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Legislative Updates

Posted by Iowa Nurses Association on
Iowa
Iowa Nurses Association

Below is a list of updates on legislation INA is watching –

Bills of Interest:

(SF = Senate File, SSB = Senate Study Bill, HF = House File, HSB = House Study Bill)

 

SF 2268 (formerly SSB 3016) - Smoking Age Increase (F) - The bill increases the minimum age to purchase tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, vapor products and cigarettes from 18 to 21.

On Senate debate calendar

 

SF 2261 (formerly SF 2100) - School Mental Health via Telehealth (M) - The bill would allow behavioural health services to be offered to students via telehealth at schools.

On Senate debate calendar

 

SF 2174 - School Vaccination Programs (A) - The bill provides that schools shall not permit the administration of vaccines to students through a school sponsored vaccination effort unless the school receives prior written permission from a student’s parent or guardian.

Approved by subcommittee

 

SF 2172 - Infant Death Form Immunization Reporting (M) - This unique bill requires the certificate of death for an infant to include a request for information regarding the infant’s last immunizations.

Referred to Human Resources

 

SF 2155 (formerly SF 2065) - School Resource Officer Funding (M) - The bill authorizes school districts to raise additional funds via property taxes and income surtaxes under the instruction support program. 

On Senate debate calendar

 

SF 2153 (formerly SSB 3067) - School Health Screenings (M) - The bill prohibits a school from administering any student health screenings that are not required by state of federal laws without the written consent of the student’s parent or guardian. The bill defines screenings to mean intentionally planned, periodic processes to identify if a student may be at risk for a health concern.  The bill also states that the prohibition does not include health screenings in emergent care situations.

On Senate debate calendar

 

SF 2128 - Medicaid Coverage For Breast Pumps (F) - The bill required Medicaid to cover breast pumps and associated supplies.

Approved by subcommittee

 

SF 2120 (formerly SSB 3051) - Allowing Vets to Use the PMP (M)- The bill allows veterinarians to access information on the state’s prescription monitoring program (PMP.)

Approved by the Senate 48-0.

 

SF 2081 (formerly SSB 3020) - Student ID’s Suicide Prevention Number (F) - The bill requires schools to inlcude the national suicide prevention hotline telephone number on student ID cards.

On Senate debate calendar

 

SF 2067 - Excused Absences For Mental Health Treatment (F) - The bill requires schools to adopt policies permitting a student to take excused absences from school form mental health treatment.

Subcommittee: Sinclair, Behn and Celsi

 

SF 2066 - Adding Physical Therapists as School Athletic Healthcare Providers (A) - This bill seeks to change the current law that identifies the licensed healthcare providers qualified to exercise concussion and brain injury at interscholastic athletic events.  Current law identifies physicians, physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners, nurses and physical therapists.

Approved by Subcommittee

 

SF 2056 - Required School Seizure Plans (M) - This bill requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, that have a student enrolled who has known an epilepsy diagnosis or seizure disorder or has a seizure rescue medication to have an individual health plan, including a seizure action plan. The bill also requires schools to provide employees seizure related training. 

Subcommittee: Cournoyer, Wahls and Edler

 

SF 2027 - Student ID’s Suicide Prevention Number (F) - The bill requires schools to include the national suicide prevention hotline telephone number on student ID cards.

Subcommittee; Cournoyer, Edler and Wahls

 

SF 2017 - CCO CDAC Database (M) - the bill directs the state Medicaid Office to create and maintain a searchable database of community choice option (CCO) and consumer-directed attendant care (CDAC) providers for the use of Medicaid members. 

Referred to Human Resources

 

SF 535 - Fireworks (A) - This bill modifies provisions relating to the regulation and sale of certain fireworks.

The bill provides that a city or county shall not adopt or enforce any zoning regulations under Code chapter 335 or 414 to regulate, restrict, or prohibit the location of permanent buildings or temporary structures used for the sale of consumer fireworks pursuant to Code section 100.19, in any location zoned for commercial or industrial purposes regardless of NFPA or building code requirements.

Also the bill provides that the state fire marshal shall adopt rules to prohibit the sale of consumer fireworks in any residential zone or district. The bill provides that the state fire marshal shall have the sole authority to require or authorize inspections relating to consumer fireworks seller licensure. A city or county shall not have the authority to require or authorize any such inspection.

Subcommittee: Chapman, Mathis and R. Smith

 

SF 501 - Medical Cannabidiol (F) - Included in the bill is a provision to recognize advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants as those who can certify a patient to receive a medical cannabis card.

