Members and student nurses visited with their legislators on Wednesday and at the Legislative Breakfast. Joining INA were representatives from the Iowa School Nurse Organization, Iowa Association of Nursing Students and the Oncology Nursing Society.

1. Safeguarding the Board of Nursing (Support): INA Lobbyists are working to incorporate the language of House Study Bill 624 into the fiscal year 2003 appropriations bill for the Board of Nursing. Calls to legislators are needed to assure sufficient funding to the Board of Nursing and avoid further reductions in services to licenses.
2. Award Funds through the Iowa College Aid Commission (Support): Senate File 2091 passed and redrafted as SF 2191. It has been referred to Senate Appropriations; House File 2036 is different version with $500,000 from tobacco monies.
3. Mental Health Parity (Support): Senate File 2289 is awaiting debate in the Senate. Calls for support are needed.
4. ARNPs as Medicaid Primary Care Providers (Support): HF 2382 is awaiting debate; intense lobbying to oppose the bill. Call your representative to support passage.
5. IPERS (Support): HSB 670 is now HF 2532. It removes restrictions for all categories of employees.
6. Child Drug Treatment: HF 2318 passed the House.
7. Funding the Fiscal Year 2002 Budget: The Governor is asking support to use the Cash Reserve Funds (Rainy Day funds) that have approximately $410 million to fill a $120 million shortfall in the state

PASSED AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR

8. Maintain Tobacco Settlement for health care/Medicaid (Support): HF 2245 passed and sent to Governor. Governor itemed vetoed bill.

NO LONGER ACTIVE THIS SESSION

9. Assure Collection of Nursing Workforce Data (Support): Bills not recommended.
10. Assure Accountability in Patient Care (Support): Bills not recommended.
11. Mandatory Overtime (Support): SF 2127 similar to ANA model language and bill passed in New Jersey. None recommended.
12. Birth Centers (Support): Intense lobbying by medical societies killed the bill.
13. ARNPs Sign Death Certificate (Support): HF 2222 failed to come out of committee.
14. School Nurses (Support): HF 2329 adds "school nurse" to definition of teacher; failed to come out of committee
15. HIV Transmission (Oppose): SSB 3078 and HF 2283 would allow individual names to be transmitted over radio-based communications systems. Failed to come out of committee.

HF 2318 CHILD DRUG TREATMENT - Prohibits public and private school employees except those who are authorized to prescribe drug from recommending that a child be put on psychotropic drugs. Allows to a school employee while discussing with a parent that a child be medical examined.

H-8065 by Atteberry - Prohibits school employees except by persons authorized to prescribe drugs from suggesting a specific drug. ADOPTED

SF 2179 FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION - Makes it a Class C felony to mutilate female genital tissue. Makes exceptions for medical procedures. Prohibits the use of custom as a defense. Requires the DPH to carry on education efforts, and to seek private funds for the work.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

SF 2231 HOSPITAL CHECKS - Hoversten (C), Kreiman, Roberts

SF 2191 NURSE RECRUITMENT-College Aid Commission

BILLS INTRODUCED OF INTEREST TO NURSES

HF 2513 CHIROPRACTOR HOSPITAL PRIVILEGES (Human Resources; Successor to HF 2055) Allows licenses chiropractors hospital pathology and radiology privileges. (Calendar; Floor Manager: Tymeson

HF 2532 IPERS BILLS (State Government; Successor to HSB 670) Makes numerous changes to IPERS, PORS, the statewide fire and police retirement system, and the judicial retirement system. (FM: Elgin)

HF 2538 CAMPAIGN FINANCE (State Government; Successor to HSB 557) Raises certain reporting thresholds to $750. Deems a candidate's or political committee to be formally organized upon passing the $750 threshold and requires a statement of organization be filed within 10 days. Requires the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board retain certain documents for 5 years. (Calendar; Floor Manager: Gipp)

HF 2539 MEDICAID & TRUST (Judiciary; Successor to HSB 671) Medicaid: Increases the amount that a Medicaid recipient can set aside for burial expenses. Requires that certain waived Medicaid debts be paid from the estate of the person who receives the benefit of the waiver. Limits the recovery of some Medicaid debts. Trusts: Allows the trustee for a total return unitrust greater flexibility in making distributions from the trust. (Calendar; Floor Manager: Kreiman)

HF 2542 PEER REVIEW (Human Resources: Successor to HF 648) Defines "health care provider" to mean a nursing facility, residential care facility, or assisted living program certified by the Department of Elder Affairs. Defines "Quality Assessment And Assurance Committee" to mean a committee of a health care provider consisting of individuals responsible for identification of issues which may adversely impact the care and services provided to the residents. Makes the records of the Quality Assessment And Assurance Committee confidential and privileged from discovery process. Allows regulatory compliance materials into evidence if certain conditions are met. (Calendar; Floor Manager: Roberts)

HF 2547 PUBLIC HEALTH (Human Resources; Successor to HSB 697) Makes various changes to certain programs and public health issues. (Calendar; Floor Manager: Roberts)

HF 2552 CHILD ABUSE INTERVIEWS (Human Resources; Successor to HSB 58) Requires a child abuse assessment interview be offered to a person to explain or rebut allegations made before the determination or assessment. (Calendar; Floor Manager: Boddicker)

HF 2557 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS Makes spending cuts and shifts of up to $126.5 million for FY 2002.

SF 2289 MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS (Commerce; Successor to SSB 3080) Requires that coverage plans for medical or health benefits include coverage for neurobiological disorders and for underlying co-morbidity. Requires a joint study of the costs by the insurance division and the state auditor. Floor Manager: Lundby