Nursing Student Loan
While it has already been pointed out to INA staff that there are limitations on the use of the funds for all potential nursing students in the state, this $8 million is a start to recognizing the nursing shortage in Iowa. In the 2003 legislative session, Rep Dave Heaton proposed $500,000 from the Senior Living Trust. Iowa's senior citizens objected to "raiding" of the Senior Living Trust to provide loan and scholarship monies. With the state budget crisis as it is, nurses need to call it "a beginning to address the nursing shortage".
UIHC Recognized for Magnet Status
In Senate Resolution 114/House Resolution 111, the Iowa General Assembly recognized the high quality of nursing leaders at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic upon their receipt of the Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence awarded through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
ANA PAC's Presidential Endorsement Process
There is a wealth of information about the ANA Presidential Endorsement Process on www.anapoliticalpower.org. ANA will be making its decision on whether to endorse a presidential candidate.
INA Legislative Agenda and Bills of Interest to Nursing in 2004
To learn the most current status of the bill, go to www.legis.state.ia.us Under "Popular Links", click on "Bill Book" and put in whether it is a Senate File or House File and the bill number.
- Safe Patient Care: Pass whistleblower protection (bill being drafted by Upmeyer; HF 2247 by Mascher) and pass limitation on the use of mandatory overtime as a staffing measure (HF 2290 by Murphy-ratio language; SF 174 -Senate Human Resources)
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity (HF 627 discussed in Human Resources; HF 63-House Commerce; SF 2056 by Ragan, SF 2058 by Tinsman, SF 232 by Lundby)
- Fund Scholarships for Nursing Faculty (HF 436-House Appropriations)
Other Issues of Importance
- Criminal History Felony Background Checks (SF 235-House State Government/new bill being drafted)
- Funding for Center for Workforce Planning (federal funding renewed)
- Funding for Iowa Board of Nursing (Appropriations Committee)
- Adequately Fund Schools to assure school nurses are employed (Appropriations Committee)
- Remove Certificate of Need for Birth Centers (SF 206- Senate Human Resources)
- Assure Hospital Privileges for ARNPs (being researched)
- Fund Adequately Public Health Nursing services (Appropriations)
- Pass the tobacco reduction initiative (multiple bills, none with $1 tax increase)
- Adequately fund Medicaid and HAWK-I (Appropriations)
- Support changes in Assisted Living to provide dementia-specific care (in Administrative Rules)
- Support Child Restraints in motor vehicles (SF 2066-could come up for floor debate next week)
- Update Nurse Practice Act (Public Health Programs) (HSB 626) House Floor Debate
House Floor Action
HF 2042 BLOOD DONATIONS - Allows a minor to donate blood at the age of 16 if the minor has permission from a parent or guardian.
The House PASSED the Bill, 97-0; it now goes to the Senate
HF 2167 INSPECTIONS DIVISION ELIMINATION - Eliminates the Inspection Division within the Department of Inspections and Appeals. Assigns Division duties directly to the DIA Director. Assigns to the DIA Director inspections of cosmetology salons and barbershops
The House PASSED the Bill, 95-0; it now goes to the Senate
HF 2259 PSEUDOEPHEDRINE SALES - Limits transactions for the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine as the sole active ingredient to two such products per transaction. Makes violations a simple misdemeanor with a fine of $100 for merchants or purchasers. Requires that such products be kept behind the counter or within 20 feet and in plain view of an employee, unless the item is equipped with an electronic anti-theft device. Requires retailers to display notices related to such purchases. Creates other criminal and civil penalties.
H-8034 by Baudler - Limits the shoplifting enhancement to non-liquid forms. ADOPTED
The House PASSED the Bill, as amended, 95-0; it now goes to the Senate
HF 2269 INSURANCE COMMISSION DUTIES - Funeral Merchandise & Services: Makes changes in definitions, disclosure statements, and other matters and creates a civil penalty for code violations. Continuing Care/Senior Congregate Living Services: Replaces requirement that such businesses file an annual disclosure statement with the Insurance Division with an annual certification of compliance. Makes various disclosure requirements. Allows the Insurance Division obtain injunctive relief for code violations. Other: Removes certain references to the Insurance Division for the regulation of business promotions. Makes filing changes.
