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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. 15
© 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 30, 2007
The first session of the 115th Indiana General Assembly adjourned sine die
late on Sunday night, April 29, 2007. Amazingly, the House Democrats and
the Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans were able to agree on the
biennial budget and property tax relief. The budget passed the House 51-49
on a straight party line vote. We finally did get a 44˘ a pack increase in
the cigarette tax to fund increased health care coverage for Indiana’s
uninsured.
Thanks to all of the ISNA members for your contacts with your legislators.
Although ISNA has a four-person, year-round Public Policy Team, it is the
involvement and relationship with constituents that really mean the most
to legislators. So, the session is over. Now is the time to make an
appointment and get to know your Senator and Representative before the
General Assembly reconvenes in January 2008.
NOTE: It may be a few days until the bill lists are posted. Also
note that you should read the entire bill and not just the digest.
Bills That Would Have or Will Specifically Affect Nurses:
HB 1116
The language for volunteer aids to assist kids with diabetes in school was
amended into this House bill. The School Nurses Association and the
Indiana State Teachers Association worked hard with the House author, Rep.
Dave Cheatham (D-North Vernon) to get the bill as palatable as possible.
It was amended in the Senate and ended up in conference committee. The
Committee removed one of the Senate amendments but left the volunteer aide
intact.
HB 1457
Establishes the prenatal substance abuse commission to develop a plan to
improve early intervention and treatment for pregnant women who abuse
alcohol or drugs or use tobacco. House author Rep. Sheila Klinker and
Senate Sponsor Connie Lawson agreed to our request to include an APN on
the Commission. This bill went to conference committee and was reported
out, but the APN position was not changed
HB 1821 Occupational therapists, etc.
Licensure of occupational therapists is included in this bill. Also
contains the provision that an advanced practice nurse can order a
referral to an occupational therapist. Removes: (1) the psychology board's
authority to establish a list of restricted psychology tests; and (2) the
prohibition of certain individuals, including marriage and family
therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and mental health
counselors, from administering or interpreting a restricted psychological
test.
SB 463 BMV
This bill was amended in the House Committee to add APN (at our request)
to those who could sign for handicap parking stickers. The bill did go to
conference committee but the APN language was not touched.
Bills That Did Not Make It Through The Process
HB 1240 Saga of Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact
Compact language was originally introduced by Rep. Peggy Welch in HB 1240.
The bill did not, however, get a hearing in the House Public Health
Committee. SB 335--bill with a lot of “clean-up” language for the
Professional Licensing Agency--passed the Senate. When it reached the
House Public Health Committee, the language from the original bill HB
1240 was amended in by a narrow 6-4 vote in Committee. SB 355,
however, was NOT called for 2nd reading in the House as several amendments
to further restrict abortions were filed on the bill.
HB 1821--massage therapist--passed the House and was on it’s way to
finishing it’s journey in the Senate. The bill was pulled back to 2nd
reading again, and the text from the original SB 335 (as it left
the Senate) was amended into HB1821. The House dissented and
HB 1821 went to conference committee.
The conference committee met April 23 and Multi-State Compact and other
amendments were offered. We expressed our concerns about the Compact.
Senator Miller, one of the conferees, would not agree to the amendments as
they had not passed either Chamber; so they were not included in the final
report.
Note that the increase in funding for the Indiana State Nurses Assistance
Program (ISNAP) was tied to the compact and met the same fate.
SB 324 Regulation of APN Practice
This bill that would have restricted APN practice did not go anywhere
after the initial outcry and opposition expressed when it was introduced.
SB 418 Scholarships for Graduate Nursing Students
The bill was amended into SB 577 – the Governor’s proposal to
“franchise” the Hoosier Lottery. The up-front payment was to be used for
higher education. The idea got a lukewarm response from the Republican
Senate. It did pass out of the Senate but was dead on arrival in the
Democrat controlled House.
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