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GNA 2020 Legislative Session Update No. 1

Posted almost 5 years ago by Charlotte Endemano

The Georgia Nurses Association held its Annual “Nurses Day at the Capitol” on February 12th. Members and nursing students participated in a robust agenda and hand-delivered our legislative platform to the offices of each of the 236 legislators under the gold dome.

After a rather unprecedented start to the 2020 Legislative Session that saw house lawmakers tasked with re-working the state budget in response to the Governor’s mid-year proposed cuts (read about the budget that cleared the house here AJC) and led to a two-week legislative break to begin the month of February, the General Assembly was back to the business of debating and passing legislation every day this week (Legislative Days 17-21).

The Assembly will be in session next week Monday – Thursday (LD 22-25) as we press forward toward the all too important, Legislative Day 28 (Crossover Day) which will be March 12th.

GNA is working to advance the initiatives included in our 2020 Legislative Platform. The following bills have been introduced during the 2020 session and are available for consideration:

GNA Priorities

  • Safe Staffing
    • HR 448 (Cooper, 43rd) – Create a Joint Study Committee on the Safe Staffing of Nurses in Georgia/ Support
    • HB 801 (Scott, 76th) - limit the number of patients that may be assigned to a registered professional nurse in specified situations in hospitals/ GNA is supportive of the concept. However, our stated position does not call for mandated staffing ratios. We have engaged the representative and are working to produce legislation that will benefit nurses in the workplace optimally.
  • Scope of Practice Expansion
    • HB 409 (Powell, 32nd) - will lift the restriction on APRNs ordering CT/MRI tests in non-life-threatening situations./ Support
  • Maternal Mortality
    • HB 693 (Shannon, 84th) - Expanding Medicaid to Improve Health Outcomes for New Mothers Act/ Support
    • SB 324 (Jordan, 64th) - Medicaid; coverage for pregnant women for a period of no less than 12 months/ Support

CLICK HERE to view a news story highlighting this issue and the work that has been done thus far to address it.

  • Nurses Public Home Addresses
    • GNA is currently soliciting personal stories that make the case for the removal of nurses' addresses from the Secretary of State’s website. GNA believes this information should remain private and not accessible to the general public. Please encourage anyone with an account of your private information being compromised to share it by contacting Tim Davis via email at davis@georgianurses.org . Stories will be compiled anonymously and provided to the office of the Secretary of State.
  • State Funding for GNA Peer Assistance Program (GNA-PAP)
    • $150.000 for the GNA-PAP program is still in the budget for DPH but remains on hold until a clearer budgetary forecast can be provided by the legislature.

Other Bills of Interest

  • HB 666 (Dollar, 45th) - to provide for the licensing of surgical assistants; to provide for definitions; to provide for powers and responsibilities of the Georgia Composite Medical Board; to provide for licensing standards and requirements; to provide for the issuance of licenses and exceptions to licensure requirements; to provide for licenses and their duration, renewal, and filing
  • HB 722 (Cooper, 43rd) - relating to actions against certain applicants or licensees, so as to increase fine amount limits; to repeal conflicting laws
  • HB 914 (Clark, 147th) - to provide for military spouses licensed in other states to practice certain professions and occupations to obtain a license by endorsement to practice in this state
  • HB 910 (Mathiak, 73rd) - to provide for the licensure and regulation of midwives; to amend Code Section 43-26-12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exceptions to the operation of the "Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act," so as to provide for an exception relating to the practice of midwifery
  • SB 267 (Jackson, 2nd) - to provide for the licensure and regulation of community midwives; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for the creation of the Certified Community Midwife Board; to provide for its membership and duties; to provide for licensure requirements; to provide for the issuance, renewal, and revocation of licenses
  • SB 321 (Hufstetler, 52nd) - to revise provisions relating to the number of physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses a physician can authorize and supervise at any one time
  • SB 298 (Unterman, 45th) - provide certain definitions regarding the sale or distribution to, or possession by, minors of cigarettes, tobacco, tobacco-related objects, and vapor products to include vapor products that do not contain nicotine; to prohibit such sales or distribution to individuals under the age of 21 

GN-PAC

The purpose of the GN-PAC is to promote the improvement of the health care of the citizens of Georgia by raising funds from within the nursing community and friends of nursing and contributing to the support of worthy candidates for State office who believe and have demonstrated their belief, in the legislative objectives of the Georgia Nurses Association.  

The Georgia Nurses Association Political Action Committee (GN-PAC) actively and carefully reviews candidates for local, state and federal officials. This consideration includes the candidate's record on nursing issues and value as an advocate for the nursing profession. Your contribution to GN-PAC today will help GNA continue to protect your ability to practice and earn a living in Georgia. Your contribution will also support candidates for office who are strong advocates on behalf of nursing

CONTRIBUTE TO THE GEORGIA NURSES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE TODAY!

GNA Legislative Committee

Stay engaged and abreast of all that is going on under the Gold Dome to advance the nursing profession by joining the Georgia Nurses Association Legislative Committee.

Members need only complete the Volunteer Interest Form indicating their interest in joining and you will be added to the committee listserv. 

UAPRN & CAPRN

Our APRN colleagues provide many great opportunities for nurses to engage in the legislative process please consider participating in one of the programs or events that they are hosting listed below.

  • Sign up today for a day to participate in the L.E.A.D. program (Legislative Education and Advocacy Development) through CAPRN! We hope to see you soon! Click here for the sign-up schedule: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d44a8ae2ba1f85-nurses
  • United Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Georgia will hold a press conference on Thursday, March 5, 2020 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm at the Georgia State Capitol. To register and for more information click HERE.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES!