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2008 Indiana Legislative Update - Final

Executive Director's Report from the State House
Vol. 28, No. 9
© 2008
by Ernest Klein, CAE
Executive Director and Lobbyist
Note: Views stated may not necessarily represent those of the Indiana State Nurses Association, Inc.

The second session of the 115th Indiana General Assembly adjourned before the midnight deadline on March 14, 2008. Although this was the "short" session, legislators tackled several significant proposals including property tax reform (passed) and illegal immigrants (didn't pass).


HB 1172 Various Professions and Occupations
This large bill became increasingly larger during the session as it was amended several times. Language added was from SB 154 Select Joint Commission on Medicaid Oversight, SB 155 Study on Domestic Violence Program, HB 1020, Umbilical Cord Blood and SB 363 Uniform Emergency Health Practitioners Act.

Although the language for the Nurse Licensure Compact remains in the bill, we will have to wait to see if the National Compact Administrators (the un-elected group of out-of-state individuals who regulate the Compact) will not permit Indiana to join. An amendment supported by the Attorney General to require investigations to remain confidential until charges are filed with the Board of Nursing (current law) remains in the bill. The Compact Administrators want investigations to be placed in the national data system. If Indiana is permitted to join the Compact it will not be effective until at least July 1, 2009. ISNA will keep Indiana nurses informed re: Indiana's participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact.

This bill also contains language that would permit the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency to use a larger percentage of the nurse license renewal fees to fund the Indiana State Nurses Assistance Program.

SB 302 Professional and Occupation Licensing.
This Senate bill was another large bill to clean up and make language consistent among the various licenses administered by the Professional Licensing Agency. There are two issues that specifically impact nurses: (1) the provision that prohibits Advance Practice Nurses from entering into collaborative practice agreements with physician assistants and (2) one which adds APN's to the list of practitioners who are subject to sanctions if they repackage and then sell free samples that they had received from the drug manufacturers.

HB 1125 Various Government Matters
Last session the General Assembly adopted a two-year-budget with appropriations for the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC). More than half way through the fiscal year, the State still had not released any of the funds. Many legislators were not pleased that the administration decided to withhold the funds. The approved conference committee report requires the Budget Agency to allot and otherwise take the steps necessary to make available for expenditure and distribution to area health education centers before May 2, 2008, at least 75 percent of the amount appropriated by P.L. 234-2007 for area health education centers for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008.

2008 Elections
Finally, if you hadn't noticed, 2008 is an election year. You may know about the Presidential candidates, but don't forget that all 100 Indiana House seats and 25 of the 50 Senate seats are up for election. Even before the primary in May, we know that it will be a different General Assembly as more than 10 percent of the current legislators have indicated they will not be returning.

They include:

Senate
District 2 Samuel Smith, Jr., D-East Chicago
District 12 Marvin Riegsecker, R-Goshen
District 18 Thomas Weatherwax, R-Logansport
District 19 vacant due to the death of David Ford, Hartford City
District 21 Jeff Drozda, Westfield, will be moving to South Carolina this summer
District 33 Glenn Howard, D-Indianapolis
District 44 Robert Jackman, R- Milroy

House of Representatives
District 16 Eric Gutwein, R-Rensselaer
District 26 Joe Micon, D-West Lafayette
District 63 Dave Crooks, D-Washington
District 77 G. Philip Hoy, D-Evansville
District 79 Michael Ripley, R-Monroe
District 86 David Orentlicher, D-Indianapolis
District 89 Lawrence Buell, R- Indianapolis
District 94 Carolene Mays, D-Indianapolis
District 97 Jon Elrod, R-Indianapolis

Note that Representatives Orentlicher and Mays are both Democratic candidates in the May Primary for the Congressional House District 7 seat currently held by Rep. Andre Carson. Rep. Elrod will likely be the Republican challenger for that seat in the November election.

So what does this all mean for nurses and nursing?
It means that you must register to vote.
You might find out who the candidates are and what they believe in.
When you find a candidate that you can support - do it!
* Write their campaign a check, stuff envelopes, make phone calls, or walk door-to-door with them. Get to know them.
* Let them know what matters to you as a citizen, a parent, a property owner and, yes, as a nurse.

And last, but certainly not least - vote!