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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. 13
© 2007
by Ernest Klein, CAE
Executive Director and Lobbyist
Note: Views stated may not necessarily represent those of the Indiana
State Nurses Association, Inc.
April 13, 2007
We’ve passed another deadline in this first session of the 115th Indiana
General Assembly. Tuesday was the final day for 3rd reading of Senate
bills in the House, and Wednesday was the deadline for third reading of
House bills by the Senate. So theoretically, if bills were not passed,
they are gone for the session.
Notable among this group is SB 335 Professions and Occupations,
which has a lot of “clean-up” language requested by the Professional
Licensing Agency. HB 1247, which contained the language for the
multistate nurse licensure compact and for increased funding for the
Indiana State Nurses Assistance Program, did NOT get a hearing in the
House Public Health Committee. That language though was amended into SB
335 in the House Public Health Committee.
The amended bill was up for second reading in the House. Several
amendments to SB 335 were filed restricting abortions. So the decision was
made not to call the bill for 2nd reading. Time was running out and the
debate would have delayed the work of the House--possibly preventing it
from completing the rest of the agenda by the deadline. BUT WAIT – SB 335
is not quite done for. If you look at HB 1821, Licensure of OT’s,
you will find the same language that passed out of the Senate as SB 335.
HB1821 was heard on 2nd reading on Tuesday in the Senate (also the day
SB335 was not called) and was eligible for 3rd reading. On Wednesday, HB
1821 was resubmitted for second reading, and Senator Miller amended the
language of the Senate version of SB 335 into HB1821.
So, it looks like the Multi-State Nurse Licensure Compact is not going
anywhere this session. There is some indication that the increased funding
for ISNAP will be included in the budget (HB 1001) conference
committee report. We’ll see.
SB 503 Healthier Indiana Insurance Program
The Governor’s health insurance plan that passed the Senate 46-1 was
heavily amended in the House. The Senate has already dissented and
appointed the Senate conferees: Senator Patricia Miller and Senator Vi
Simpson. There are strong indications that a cigarette tax increase,
supported by both parties, will be added to the bill to fund the program.
As you look at the bill lists you will see that they are moving through
the process.
Concur or Dissent
Bills such as HB 1116 School Health Issues and HB 1241 Physician
Assistants were amended in the Senate and returned to the House. If
the House concurs (HB1654 Sex Crime Victims and Polygraph Examinations)
with the amendments, those will head to the Governor’s office. If the
Chamber of origin disagrees with the amendments, a dissent will be filed
and the amended bill goes to conference committee.
No Amendments
Bills such as HB 1391 Surgical Technologists
and SB 114 Health Provider Reimbursement
Agreements were not amended so they are on the way to the
Governor’s office for action.
Signed into Law
And finally, bills such as SB 010 Repeal of Student Scoliosis Testing
have been signed by the Governor.
What’s Next
The House and Senate will be concurring and dissenting and appointing
conferees and advisors. The legislators have until midnight Sunday, April
29 (leaders have already said that it will be April 28 as they do not want
to meet on a Sunday), to adopt a biennial budget and take action on the
other bills in conference committees.
This will be a challenging next two weeks as conference committees do not
have to give more than several hours notice when they will be meeting.
Unlike the regular legislative committees, they will not take public
testimony although the meetings are open to observers. Fortunately we have
an experienced team in Glenna, Ron and Doug who are down at the State
House all the time to keep track of what’s happening.
Stay tuned.
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