Legislative Update from our friends at CAPRN
Legislative Update February 12, 2016
by Julie Hannah, FNP-C, CAPRN Secretary
The Georgia General Assembly was in session Monday – Thursday this week for session days 17 thru 20.
They will begin day 21 on Tuesday, February 16.
It was busy at the Capitol this week, with a number of controversial pieces of legislation on the floor as well as in committees. Two bills that brought lengthy floor debates and long lines of advocates were SB 308, proposed by Senator Unterman, which awards State grant money to pregnancy centers that provide support for women with unplanned pregnancies, but will not counsel about abortion as an alternative. Another was HB 757, which provided that ministers who refuse to perform marriage ceremonies that violate their religious beliefs will not be subject to civil lawsuits. Bills that passed the House and the Senate are included below with a link to the full text of each bill. If you have a MAC with Safari, the below pdf file links may not open properly – if so, use the link below, then at top left of menu select "HB" or "SB" and enter the 3-digit number to pull up history and text of each bill:
http://www.senate.ga.gov/en-US/default.aspx
House Bills
Senate Floor
HB 952 – Georgia Professional Regulation Reform Act
This is a Governor's bill introduced by Nathan Deal's floor leaders on February 10 and assigned to Small Business Development, which is chaired by Representative Bubber Epps. This bill provides for antitrust law immunity (laws designed to protect free market competition) for the State's professional licensing boards (like the Board of Nurse Examiners and Composite Medical Board). In addition, it gives the Governor power to "review and, in writing, approve, remand, modify, or reverse any action by a professional licensing board." Introduced in response to a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission against the Dental Board in North Carolina, who passed a regulation that non-dentists could not provide teeth-whitening services, in an attempt to limit economic competition. See this link for a review:
The Board of Nursing and AANP are reviewing this bill, and CAPRN will wait to see what they have to say before taking a position. Governor's bills usually pass, so opposing it might be ineffective.
Full Text: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/952
HB 770 – Human Trafficking Bill
Passed the Judiciary Non-civil Subcommittee and should be on the full committee agenda next week. (Any legislation that carries a possibility for criminal penalties can be referred to the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee). This law increases penalties for trafficking the developmentally disabled, as an especially vulnerable population, and changes the law so you do not have to prove coercion or deception by the trafficker.
Full Text: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/154628.pdf
Senate Bills
SB 314 – Requirement for fingerprinting and criminal backround checks for APRN license renewal
This bill was requested by the Board of Nursing and is authored by Senator Renee Unterman, Chair of the Senate H&HS Committee. It passed out of the committee and is now available for the Rules Committee consideration. It may be considered by the full Senate sometime next week.
Full Text: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/156102.pdf
SB 115 – Level II Controlled Substance Prescribing by PAs
This bill was revised on 2/9/16 by the Senate H&HS Committee as follows: "A physician may delegate to a physician assistant, in accordance with a job description, the authority to issue a prescription drug order or orders for a hydrocodone compound product so long as such prescription drug order or orders are not in excess of a 15 day supply." It is on the agenda for the Rules Committee next Tuesday (see agendas at end).
Full Text: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/SB/115
SB 242 – Family Care Act
This bill allows for the use of sick leave for the care of family members. Sponsored by Republican Senators Michael Williams and Renee Unterman, it passed out of the Senate H&HS Committee and is now available for the Rules Committee consideration.
Full Text: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/152571.pdf
***For a full list of House and Senate bills that passed this week provided by Julianna McConnell, see Legislative Update 2-12-16 post on Caprn.org***
Don't forget to sign up for an upcoming APRN Day at the Capitol on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday listed below:
February 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, and 29th.
March 1st and 2nd. The last projected day of the session is March 31st.
If you plan to attend, please email your name and date of attendance to Molly Bachtel, APRN at: molly.bachtel@gmail.com. She is keeping track of attendees and is a great resource. If you can't do the whole day, try a morning or just an afternoon committee meeting - you will find it quite educational! When visiting the capitol building, pease dress professionally and wear a white lab coat with your name on it and/or a badge from where you work. CAPRN will provide a bright blue scarf for you to wear, identifying you as an APRN. Parking is $10 at Capitol Lot Daily, address: 218 Capitol Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30334, and other parking is nearby. Agendas for committee meetings are usually posted only a day or two before (and sometimes added to the day of), but if you would like to know what will be discussed, contact CAPRN lobbyist Julianna McConnell at julimcconnell@bellsouth.net a day or two before your visit.
10:00 AM – Meet with CAPRN lobbyist on 3rd floor (take steps with the peach colored marble statue on the landing) outside the "Clerk of House Office" for a tour. You can also call out your own legislators at this time, for a brief introduction with description of your job(s) and opinions on healthcare bills. You might want to email their offices in advance to let them know when you plan to be there - they will be more likely to come out from the session to talk with you. If you don't know your district or who your representatives are, go to this website and enter your home address to find out: http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
12:00 PM – (Wednesdays) Women's Legislative Caucus Meeting
2:00 PM - (Tuesdays) – HOUSE Health & Human Services Committee Meeting – chaired by Sharon Cooper, historically an opponent of APRNs increasing scope of practice.
3:00 PM (Mondays) or 2:00 PM (Wednesdays) – SENATE Health & Human Services Committee Meeting – chaired by Renee Unterman, a nurse and supporter of APRNs.
The purpose of APRN Days is to increase our visibility at the Georgia legislature, so we can better advocate for our patients and our profession. Georgia physicians have had a daily presence at the state capital each day of the legislative session for many years, and the physician groups have several lobbyists. We hope you will consider stepping up to this challenge to become involved with the lawmaking process and show that there are other healthcare workers available to meet the primary care shortage in Georgia.