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Notice:
This confidential material
is for the exclusive use of ISNA members and subscribers. DO NOT
electronically distribute or photocopy this information under
penalty of federal law.
© 2007 Indiana State Nurses Association |
Executive
Director's Report from the State House
Vol. 27, No. 8
© 2007
by Ernest Klein, CAE
Executive Director and Lobbyist
Note: Views stated may not necessarily represent those of the Indiana
State Nurses Association, Inc.
March 9, 2007
The second half of the session started on a sad note. Sen. Anita Bowser,
D-Michigan City died early Sunday morning, March 4. She served in the
House from 1980-1992 and in the Senate since 1992. She was regarded as an
authority on constitutional law and was a passionate advocate for civil
rights. You can watch her archived webcast speech in the second reading
discussion on SJR 7, Definition of Marriage, at
here. The discussion begins about 28 minutes into the session. Because
of the funeral this past Thursday, the General Assembly was not in
session.
HB 1116 Required emergency procedures training for teachers
This bill was amended in House committee to include the content of SB 110.
This stealth amendment (amendments in committee don’t have to be posted)
establishes a training program for school employees who are not health
care professionals to assist students with diabetes in managing and
treating the diabetes. Sets forth requirements for individualized health
plans for students who will be managing and treating diabetes while at
school or school activities.
The State Teachers association and School Nurses Association have been
working hard to develop amendments that would make it consistent with the
Nurse Practice Act. It should be noted that HB1116 was originally assigned
to the Senate Education Committee. It was later recommitted to the Senate
Health Committee chaired by Sen. Patricia Miller.
HB1240 Nurse Licensure Compact and other matters
This bill did not get a House committee hearing. The bill’s author, Rep.
Welch, RN, D-Bloomington, has indicated that she will look for a Senate
bill to amend the content from HB 1240 into it. It is likely SB 335, which
has a lot of things for various boards and committees staffed by the
Professional Licensing Agency. SB 335 passed the Senate but in a very
unusual move was assigned the House Rules Committee chaired by Speaker
Bauer. No one is sure what that exactly means. Often times, assignment to
the Rules Committee means that no further action will be taken on that
bill.
Graduate Nurse Faculty Scholarships
SB 577 would privatize/franchise the management of the Hoosier Lottery
with an up front payment to be used for higher education. An amendment
included graduate education scholarships for nurse faculty. The Governor
does not have widespread support for this bill. It barely passed out of
the Senate 27 –20. Speaker Bauer is the House sponsor (highly unusual) and
SB 577 was also assigned to the House Rules Committee.
HB 1468 Immunizations by Pharmacists
Although ISNA generally supports access to care, we do have concerns about
pediatric vaccinations. Kids’ shots should be part of a larger growth and
development/wellness evaluation. The pharmacists association and the bill
author, Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington agreed. The bill did not get amended in
the House so we will work with the Senate sponsors, Senators Vaneta
Becker, R-Evansville, and Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington, to amend the bill.
Expanding Health Insurance Coverage
This may be the year for Indiana – or not. SB503, the “Governor’s plan,”
passed out of the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee on a 9-0.
It passed the Senate 46 – 1. Representative Charlie Brown, D-Gary, is the
sponsor and Representatives Tim Brown, MD, R-Crawfordsville, and Craig
Fry, D-Mishawaka, are the co-sponsors in the House.
HB1008, the “Democrats’ plan” which called for an increase in the
cigarette tax of 54.5¢, was amended in House Ways and Means Committee to
reduce the amount of increase to only 25¢ and passed out of Ways and Means
Committee by only a single vote. It was defeated in the House 44-52. It is
likely that any changes made to the Senate bill by the House will not be
acceptable to the Senate. The final version (if we get one) will be
hammered out in a conference committee
ISNA Coming to You
The next program is scheduled for March 24 at Indiana State University in
Terre Haute.
We are in discussion for scheduling our last one for Bedford on April 6,
2007. More details once we have it finalized.
House Public Health Committee
As of last Friday, a meeting was not scheduled. Check the
calendar Monday afternoon as a Committee meeting may still be
scheduled for the end of the week.
Committee Agendas
Senate Health and Provider Services
March 14, 9:30 AM
Room 431
HB 1242 Medicaid disease management and kidney disease. Previously
heard bill - No testimony
HB 1457 Birth problems registry. Previously heard bill - No testimony
HB 1241 Physician assistants.
HB 1663 Health and hospital corporations.
HB 1821 Licensure of occupational therapists.
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