Legislators have introduced two resolutions in recognition of the issues
faced by nursing in the following two resolutions. They can be read by going
to the "Making Contact" section of this newsletter; go to the legislative web
page and click on "Legislation" selecting "26 Senate Resolution" or "23
House Resolution".
SR 26 NURSE SHORTAGE (Redwine & Kibbie) Urges the Legislature to take steps
to address the shortage of nurses in Iowa through the creation of nursing
workforce centers.
HR 23 NURSING SHORTAGE (Reynolds) Resolves that the General Assembly should
look at the nursing shortage problem.
The Iowa Council of Nurses will be holding a press conference on Tuesday,
April 3 at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the findings of the survey done of 1400 major
employers of nurses. The press release will be distributed to all media in
the state. Watch your local newspaper, radio and television for the story.
Volunteer to comment on your perspective.
The New Schedule
The Senate and the House will start meeting in session on Friday, April 6th.
House and Senate leaders have made out an unofficial schedule for finishing
up the work this session. The schedule through the end of the session is as
follows:
March 28th - Receive the Governor's budget (This is the deadline for the
Governor to submit a new budget; he has not said if the budget will arrive
earlier than this.
April 4th - Set Budget Targets
April 9th - Finish budget subcommittee work (this is the third funnel
week; only Ways & Means, Appropriations and Leadership bills, legalizing
acts, bills passed by both chambers in different forms, vetoes and
resolutions are eligible for debate)
April 11th - Finish Appropriations Committee work
Week of April 16th - Floor work on Appropriations bills
April 27th - Finish session (This is the 110th day of session and the
end of per diem payments)
STATUS OF THE INA AGENDA
1. Health Care Funding: All tobacco settlement money for health care
purposes.
Conversations with legislators indicate efforts to "securitize" the tobacco
settlement funds as an effort to maintain a long-range revenue stream for
health care funding in the state. Waiting to see bill language.
2. RN and LPN Pronouncement of Death
House File 354 was introduced assigned to Senate Human Resources Committee,
which is chaired by Sen. John Redwine, a physician from Sioux City. Other
subcommittee members are Sen. Nancy Boettger of Harlan and Sen. Pat Harper of
Waterloo. It is expected to be considered next week.
3. No support for Direct-Entry Midwives (non-nurse midwives)
HF 200 has been introduced. It died in the funnel. It is eligible for
consideration next January.
Other Bills on Issues on Watch:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Parity: None of the bills made the first
funnel. The reason given primarily is due to the large premium increase many
Iowa employers received. The business community actively worked against all
the bills citing large premium increases and their desire for no mandated
coverage.
Verbal Orders: SF 242 would extend the length of time for a prescribing
practitioner to sign a verbal order from 72 hours to 30 days after discharge.
This bill passed the Senate and has been assigned to House State Government
committee.
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
House Debate
SF 256 HEALTH CARE FACILITIES FIRE INSPECTIONS II - Establishes the procedure
the State Fire Marshal is to follow when the Marshal finds deficiencies in a
health care facility. Requires the DIA to consult with the Fire Marshal
before issuing rules regarding health care facilities.
H-1116 by Committee - Corrective. ADOPTED
The House PASSED the Bill, as amended, 89-0; it now goes to the Senate
HF 462 AREA EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENTS - Sets at 25% the cap retained for
administrative costs for implementing the federal Medical Assistance
Reimbursement. Exempts payments under the federal Individuals With
Disabilities Education Act. Effective upon enactment. (This bill would help
reimburse school nurses for services provided in the schools.)
The House PASSED the Bill, 96-0; it now goes to the Senate
Deferred On: HF 382 HAWK-I PROGRAM
The Democrats offered an amendment to this bill that would add coverage for
dental services, mental and substance abuse, nutritional services and
occupational services. They also wanted care coordination and presumptive
eligibility at the time of treatment. The Floor Manager, Brad Hansen asked if
a fiscal note had prepared and one was not ready, so the bill was deferred on.
Senate Debate
SF 242 PRACTITIONER HOSPITAL ORDERS - Directs the DIA to adopt rules
regarding verbal orders in hospitals that require such orders to be
authenticated within 30 days.
S-3127 - WITHDRAWN
S-3185 by Bartz & Redwine: A Strike & Replace: Directs the DIA to adopt
rules regarding medication and authorization orders that require such orders
to be authenticated within 30 days.
The Senate PASSED the bill, as amended, 45-3; it now goes to the House
Deferred On:
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
persons 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-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 Previously)
S-3185 by Hammond - Limits the total hours that 16 and 17 year-olds can
work. Requires that they be given lunch breaks after five hours. Limits the
late night and early morning hours during the school year. FAILED, 22-26
S-3196 by Gronstal - WITHDRAWN
SF 394 HOSPITAL AND BIRTHING CENTER FEES - Eliminates hospital and birthing
center licensing fees from the Code. Authorizes the Department of
Inspections & Appeals to establish a hospital fee schedule and to set
birthing center license fees by rule. Establishes the initial license fee
for hospitals at $1,000 and for birthing centers at $15.
The Senate PASSED the bill, as amended, 49-0; it now goes to the House
SF 428 CHILD ABUSE INTAKE REPORTS - Requires DHS to establish a statewide
intake unit for the first reports of child abuse. Requires the intake unit
to receive single statewide toll-free phone number. Requires the unit's
staff to have special training and to receive calls 24 hours a day, seven
days a week.