The House PASSED the Bill, 97-0; it now goes to the Senate
Committee Action
House Human Resources: Voted Out:
HF 2027 (now HF 2304) WORKER COMPENSATION CHANGES - Makes confidential information provided to the Workers Compensation Commissioner confidential public records under the public records law. Prohibits third party insurance from denying coverage because the employer has denied worker comp liability. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to determine security deposited for self-insured employers and is to be held in trust. Makes other changes related to self-insured workers comp employers.
Floor Manager: Rep. Lance Horbach
HF 2101 (now HF 2303) RIGHT TO WORK CHANGES - Makes it unlawful, as a condition of hiring or continued employment, to deprive a person of the right to work, to condition employment, or continuation of employment on union membership or require the payment of any union dues or other contributions.
Floor Manager: Rep. Bill Dix
Senate Appropriations: Voted out:
SF 2077 PUBLIC HEALTH RELIEF - Gives the DPH the discretion to provide financial assistance to local governments for a public health emergency or disaster. Floor Manager: Sen. Bill Dotzler
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Senate Appropriations
Senate Education Committee:
SF 2129 ASTHMA MEDICATION - Ward (C), Boettger, Connolly
SF 2142 REGENT TUITION INCREASES - Redfern (C), Dvorsky, Hosch
Senate Local Government Committee:
SF 2116 MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES - Rehberg (C), Miller, Quirmbach
House Human Resources
HF 2245 CHILD ABUSE SCHOOL RECORDS (sponsor Rep. Joe Hutter)
HF 2247 HEALTH CARE RETALIATION -(WHISTLEBLOWER) (sponsor Rep. Mary Mascher)
These bills have not yet been assigned to a subcommittee.
House Transportation
SF 2066 CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
This bill has not yet been assigned to a subcommittee.
NEW BILLS INTRODUCED
House Resolutions
HR 111/SR MAGNET STATUS TO UIHC (Lensing, et al;Dvorsky & Bolkcom)
HR 115 HEPATITIS AWARENESS (Heaton, et al) Recognizes May, 2004 as Hepatitis C Awareness month.
House Files
HF 2187 DENTAL ASSISTANTS (Human Resources; Successor to HSB 517) Eliminates the examination requirement as a prerequisite for being designated a registered dental assistant. Allows the supervising dentist to certify the assistant. Allows the Board of Dental Examiners to set the standards for certification, including requiring knowledge of infection control, hazardous materials, and jurisprudence.
HF 2190 HEALTH CARE PROVIDER DISCRIMINATION (Connors) Prohibits discrimination by insurers, HMOs, and other employee health care insurance plans against health care providers located within the geographic coverage area of the plan if the provider is willing to meet the terms and conditions for participation established for the plan. (Commerce)
HF 2195 SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM (D. Olson) Requires the regions of the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Program to be periodically reviewed in order to serve participants as close to the participants' communities as is reasonable. Allows a region to consist of a single county and grants to be issued to more than one program within a region. Requires solicitation and equal consideration of new applications prior to a new grant authorization period. (Human Resources)
HF 2279 INSURANCE INFORMATION (Hunter, et al.) Adds the requirement that the phone number for an external review process be printed on the insured's insurance card, and be posted. (Commerce)
HF 2284 NON-MANDATED HEALTH INSURANCE (Eichhorn) Allows third-party health insurance payers and HMOs to offer a policy with no state mandated coverage. (Commerce)
HF 2286 MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES (Heaton) Makes the county supervisors responsible for the appointment of a mental health patient advocate. Requires that an advocate have at least a bachelor's degree and at least one year of experience but grandfathers in current advocates. Requires the advocate to provide the county single-point entry system with the information necessary for authorizing payment for those patients whose costs are paid by the county. Requires that the advocate represent a minor who is hospitalized over the minor's objections. (Local Government)
NEW BILLS INTRODUCED
House Files
