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Local 1991 Legislative Agenda 2007

Issue	Bill #	Sponsors	Description
Safe Patient Moving-Lifting		J Alex Villalobos, S-38 Nanea Marcial-Custin 850-487-5130 306-SOB   305-222-4160 9766 SW 24th St., #18 Miami 33165	Requires Hospitals to form safe-lifting committees, adopt plan for achieving minimal manual lifting utilizing available technology and lift teams, purchase equipment and provide training to achieve goal by 2012.  Provides for credits to hospitals to purchase equipment needed for plan against annual inpatient assessment up to $1000 per bed over life of credit (2007-12).    Designed to addess epidemic of back injury among RNs and other healthcare workers. More in healthcare injure back than construction, delivery, truck driving. 12% RNs leave hospitals each year because of back injury.
		Rep. Yolly Roberson H-104 Ben 850-488-7088 218-HOB   305-650-0022 633-NE 167, #600 N. Miami Bch, 33162-2444
Patient Right to know	SB 884	Sen. Rich, S-34 Erica Ortiz, Laurie Watkins, Danielle Coin, Ellen Navarro 850-487-5103 226 SOB   954-747-7933 777 Sawgrass Corp. Parkway, Sunrise FL 33325-6256	Requires hospitals to report to Agency for Health Care Administration the number of patients assigned to each nurse in each unit each shift.   AHCA would publicly post (on web Compare Care sight)  reports comparing the hospitals by category on staffing levels of each unit hospital.   This will be critical to our effort to win safe staffing levels because will establish objective, reports on the actual level currently existing. Save from reliance on anecdotal evidence alone. Fits with emphasis on public right to know and consumer right to decide based on full information.
	HB 457	Rep. Kelly Skidmore H- 90 Stephanie Kunkel 1401-Cap
Safe RN Staffing Levels	SB1184	Sen. Tony Hill S-1 Valarie Chrispen 850-487-5024 213 SOB   904-924-1646 5600 New King’s Road Jacksonville 32209-2146	The Safe Staffing and Quality Care Act – A comprehensive approach to addressing the staffing levels to preserve safe care for patients and improve conditions for nurses. The Bill 1) establishes minimum staffing levels based on SEIU Nurse Alliance recommended levels in each area of the hospital with 3 year phase in; 2) Requires the development of approved acuity plans which will mandate increasing staffing above the minimum when patient acuity requires it; 3)Prohibits mandatory overtime throughout the hospital except in emergency: 4) Protects nurses who report or refuse unsafe conditions from retaliation.   Our plan this year is to push this as an educational effort of local and Nurse Alliance. We hope to gain more co-sponsors than last year, have bill heard in at least one committee. We will educate legislature and public on how this bill will actually save money for health care while saving patient lives, improving quality care and helping address nurse shortage. Sen. Dawson, chair OF Health Policy Com. (and past sponsor of this bill said need to discuss possible new approaches.   We will push for passage of the Safe Patient Movement Bill in part as a step for reducing staffing crisis. Patient Right to Know bill legislation this session as an important step toward addressing the Staffing issue.   In past pursued this comprehensive approach in line with national NA & because JEB would not reach good standards. Query – Would we have better chance of hearing, alliance with FNA, on bill calling for AHCA or DOH to hold hearings, set staffing mandates. Mass. Approach.
	HB 487	Rep. Tee Holloway H-103 Charles Calaman 850-488-0766 313-HOB   305-654-7100 610 NW 183 St., #204 Miami Gardens, 33169   Sponsored last year & on numerous earlier occasions.   Need Republican cos.
ARNP Prescribing	SB 556	Sen. Burt Saunders,  S-37 Kimmi Schlottman, Sandra Mummert, Randi Rossette 850-487-5124 418-SOB   239-417-6220 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, Admin. Bldg. #304 Naples 34122-4902	Bill will allow ARNPs to prescribe drugs on the controlled substances list as is currently the case in all but a handful of states
		Rep. Liuis Garcia H-103 Matthew Monica 850-488-9930 1301 Cap   1011 SW 8th St. Miami 33130-3601
Nurse Specialties	SB 248	Sen. Burt Saunders,  S-37 Kimmi Schlottman, Sandra Mummert, Randi Rossette 850-487-5124 418-SOB   239-417-6220 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, Admin. Bldg. #304 Naples 34122-4902	Creates Clinical Specialist ARNP, Outlaws use of specialty name without license, certification
		Rep. Martin Kiar H-97 Scott Barrocas 850-487-1588 1402 Cap   6600 University Drive Parkland City Hall Parkland 33067-2500
Healthcare Access   Income to JMH		May be budget item or bills.	Shands is requesting an increase in its annual recurring revenue. JMH joining with them and asking for annual recurring sum.
Kidcare reform	S 7008	Committee bill of Health Policy	Advocates hope to utilize reform consolidating program and national momentum to expand kidcare coverage, including immigrant children.
Clinic tax credit			401 sets Healthcare Clinic Indigent Patient Trust Fund. 403 allows companies to take tax credit against corporate tax for money contributed to fund. Allows fund to support federally funded health clinics and stand alone clinics which agree to accept and treat uninsured patients with charity care up to 4 times poverty level.   In original filed version, does not allow use of funds for clinics connected to hospitals licensed under 395 or to provider services networks.
	HB 201 HB 203	Rep Denise Grimsley H-77 Marty Mielke 850-488-3457 223-Cap   205 S. Commerce Ave., Ste B Sebring 33870-3604 863-385-5251
Florida Retirement System, Special Risk   Public Hospital	SB 1304	Sen. Tony Hill S-1 Valarie Chrispen 850-487-5024 213 SOB   904-924-1646 5600 New King’s Road Jacksonville 32209-2146	Includes Public Hospital employees in the special risk category of FRS, or if that proves impossible because of changes being considered to that system, to develop an alternative enhanced retirement package which would have a better chance of passage.
	HB 563	Rep. Ronald Brise H-108 Irvin Pean 850-488-4233 1402-Cap   1160 NW 159 Dr. Miami 33169-5808
Special Risk Detention, Mental Health	SB 1304		Several bills which potentially affect part of our membership have been filed to extend special risk to health care employees in mental health and detention facilities, etc.