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2008 Indiana Legislative Update - Final

Executive Director's Report from the State House
Vol. 28, No. 3
© 2008
by Ernest Klein, CAE
Executive Director and Lobbyist
Note: Views stated may not necessarily represent those of the Indiana State Nurses Association, Inc.

Thursday was the last day for committee hearings. We have removed the bills from the House and Senate bill lists if they didnât get a hearing. There is always the chance that the content will be amended into another bill. We will try our best to keep you updated. All bills must complete the 2nd and 3rd reading process by next Thursday, January 31, 2008.

HB1172, which has a provision (among many others) to enact the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact legislation, passed out of the Public Health Committee last Wednesday afternoon.

SB 003, which would allow a pharmacist to not to fill a prescription, was heard on 3rd reading in the Senate on Thursday, January 24. Opponents are concerned that this bill was directed toward contraceptives and tried unsuccessfully earlier to get that language added to the bill. The vote was 24 ö 24 (Senators Ford and Howard are excused for health reasons). A bill must have 26 votes to pass or be defeated. So if either side can convince two senators to switch their votes, the bill could be called back for a second chance at third reading. Eight Republican senators (Becker, Boots, Jackman, Landske, Lubbers, Meeks, Paul, and Waterman) joined all the Democrat senators to vote no.

The report next week will be delayed as we will have to re-read the bills that passed. I will also be at the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Silver Spring, MD, on Friday to represent ISNA on a task force to look at the accreditation process.