HF 2290 HEALTH FACILITY STAFFING (Murphy, et al) Sets nurse staffing level requirements for acute care hospitals, an outpatient surgical facilities, institutions operating as a psychiatric hospital or operating a designated psychiatric unit. Prohibits mandatory overtime and limits on-duty hours for such nurses. Prohibits retaliation for reporting or otherwise publicizing violations or suspected violations. Creates right of private action for violations. Makes exceptions. (Human Resources)
HF 2293 RESTORING MENTAL FITNESS (Foege & Maddox) Allows use of public, private or community-based programs for treatment to restore the competency of persons found mentally incompetent to stand trial. (Judiciary)
HF 2296 SENIOR LIVING TRUST (Huser) Limits appropriations from the Senior Living Trust Fund to those appropriations assisting long-term care alternatives programs and the delivery of long-term care services to low and moderate income seniors. Limits appropriations until the fund balance reaches $200 million. (Human Resources)
HF 2297 ELDER AFFAIRS (Huser) States the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Elder Affairs will take over the appropriations process affecting the elderly as of FY 2006. (Human Resources)
HF 2299 HEALTH INSURANCE REVIEW NOTICE (Ford) Requires certain notices be given to health insurance enrollee of the right to appeal a denial of coverage by the insurer. (Commerce)
HF 2303 RIGHT TO WORK CHANGES (Commerce; Successor to HF 2101) Makes it unlawful, as a condition of hiring or continued employment, to deprive a person of the right to work, to condition employment, or continuation of employment on union membership or require the payment of any union dues or other contributions.
HF 2304 WORKER COMPENSATION CHANGES (Commerce; Successor to HF 2027) Makes confidential information provided to the Workers Compensation Commissioner confidential public records under the public records law. Prohibits third party insurance from denying coverage because the employer has denied worker comp liability. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to determine security deposited for self-insured employers and is to be held in trust. Makes other changes related to self-insured workers comp employers.
House Study Bills
HSB 643 INSURANCE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS (Commerce) Adopts the recommendations of the Individual Health Insurance task force as related to individual health insurance market reforms. Makes changes regarding the eligibility of programs, forms, reinsurance and other matters. (Insurance Division) Hoffman (C), Oldson, Wilderdyke
HSB 645 ICN SALE II (Commerce) Establishes provisions for the sale of the ICN, including selling many of the physical assets and retaining the rights to long-term use of the system. Specifies the conditions for the sale of the network through an investment bank, and contains other related provisions.
See SSB 3014, HSB 574 Watts (C), Dix, Jacoby, Jenkins, Quirk (Governor)
NEW BILLS INTRODUCED
House Study Bills
HSB 649 MI/DD/BI SERVICES (Human Resources) Changes name of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Commission to the to the Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Brain Injury Commission. Changes term "single entry point process" to "central point of coordination." Duties: Changes and adds duties of the Commission. Requires the Commission to identify basic financial eligibility standards for disability services including income levels. Bill of Rights: Creates a bill of rights for persons receiving MI/DD/BI services including quality service standards. Other: Give approval authority to the Commission over county management plan reviews and strategic plans. Makes changes to county and state funding procedures for MI/DD/BI starting July 1, 2006. Repeals property tax relief and repeals the state payment of allowed growth funding. Makes appropriation to the DPH from the risk pool within the property tax relief fund. This Division is effective upon enactment. Exempts the forgoing provisions from state mandate funding requirements. Heaton (C), Carroll, Smith (DHS)
HSB 650 ADMINISTRATIVE RULES (State Government) Limits the effective period for any administrative rules adopted without public input to 180 days. Manternach (C), Dennis, Mascher
HSB 656 BUDGET CERTIFICATION DEADLINES (Local Government) Changes the county budget certification deadline to March 15. Tjepkes (C), Arnold, Shomshor
