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LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION a communication of the Iowa Nurses Association Volume 4, Number 13
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK Call to Action on HF 354 INA members are asked to call their Senators to ask for a favorable vote on HF 354, the RN and LPN pronouncement of death bill, without amendment. It was recommended for passage on March 4. The chiropractors are attempting to amend the bill to be included. Sen. Redwine, the floor manager, has indicated the bill will be pulled if the chiropractors are successful in amending the bill. The chiropractors want to be included "on principle" of now being excluded from the individuals considered to be "physicians".
Targets & Revenues On Monday, Speaker Siegrist said that the Republicans would make bigger cuts than the Governor proposed in his revised budget. According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, revenues in the current year are up 0.3%, or $11.1 million for the year, which is below the 0.7 estimate made by the Revenue Estimating Committee on March 14th.
The Second Funnel has come and gone. The statutory committees, with the exception of the Ways & Means Committee and the Appropriations Committee have concluded their work for the sessionBills must have passed through their chamber of origin and out of committee in the other chamber as of April 6 in order to continue to be considered. However, Senate Files on the Senate Unfinished Business Calendar, and House Files on the House Unfinished Business Calendar are eligible for further consideration if there is a companion bill (or at least a bill that can be substituted for) in the other chamber.
Budget Work Republican leaders are still working on budget targets for the subcommittees. They have said that the entire budget, including state school aid and the $40 million previously set aside for teacher’s compensation are on the table. Rep. Rants said that the enacting policy bills (HF 672 and SF 476) are the important part of reforming the teacher compensation system this year and that the state will be able to increase the funding in future years. Republican leaders still do not support the use of the Economic Emergency Fund because they believe that the money is needed for cash flow purposes, and they do not support the Governor’s proposals to move more gambling revenue into the General Fund and to bond for some infrastructure projects. Speaker Siegrist said that they might consider the Governor’s proposal to move $16.4 million from the Road Use Tax Fund into the General Fund. Governor Vilsack said that funding the teacher compensation package at less than $40 million is unacceptable and that he will not allow that to happen. Senator Gronstal and Rep. Myers said that the Republicans have had enough time to produce budget targets and should have done so. Myers and Gronstal said that without the use of the emergency fund and other transfers and while still protecting the parts of the budget that the Governor wants to protect from cuts, the budget cuts will need to be the equivalent of an 11.88% across-the-board cut. STATUS OF THE INA AGENDA
HF 200 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.
House State Government committee recommended passage. INA membership is both
for and against the bill. INA pulled back from oppose to monitor after Iowa
Organization of Nurse Leaders issued a statement to legislators.
Repeal of Code for Birth Centers: SF 390 would repeal the Code to
regulate birth centers. INA is monitoring the bill. The bill has been referred
back to committee for further work. INA members are both for and against the
issue.
Safe Havens: SF 355 passed the Senate. It allows fourteen days for
a child to be left at a facility if the mother/parents do not want to keep the
child. It is expected to be debated next week.
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.
GOVERNOR’S APPOINTMENTS Board of Nursing Examiners William Miller, Harlan; Merlin Hulse, Clarence; Linda Brady, Des Moines
State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators Claudia Boeding, Hampton; Judy Weller, Pomeroy
BILLS PASSED OF INTEREST TO NURSING House Debate
HCR 24 CENTRALIZED CHILD ABUSE REPORTING - 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. H-1423 by Hoversten - Adds the Citizens’ Aide to the Study Committee ADOPTED The House ADOPTED the Resolution as amended. HF 382 HAWK-I PROGRAM - 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. H-1282, H-1288, H-1289, & H-1417 - WITHDRAWN The House PASSED the Bill, 98-0; it now goes to the Senate HF 663 HOSPITAL BOARD TRUSTEES - Allows persons with medical staff privileges or who receive more than $1,500 in pay to serve on county public hospital boards. The House PASSED the Bill, 99-0; it now goes to the
Senate
Senate Debate
Bills to the House
SF 497 IPERS CHANGES - Division & CEO: Creates the
IPERS Division within the Department of Personnel with all the powers necessary
to manage the Fund. Requires the Division CEO to have executive-level pension
fund management experience and subject to Senate confirmation. Board: Makes
the Investment Board the Trustee of the IPERS Retirement Fund and is allowed
to set investment policy to be carried out by the Division. Eliminates the Director
of the DOP as an Investment Board members and makes the state Treasurer a voting
member of the Board. Makes the legislative members of the Board non-voting members.