The Senate PASSED the bill, 48-0; it now goes to the House
BILLS IN COMMITTEE OF INTEREST TO NURSING
Use 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.
This week is spent on debate in order to get bills over to the other chamber
and into committee.
House Appropriations Committee: Voted Out:
HF 231 CRIME VICTIMS FUND - Allows for use of the crime victim compensation
fund for victim service operations. Allows $100,000 of the fund to be use
for victim service provider training. AMENDED & PASSED, 25-0; FM: Horbach
SF 146 TOBACCO MASTER SETTLEMENT - Makes language changes to language
regarding roll-your-own cigarettes to conform Iowa law with the master
settlement agreement. Effective upon enactment. PASSED, 25-0; FM: Brunkhorst
SCR 14 LEGISLATIVE FUNDING - Resolves that the Legislature reduce its
funding for FY 2001 by 1.5%. PASSED, 25-0; FM: Heaton
BILLS INTRODUCED OF INTEREST TO NURSING
House Resolutions:
HR 23 NURSING SHORTAGE (Reynolds) Resolves that the General Assembly should
look at the nursing shortage problem.
HCR 24 CENTRALIZED CHILD ABUSE REPORTING (Human Resources; Successor to HSB
166) Requests the Legislative Council create a Study Committee to study
creation of a statewide central intake unit by the DHS for receiving child
abuse reports. FM: Hoversten
House Files:
HF 648 PEER REVIEW (Human Resources Successor to HF 510) Defines "Peer Review
Activity" related the non-liability of persons serving on a Peer Review
Committee. Adds to the definition of "Peer Review Committee" members of
nursing facilities. Adds nursing facility administrators to the list of
persons that may be sued for personal injuries. (Calendar) FM: Roberts
HF 649 DPH CHANGES (Human Resources Successor to HSB 180) Designates GHB
(Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) as a controlled substance. Allows the DPH to
grant per diem expenses to ad hoc committees. Makes corrective changes
dealing with Licensed Practical Nurses, barber assistants, and continuing
educational requirements for Optometry. (Calendar) Floor Manager: Boddicker
HF 650 MEDICAL RECORDS (Jochum) Requires patients be allowed to inspect their
medical record and be given a copy upon written request. Allows the health
care provider if the release of the record would be detrimental to the
patient or the patient would likely harm other, but requires the release of
the information to the patient's attorney or personal physician. Directs the
DPH adopts rules regarding copy fees that may be imposed. Requires female
members of a individual or group health plan (insurance or HMO)be informed of
the right to choose their ob/gyn under certain conditions. Makes other
changes. (Commerce)
HF 655 ADULT DAY SERVICES OVERSIGHT (Human Resources; Successor to HF 531)
Direct the Department of Elder Affairs to develop an adult day services
oversight system in cooperation with the DIA, DHS, DPH, area agencies on
aging, industry representatives, and consumers to study adult day services
issues. FM: Brunkhorst
HF 658 MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Fallon & Mascher) Creates as a defense in certain
criminal and civil proceedings for persons who use marijuana for a medical
purpose. Contains related provisions. (HR)
HF 663 HOSPITAL BOARD TRUSTEES (Local Government Successor to HF 411) Allows
persons with medical staff privileges or who receive more than $1,500 in pay
to serve on county public hospital boards. FM: Sievers
HF 671 MH/DD SERVICES (Local Government; Successor to HF 523) Makes changes
to Funding Pools within the Property Tax Relief Fund used to make payments to
counties for MH/DD services. Increases the statewide per capita expenditure
target amount for county MH/DD service to 100% for FY 2002. Changes the
eligibility requirements for the per capita expenditure target pool. Makes
other changes. (Ways and Means) FM: Carroll
HF 680 ABUSE REPORTER TRAINING (Human Resources; Successor to HSB 73)
Requires training for mandatory reporters of child and dependent adult abuse.
Adds education related employees to list of mandatory reporters. Requires
peace officers meet reporter training directive along with other public
employee reporters. Requires the DPH Director to create a Abuse Education
Review Panel. Requires licensing boards to training procedures for mandatory
reporters. (Calendar) FM: Hoversten
HF 682 PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM (Human Resources; Successor to HF 543)
Directs the DHS to convene an advisory group to develop policies to deliver
state, county, and local services to parents in parenting their children with
the focus on fathers. (Calendar) Floor Manager: Boddicker
HF 688 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSING (Human Resources; Successor to HSB 203)
Requires physician assistants to be licensesed, not just registered. Makes
the Physician Assistants Board the governing body of the profession.
(Calendar) FM: Tymeson
HF 689 CHILD ABUSE ASSESSMENT REPORTS (Human Resources; Successor to HF 444)
Directs that after a Child Protection Worker determines a child abuse report
was spurious or that no protective concerns are present, that the Assessments
Report need not include identification of strengths and needs of the child or
the services available to address the strengths and needs. FM: Kreiman
HF 691 DRUG TEST ORDERS (Human Resources; Successor to HF 47) Allows a
juvenile court to issue an ex parte order that a child who has been exposed
to illegal drugs be tested to determine if illegal drugs are in the child's
system. (Calendar)
Senate Resolutions:
SR 26 NURSE SHORTAGE (Redwine & Kibbie) Urges the Legislature to take steps
to address the shortage of nurses in Iowa through the creation of nursing
workforce centers.
Senate Study Bills:
SSB 1251 FEDERAL BLOCK GRANTS (Appropriations) Makes the federal block grant
appropriations.
Tinsman (C), Veenstra, Dvorsky
