On January 4, 2007, Martha Baker, RN, president of SEIU Local 1991, presented an overview of the Local’s legislative agenda for the 2007 legislative session. In her presentation Martha emphasized the need for legislation to require safe lifting policies in Florida hospitals, the importance of mandating safe RN staffing levels in every unit of the hospital, and the desirability of informing patients of the staffing levels so that they can make informed decisions about their care. The agenda Martha presented also spoke to the need to protect and extend health care access by funding the safety-net hospitals, especially the Jackson Health System which provides more health care for indigents than any other hospital in the state. [Two other hospital systems, Shands in Gainesville and Moffit in the Tampa Bay area receive annual state contributions in recognition of their service to indigent patients.]. The SEIU agenda includes a call to extend health care coverage until all Floridians have access to quality care. Finally, the agenda includes a call for extending the Special Risk Category of the Florida Retirement System to include clinical hospital employees of Public Hospitals around the state. Click Here to download a copy of SEIU Local1991's Legislative Agenda.

 

 

 

 

Please plan now to travel to Tallahassee with the Local & RNs from around the State on March 13, 2007. We will stay over night in Tallahassee to prepare for a full:

Click here for backup research on our legislation
and information on past Nurse Lobby Days.