TOBACCO SETTLEMENT (Heaton) ) Extends the existence of the Tobacco Settlement Authority Act until June 30, 2002. ( Different than SF 258) (Appropriations) HF 382 HAWK-I PROGRAM (Human Resources; Successor to HSB 49) Abolishes the requirement that the Department of Human Services establish a sliding fee scale for HAWK-I. Allows HAWK-I Board to establish cost sharing amounts. Requires periodic random reviews of enrollee applications. Eliminates the outreach media campaign requirements. Directs administrative contractor to forward names of children that appear to be eligible for heath insurance coverage to local DHS office. Eliminates the requirement that the administrative contractor make applications available via mail, schools, local health departments, and local DHS offices. Allows for cost sharing based on family income levels at or below 150% federal poverty level. (Calendar) FM: Hansen HF 388 NURSING HOME INSURANCE TAX CREDIT (Hoffman, et al) Creates a nursing home care insurance tax credit on the personal income tax for 50% of the premiums for qualified long-term care contracts. (W & M) HF 395 SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT (Heaton) Requires that cities and counties dedicate a portion of the state funds which replace the personal property tax for substance abuse treatment and education. (Local Government) HF 411 HOSPITAL BOARD TRUSTEES (Heaton) Allows persons with medical staff privileges or receives compensation greater than $1,500 to serve on county public hospital boards. (Local Government) HF 418 TESTING BLOOD FOR LEAD (Reynolds, et al.) Requires the DPH adopt a requirement that children be tested for lead by the age of six and before enrolling in school. Requires local board of health to test children in areas where no local service exists. Allows for waiver in cases of low risk or religious grounds. State mandate exempt. (Education) HF 423 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES (Smith, et al) Makes appropriations for various programs including for dependent adult abuse, child abuse, substance abuse, sex offenders and coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment. (Appropriations) See SF 177 HF 406 SAFE HAVENS (Hoffman, et al.) Allows a parent to voluntarily surrender the custody of a child who is four days old or younger at a hospital or other health care facility. Gives the parent immunity from prosecution if the infant is not harmed. Requires the county attorney to proceed with efforts to terminate parental rights as soon as practical. Grants immunity to the individual who receives the child and allows that individual to receive the notice of any hearings. Effective upon enactment. See SSB 1148 (Human Resources) Senate Study Bills: SSB 1174 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS (State Government) Provides that a P.A. practices medicine with the supervision of physicians rather than under the supervision of a specific physician. Strikes provisions and rules regarding the P.A. rules review group and regarding the eligibility of a physician to serve as a supervising physician. Makes changes to the certification of P.A.’s Contains related provisions. Rittmer (C), McLaren , Kibbie SSB 1187 BIRTH CENTERS (Human Resources) Repeals the Code provisions regarding birth centers and makes conforming changes. Schuerer (C), Redwine , Hammond Senate Files: SF 264 RESUSCITATION ORDERS (Human Resources; Successor to SSB 1126) Creates the Resuscitation Status Orders Act. Orders: Allows doctors to issue written orders withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining procedures outside a hospital setting. Authorizes the DPH to establish rules regarding the form of such orders and the necessary information in such orders. Consent & Revocation: Requires consent of the patient or patient’s representative. Establishes provisions for the revocation of an order. Other: Validates preexisting resuscitation orders. Grants immunity to persons acting in good faith in carrying out resuscitation orders. (Calendar) Floor Manager: Schuerer SF 285 ELDERLY PROGRAMS (Bolkcom) Appropriates $1.5 million to the Department of Elder Affairs for to improve programs and services for Iowans over the age of 60. (Appropriations) SF 291 CHILD SEAT BELTS (Dvorsky) Requires that children who are at least 3 and under the age of 7 to be secured by a federally-approved child restraint system. Requires children between the ages of 6 and 13 to wear seatbelts regardless of where they are in the vehicle. Makes violations punishable by a $50 fine. (Transportation) SF 296 ELDER ABUSE VICTIMS (Bolkcom) Directs the Department of Elder Affairs to develop a plan to house elders who are the victims of elder abuse. Requires the plan to be submitted on November 1, 2001 and updated annually. (Human Resources) SF 297 ELDERLY PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE (Bolkcom) Appropriates $40 million in FY 2002 to the Department of Elder Affairs for a pharmaceutical assistance subsidy program for elderly persons over the age of 65 who have limited incomes. Requires the DHS to create a formula that participating pharmacies must use. Requires the DHS to report annually to the Legislature on prescription prices. (Human Resources) SF 321 BIKE HELMETS (Judiciary; Successor to SSB 1066) Allows local authorities to adopt ordinances requiring children under 14 to wear a helmet when riding a bike and requires anyone renting bikes to have helmets available for rent. Directs the DPH to create a list of approved helmets. (Calendar) FM: Maddox
© 2008 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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