HSB 658 INSURANCE AND FUNERALS (Commerce) Makes changes to the Insurance Code and Code provisions related to Cemetery and Funeral Merchandise and Services. Insurance Code: Changes many definitions, centralizes civil penalty provisions Hoffman (C), Oldson, Wilderdyke(Insurance Division)
HSB 660 DEPENDENT ADULT ABUSE - (Human Resources) Makes various changes regarding dependent adult abuse. Makes funeral directors mandatory reporters. Creates the offense of Dependent Adult Endangerment. (Elder Affairs) Upmeyer (C), Lukan, Smith
HSB 664 NONPROFIT CHANGES (Judiciary) Repeal Code sections related to nonprofit organizations. Enacts the Revised Model Nonprofit Corporation Act. Covers organization, by-laws, directors, members, duties, powers, liabilities and other related matters. Maddox (C), Dennis, Jochum
Senate Files
SF 2129 ASTHMA MEDICATION (Tinsman) Requires schools to allow a student to have and self-administer asthma medication if the student's parent submits written authorization, along relevant information. Requires the parents to release the schools from liability. Requires the information to remain on file with the school nurse or school administrator. Contains related provisions. (Education)
SF 2132 ELDERLY PROGRAMS (Bolkcom) Transfers the administration of programs for the elderly to the Department of Elder Affairs. Requires state departments to enter into a 28E agreement with the DEA to transfer administration. Exempts a program if the transfer is prohibited by federal law, expressly prohibited by state law, or the DEA determines that the transfer would not benefit the elderly. Requires transfers to be completed during FY 2005. (Government Oversight)
NEW BILLS INTRODUCED
Senate Study Bills
SSB 3076 SAFETY AUDITS (Commerce) Authorizes voluntary safety audits, conducted by an employee or subcontractor, to identify non-compliance with OSHA standards or to discover hazards and to remedy non-compliance. Requires that the Labor Commissioner be notified of the safety audit and makes the employer eligible for immunity. Requires the Labor Commissioner to create a training program. Contains other provisions. Evidence: Makes information generated during the audit confidential, and not discoverable or admissible during civil proceedings, and allows certain persons some protection from having to testify about documents in certain proceedings. Authorizes disclosure of an audit in various proceedings and creates an appeals process. Includes penalties for claiming privilege for material that is not covered by privilege. Wieck (C), Horn, Johnson
SSB 3078 BIRTH DEFECTS INSTITUTE (Human Resources) Renames the Birth Defects Institute to the Center for Congenital and Inherited Disorders. Expands the scope of study of the institute to all the cause and prevention of all birth disorders, including stillbirths. Makes the identifiable information collected by either the DPH or the Center confidential. Veenstra (C), Ragan, Seymour See HF 2074
SSB 3087 UNIFORM MEDIATION ACT (Judiciary) Establishes the Uniform Mediation Act. Adopts rules for most mediations with exceptions for some court and school hearings, at reform schools, and for some collective bargaining situations. Redfern (C), Kreiman, McKibben
SSB 3090 ORGAN DONATION CHECK OFF (Ways & Means) Creates an Anatomical Gift and Transplantation Income Tax Check-off. Directs that the money be deposited in the Anatomical Gift Public Awareness and Transplantation Fund. Makes corrections regarding the repeal of check-offs. Hosch (C), Angelo, Seng
SSB 3098 DRUG TESTING (Business & Labor) Defines "sample" as either from urine, saliva, breath, or blood. Requires the presence of the employee giving an oral liquid sample during testing. Requires collection of enough material to conduct a second test and requires holding the second sample for 45 days or until the first test returns as negative. Schuerer (C), Dearden, Wieck
SSB 3099 WORKER COMP INJURIES (Business & Labor) Requires that a worker's comp injury be characterized as either traumatic or cumulative and defines both. Sets requirements for determining if either a traumatic injury or a cumulative injury is work related. Requires that employment activity be the most significant factor in causing or aggravating the injury before such an injury is work-related. Schuerer (C), Dearden, Johnson
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