Legislative Update, March 30, 2012

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Right to Work

There was no action on Right to Work this week. Our friends in both parties and both legislative bodies have taken a stand on behalf of working families. To all of you who wrote, called and visited your elected officials, thank you. The outpouring of grassroots activism from nurses, union members and concerned citizens was like nothing we’ve seen in recent years, and deserves a lot of the credit for stopping this bill.

Health and Human Services Omnibus Bills

On Tuesday, HHS Chair David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) introduced the Senate HHS Omnibus bill, which includes the National Nurse Licensure language, aka Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact. MNA vigorously opposes this bill.  (See below for more information.) The House HHS Omnibus bill, authored by HHS Finance Chair Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) does not include the Compact language. In addition, the House version does include a provision to keep the state mental health facility at Willmar open. The two omnibus bills will go to a conference committee in the near future, where MNA will advocate to delete the Compact language but keep the Willmar language.

National Nurse Licensure Compact

In addition to being part of the Senate HHS Omnibus bill, the National Nurse Licensure Compact is moving as stand-alone bills in the Senate and House (SF230-Gerlach/HF462-Norton). MNA opposes this bill because it will decrease nursing standards, put patients at risk, abdicate state’s rights to regulate nursing practice and potentially lead to job loss.  Unfortunately, the House version passed the House HHS Finance Committee this week, and will move on to the Ways and Means Committee with a floor vote to follow. We anticipate the Senate version will come to a floor vote soon as well. Earlier this week the AFL-CIO unanimously voted to oppose the Compact and support nurses in the fight to maintain Minnesota’s high nursing standards.

Use the link below to contact your state senator, your state representative and the Governor and ask them to oppose this legislation in any form.

Criminal Felony Neglect of Vulnerable Adult

This bill, complete with protections for nurses so we are not punished for circumstances out of our control like staffing or other management decisions, was passed by both bodies of the legislature and will go to a conference committee to work out the minimal differences between the bills. We are proud of the bipartisan and cooperative nature of the work on this important issue, and anticipate the bill will be signed, bringing additional protection to vulnerable patients.

Criminal Background Check

As reported last week, MNA was successful in stopping the progression of the Minnesota Board of Nursing’s criminal background check (CBC) bill.  Because MNA does support criminal background checks as a necessary and important tool in patient safety, we continued this week to work with the Board of Nursing, other providers and the authors of the bills to reach a multi-disciplinary solution.  However, some legislators had other ideas and reduced the senate language addressing CBC to simply a study on whether or not CBC with federal fingerprints are necessary for all health licensing boards.

Safe Staffing

MNA’s Staffing for Patient Safety Act did not receive a hearing before the legislative deadlines. Introducing this bill with bi-partisan authors and reviving the conversation about patient safety and nurse staffing at the Capitol was a huge step in the right direction. We gain the attention of legislators, hospitals and the Minnesota Hospital Association with our legislation, and we will continue to fight for safe staffing from every direction until we achieve patient assignment limits that allow nurses to provide high quality, safe care to every patient.

Regional Action Councils – Nurses mobilizing around policy and politics

As you’ve followed the action during this legislative session and campaign season have you wondered how you can get involved on behalf of nurses and patients?

Nurses are forming six Regional Action Councils around the state to mobilize around policies and candidates that are good for nurses, patients and working families. The RACs will soon begin screening and accountability process for candidates seeking MNA’s endorsement. It is critical that nurses take advocacy beyond the bedside, and weigh in on the policies that affect our practice and patients.

If you are interested in learning more about the Regional Action Council for your area, please contact:

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/mna/5KG658Wf.aspx