Tennessee Nurses Association Legislative Review ... Current

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Tennessee Nurses Association Legislative Review

• MEREDITH SULLIVAN, TNA LOBBYIST
• SULLIVAN_at_SOSTRATEGY.COM
• 615.259.5509

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Agenda

• How a Bill becomes a Law
• Legislative Website
• Legislation Affecting Tennessee Nurses
• Meeting with Legislators
• TNA PAC

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State Legislative Process
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In Summary
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After Signed by both Houses
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Legislative Website

• www.capitol.tn.gov
• Members
• Committees
• Legislation

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Senate
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House of Representatives
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Committee Schedules
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Legislative Database
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Getting It Done

• U me V
• Political Action Committee
• Endorsements
• Coalitions

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Communication to Members

• Weekly Report
• House and Senate status of legislation of
  interest
  
• Bills on calendar for the upcoming week
• Alerts - Call to action

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Current Legislation Affecting Tennessee Nurses

• SB 0408/HB 0462 CRIMINAL LAW Concealing
  controlled substance in effort to obtain more
  
• SB 0495/HB 0014 CRIMINAL LAW Smoking prohibited
  in vehicles when minor present
  
• SB 0939/HB 0465 PROFESSIONS LICENSURE Nurse
  practitioner/physician assistants disability
  tags
  
• SB 2314/HB 2319 RETAIL TRADE TN Healthful Menu
  Act
  

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Current Legislation Affecting Tennessee Nurses

• SB 0105/HB 0055 EDUCATION Public school nurse
  program
  
• SB 0009/HB 1607 HEALTH CARE Certified
  medication technicians
  
• SB 0277/HB 0093 HEALTH CARE Criminal background
  checks for direct care employees
  
• SB 0780/HB 0570 HEALTH CARE Conflict of
  interest policies of health related boards
  

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Current Legislation Affecting Tennessee Nurses

• SB 1991/HB 2078 HEALTH CARE Administering
  medication in assisted care living facilities
  
• SB 2071/HB 2337 HEALTH CARE Requirements for
  home health companies
  
• SB 2275/HB 2282 HEALTH CARE Adult Care Home Act
  of 2009
  
• SB 0701/HB 1124 PROFESSIONS LICENSURE
  Engaging in practice of medicine or similar
  activity
  

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Current Legislation Affecting Tennessee Nurses

• SB 0938/HB 0464 PROFESSIONS LICENSURE Nurse
  practitioner/physician assistant death
  certificates
  
• SB 0447/HB 1657 TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES
  Specialty earmarked license plates for nurses
  
• SB 1506/HB 1511 TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES
  Exemptions from helmet law
  

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Meeting with Legislators

• Do
• Be nice to everyone.
• Tell legislators a bill number and the sponsor
  from their chamber.
  
• Give a brief summary of what the bill does in one
  or two sentences.
  
• Articulate TNAs position and why TNA has the
  position.
  
• Ask the legislator if he or she will be able to
  cast a vote in accordance with TNAs position.
  
• Offer TNA as a resource on this or any other
  health care issues.
  
• Follow up with a personal letter expressing
  thanks for their time.

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Meeting with Legislators

• Dont
• Be pushy. If you cannot get an appointment, try
  to meet with his or her key staff member.
  
• Visit the same legislator more than once on the
  same issue unless you have new information.
  
• Guess at an answer. If you dont know it, tell
  them you dont have that information but will be
  sure to get it for them.
  
• Argue if a legislator expresses opposition.
  Merely articulate why TNA has its position and
  thank them for letting you know where exactly
  they stand.
• Call any member Congressman or Congresswoman.
• Talk about political issues unrelated to TNA.

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Talking Points for Today

• APN Practice Issues
• Signing death certificates
• Disability placards, performing peace officer
  physicals.
  
• Healthful Menu Act
• TN Nurse License Plate
• Certified Medication Technicians

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Questions?