Governmental Affairs

AAOHN Key Public Policy Issues

SLC Teleconference Summary           

Summary Minutes - January 16, 2008

Recent Legislation: Continuing Education Requirements for RNs in Pennsylvania

Dear Members:

I am taking a moment to share information with you in regard to recent legislative work impacting RN's in PA: Continuing Education Requirements for RNs in Pennsylvania.

Legislation, ACT 58 2006 was singed into law by Governor Rendell June 29, 2006. This law requires RN's licensed in PA to obtain (mandatory) 30 hours of continuing education during the course of their 2 year license-period. The effective date of this law has yet to be determined.

The PA State Board of Nursing has been working on defining these regulations. On April 28, 2007 the state board of nursing published the proposed regulations (attached)

The original law and proposed regulation links can be found below:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/lib/bpoa/20/nurs_board/nurseact.pdf
(this is the law)

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/lib/bpoa/20/nurs_board/special_notice_
(for continuing education for RNs)

http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol37/37-17/743.html
(this is the proposed regulations)

Daurice Holly, RN,COHN,CCM
State Legislative Coordinator AAOHN
President Elect PAAOHN
Vice President SVAPOHN

Update on House Bill 2543, the proposed Nurse Licensure Compact Act

February 12, 2007 
 

Dear Members:

Here's the  NLC update in PA:  Unfortunately HB 2543 died in the House at the end of 2006 session. I have been in touch with the Honorable Representative Art Hershey, he was the individual who originally introduced the bill March 17, 2006 with a large number of  Representatives also supporting the bill. Rep Hershey plans to re-introduce the bill in 2007-2008 session. PAAOHN continues to offer their support to him in the process.  I am asking each of you continue to support the NLC with your local state legislators. I would love to for you to email me updates on those grassroots efforts!  

In January SVAPOHN President, Kim Olzsewski and  I initiated a conference call with the PA State Board of Nursing, we spoke with Mary Bowen, Laurette Keiser and Commissioner Merenda. We were very happy to hear Commissioner Merenda report the State Board is very much "for portability of Licensure" . This call provided us with the opportunity to open the dialogue with the State Board to better understand their specific concerns surrounding the NLC legislation. I will be working with the NCSBN to prepare a reply to the State Board of Nursing to address these areas of concern.  Our organization will continue to offer our support as we we all work toward this now common goal.

I urge you if you have a special interest in legislation and are interested in becoming more involved in the grassroots efforts of SVAPOHN to contact me!   The Basic Steps of our grassroots efforts in PA:

• Know the profession’s main public policy issue(s);
• Identify priority issues;
• Build a relationship with government officials and other associations;
• Broaden your network of champions/support; and
• Keep going back.

Please visit www.paaohn.org website legislative updates will be posted as they become available.  

Other PA Legislative news:

November 2006  Workers' compensation reform legislation was signed into law by Gov. Rendell.

House Bill 2738 increases the minimum amount that an injured employee is entitled to receive for total disability or death to $100 per week. It requires workers' compensation judges (WCJs) to set forth trial schedules which include a mandatory mediation conference.

The bill adds a section to the Act, which would codify the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board, outlining its internal procedures and providing for a code of ethics for board members. The bill prohibits the Department of Labor and Industry from assigning more than seventy-five percent of petitions from a particular county to one WCJ. The bill prohibits counsel fees from exceeding 20 percent of the amount either awarded by the judge or agreed to by settlement.

The bill also creates an Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund that provides for compensation to injured employees when their employer fails to maintain workers' compensation coverage. The fund is to be funded by assessments, reimbursements and interest income earned.

The bill becomes effective in 60 days from it's signing, except the provisions relating to resolution hearings and the appeals board, which become effective immediately. 

AAOHN Networking News: AAOHN Communities! 

This is a great networking tool provided by AAOHN. Check it out!  

Information on AAOHN communities can be found in the January 2007  AAOHN  newsletter and on www.aaohn.org

Daurice Holly, RN, COHN, CCM

govtaffairs@svapohn.org