Changes the qualifications of various board members. Establishes transition
Board membership. The Senate PASSED the bill, as amended, 48-0; it now goes to the House
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.
SF 452 PRESCRIPTION DRUG CARDS - Metcalf (C), Hoffman, Osterhaus House Environmental Protection Committee: Voted Out: SF 410 INDOOR EMISSION SOURCES - Prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from requiring permits or notice of construction for indoor air emission sources. Allows the DNR to implement the emission limitations adopted by the EPA. Defines such indoor emission sources. Excludes animal confinement operations as indoor sources. Allows the DNR to establish a permit by rule procedure to allow a facility to establish emission limits for indoor sources and to issue construction permits for indoor sources is requested. AMENDED & PASSED, 20-0; FM: Bradley House Commerce Committee: Voted Out: SF 452 PRESCRIPTION DRUG CARDS - Requires the use of a uniform prescription card by providers of third-party payment or by prepayment of prescription drug expenses. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules. Requires the card to identify the pharmacy benefits manager House Human Resources Committee: Voted Out: SF 99 RESOURCE CENTER--MHI ACCOUNTING - Transfers the billing and accounting for state resource centers (the hospital schools) and the mental health institutes to DHS from the Department of Revenue & Finance. PASSED, 18-0; FM: Carroll SF 114 MEDICAID COUNCIL REFERENCES - Updates references to organizations on the Medical Assistance Advisory Council. PASSED, 20-0; FM: Hoversten 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. AMENDED & PASSED, 21-0; Floor Manager: Boal 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. House State Government Committee: Voted Out SF 242 DOCTORS HOSPITAL ORDERS - Directs the DIA to adopt rules
regarding medication and authorization orders that require such orders to be
authenticated within 30 days. Senate Commerce Committee: Assigned to Subcommittee:
HF 382 HAWK-I PROGRAM - Schuerer (C), Freeman, McCoy Senate Commerce Committee: Voted Out: HF 382 HAWK-I PROGRAM - 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. PASSED, 13-0; FM: Schuerer Senate Human Resources Committee: Assigned to Subcommittee: HF 662 COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT BOARDS - Boettger (C), Behn, Shearer Senate Human Resources Committee: Voted Out: HCR 24 CENTRALIZED CHILD ABUSE REPORTING - 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. PASSED, 11-0; FM: Redwine HF 354 DEATH PRONOUNCEMENT - Allows a registered nurse, a physician assistant or a licensed practical nurse to declare someone dead if the death occurs in a hospital, health care facility, a Medicare-certified home health agency or Medicare hospice program. PASSED, 9-0; FM: Redwine HF 598 CHILD PROTECTION CENTER - Creates within the DPH the Child Protection Center Grant Program with grants awarded by the state Board of Health. Allows grants in the five DHS regions served by a Child Protection Center. PASSED, 10-0; FM: Veenstra HF 655 ADULT DAY SERVICES OVERSIGHT - 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. PASSED, 10-0; FM: Veenstra HF 662 COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT BOARDS - Lets an AEA be the fiscal agent for a community empowerment board. Directs the Empowerment Board how to distribute the School Ready Children Grant Account monies if at least $17.9 million is appropriated. Requests the Legislative Council convene a summit to consider various related issues. PASSED, 11-0; FM: Boettger HF 680 ABUSE REPORTER TRAINING - 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. Adds head-start programs. Allows licensing boards to exempts persons who served in the military during the educational training period from having to undergo training. PASSED, 11-0; FM: Tinsman HF 590 AIDS TESTING - Allows for AIDS testing of individuals receiving assistance from care givers or from persons giving emergency first aid on a voluntary basis and without compensation. Gives immunity to person or institution that performs or fails to perform the test. Senate State Government Committee: Voted Out: HF 663 HOSPITAL BOARD TRUSTEES - Allows persons with medical staff privileges or who receive more than $1,500 in pay to serve on county public hospital boards. PASSED, 12-0; FM Jensen
Resolutions Introduced SCR 22 PRIVACY STUDY (Lundby) Proposes that the Legislative Council extend the time for the personal privacy issues study committee. SCR 23 OSTEOPOROSIS DAY (Johnson, et al) Designates April 12
as Osteoporosis Awareness Day. SR 33 AUTISM STATISTICS (Horn) Proposes that the Department of Public Health shall develop legislative recommendations and administrative rules for the compilation of information regarding Iowans with autism.
© 2008 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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