Subcommittee: Zaun, Sinclair and R. Taylor

 

SF 376 - Mental Health Education Requirements (F) - The bill adds mental health awareness, coping skills and suicide prevention to the subnject matter that must be included in a unit of health education.

Subcommittee: Sinclair, Behn and J. Smith

 

SF 342 - Immunity For Reporting Alcohol Injuries (F) - The bill provides immunity from certain alcohol related criminal offenses and prohibits certain disciplinary actions for persons who seek or require emergency assistance for alcohol overdoses.

Subcommittee: Zaun, Nunn and R. Taylor

 

SSB 3052 - Smoke Free Air Act Expansion (F) - The bill adds vaping to the definition of smoking in the Act.

Approved by subcommittee

 

HF 2221 (formerly HF 2031) - County Board of Heath Membership (F) - The bill provides that instead of requiging one of five members of a county board of health be a physician, one of five members be either a physician, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner or advance proactive registered nurse.

On House debate calendar

 

HF 2218 (formerly HSB 532) - Allowing Vets to Use the PMP (M)- The bill allows veterinarians to access information on the state’s prescription monitoring program (PMP.)

On House debate calendar

 

HF 2192 (formerly HF 2001) - Telehealth Payments (F) - The bill requires a health carrier to reimburse a healthcare professional for services at the same rate no matter if the service is provided in person or via telehealth. The bill would take effect beginning January 1, 2021.

On the House debate calendar.

 

HF 2169 - Bleeding Control Education (M) - The bill every student by the end of 12th grade to have successfully completed a certification course for bleeding control. The requirement would begin on July 1 of 2021.

Referred to Education

 

HF 2094 - Psych Interjurisdictional Compact (M) - The bill creates an interstate compact to allow psychologists to practice telepsychology with patients in Iowa; practice face to face psychology for a temporary basis; and allow Iowa psychologists to practice telepsychology with patients located outside of the state.

Subcommittee: Bergan, Bacon and James

 

HF 2090 - Seizure Disorder School Protocols (M) - The bill requires schools that have a student with a known epilepsy diagnosis (or seizure disorder or has seizure rescue medication or medication to prevent seizures) to have an individual health plan including a seizure action plan.

Approved by subcommittee

 

HF 2085 - Newborn Screening For Tongue Tie (M) - the bill requires screening for all newborns tongue tie and lip tie prior to discharge from the hospital or birthing center.

Approved by subcommittee

 

HF 2036 - EMS Personnel To Carry Weapons (M) - The bill would allow emergency medical care providers to carry a weapon provided that the emergency medical care provider accompanies police tactical teams into potentially high casualty situations.

Approved by committee

 

HF 298 - Nurse Staffing Agency Restrictions (A) - The bill seeks to regulate nurse staffing agencies and the nurses who choose to use a staffing agency. Specifically the bill would prohibit a staffing agency to require the payment of liquidated damages, employment fees or other compensation if the temporary employee is subsequently hired as a full time employee of the health facility. 

Subcommittee: Meyer, Ehlert and Fry

 

HSB 653 - Medical Cannabis Update (F) - Included in this omnibus bill is a provision that makes ARNPs and APRNs approved to recommend a patient receive a medical cannabis card.

Approved by subcommittee

 

HSB 627 - Smoke Free Air Act Expansion (F) - The bill adds vaping to the definition of smoking in the Act.

Subcommittee: Bacon, T Moore and James

 

HSB 596 - Capping Noneconomic Damages (M) - The bill limits the maximum amount of noneconomic jury award against a healthcare provider to $250.000.

Subcommittee: Holt, Klein, B. Meyer

 

HSB 557 -  Smoking Age Increase (F) - The bill increases the minimum age to purchase tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, vapor products and cigarettes from 18 to 21.

Approved by subcommittee

 

HSB 533 - Pharmacists Omnibus including Collaborative Practice (M) - Induced in the bill is the authorization of collaborative pharmacy practice between pharmacists and physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners, advanced practice registered nurses and dentists.

Approved by subcommittee

 

HSB 522 - MIdwife Licensure (A) - The bill requires a person practicing midwifery in Iowa to obtain a license no later than July 1, 2021.

The bill establishes minimum requirements for a license as a midwife and creates a midwifery board.

The bill fails to prohibit midwives from conducting breech births, multiples and vaginal births after a C-section, which is of great concern.

Subcommittee: T. Moore, Bloomingdale and Konfrst

 

HSB 510 - Surgical Smoke Protection (F) - The bill requires all hospitals and freestanding ambulatory surgery centers to adopt policies no later than July 1, 2021 to ensure the elimination of surgical smoke through the use of smoke evacuation systems.

Approved by subcommittee