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LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION a communication of the Iowa Nurses Association Volume 4, Number 14
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK Budget Targets are Out House and Senate Republicans released their budget targets today. In all, the Republicans make about $198 million more in cuts than the Governor, and do not transfer funds out of the Economic Emergency Fund or transfer additional gaming revenues into the General Fund. Rep. Millage said that the Republican targets are a 1.3% cut, or $65 million, from FY 2001 spending. Senator Lamberti said that the size of the cut needed to bring state spending back into balance shows that the state is not suffering an economic emergency. Speaker Siegrist said that the Governor’s proposal to use the emergency fund would simply put off the state’s problems for another year. The Republican proposal holds allowable growth and property tax credits harmless but does not specifically reserve $40 million for teacher compensation. Rep. Rants said that increases for teacher pay would need to come out of the money for unassigned standings. Rep. Millage said that $1.8 billion of the Unassigned Standing funds is for school foundation aid, $80 million is for other school aid and $300 million is for property tax credits. Millage said that leaves $230 million from which money for additional teacher’s salaries could come. Budget Targets
Redistricting Maps are out. The redistricting maps came out on Thursday morning. Much of the day was spent reviewing and scrutinizing the maps. The House would have twenty-six open seats and the Senate would have eleven open seats if these maps are adopted. STATUS OF THE INA AGENDA
Language for "securitizing" the tobacco settlement funds is still being worked on. Senate Human Resources Committee recommended House File 354 for passage 9-0. It survives the funnel. The chiropractors want to be amended in on the "principle" of being considered "physicians". Addition of such amendment could kill the bill. 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. BILLS PASSED OF INTEREST TO NURSING House Debate SF 433 DPH CHANGES - Designates GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid)
as a controlled substance. Allows the DPH to grant per diem expenses to ad hoc
committees. Increases certain deadlines for notice regarding continuing education
requirements for optometrists to 75 days Adds LPNs and RNs to the list of certain
health professionals under the Iowa Code who receive licensing information from
the DPH electronically. Makes corrective changes dealing with water purification
systems, hearing aid dispensers and barber assistants. The House PASSED the bill, as amended, 97-0; it now returns to the Senate SF 355 SAFE HAVENS - Creates the Newborn Safe Haven Act. Surrender: Allows a parent to voluntarily surrender the custody of a child who is fourteen days old or younger and has not suffered bodily harm at a hospital or other health care facility. Allows the parent to surrender the child to a person of to leave the child and make another form of contact, such as a 911 call. Creates a rebuttable presumption that the person surrendering the child is the parent. Requires the person receiving the child to notify DHS, and to take information from the parent, if possible. Immunities: Grants immunity to the individual who receives the child and the owner of the health facility. Grants immunity to a person who helps the parent surrender the child. Grants the parent immunity from provisions regarding the abandonment of a child. Parental Rights: Requires DHS to immediately take action to assume custody and to notify the juvenile court and the county attorney in writing within 24 hours. Requires the county attorney to proceed with a CHINA hearing and to terminate parental rights as soon as practical. Limits the requirements regarding attempts to reunify the child with the parents. Allows the parent to intervene in the CHINA proceedings and to gain custody if it is in the newborn child’s best interest. Allows a parent to appeal the termination of parental rights within 30 days from when those rights are terminated, but allows a vacation of the order only when it is in the best interest of the child. Other: Makes the records regarding the surrender confidential records. Requires DHS to consult with DPH and DOJ on the creation of educational materials, signs, and related matters. H-1369 by Smith - Allows the surrender of children up to age 1. FAILED H-1412 by Tremmel, et al - Strikes the requirement that the child be unharmed in order for the child to be surrendered. Makes Corrections. ADOPTED H-1370, H-1455 - WITHDRAWN The House PASSED the bill, as amended, 95-1; it now returns to the Senate 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 H-1431 by Commerce - Excludes ERISA plans. Strikes some of the requirements for specific information and requires the plan to follow a national guide for pharmacy cards. ADOPTED The House PASSED the bill, as amended, 95-0; it now returns to the Senate Senate Debate HF 560 FOSTER CARE REQUIREMENTS - Directs the DHS adopt rules concerning incomplete health care records of a foster child by allowing contacting the parent or other source of information. Requires the DHS to give emergency health coverage of a child who travels out of state with its foster family. Effective upon enactment. S-3283 by Human Resources - Authorizes respite care for foster homes. ADOPTED The Senate PASSED the bill, as amended, 46-0; it now goes to the House Resolutions Adopted SCR 23 OSTEOPOROSIS DAY - Designates April
12 as Osteoporosis Awareness Day Bills to Governor HF 178 DRUGS AND CHILD ABUSE - Defines having a child in the area where illegal substances are manufactured as "child abuse" for purposes of the child in need of assistance (CHINA) definition. The Senate PASSED the bill, 49-0; it now goes to the Governor BILLS INTRODUCED OF INTEREST TO NURSING Senate Study Bills SSB 1259 SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITY
(Appropriations) Appropriates $3.2 million to the Department of Public Health
to establish a substance abuse treatment facility. Creates a substance abuse
treatment advisory council.
© 2008 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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