Legislative Updates and WVNA Lobbyist fund

Posted about 3 years ago

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The mission of the West Virginia Nurses Association is to support West Virginia Nurses and work for a healthier West Virginia. WVNA relies on contributions from nurses to pay for our government affairs lobbyist. We work closely with our lobbyist to monitor the West Virginia legislative session and work for or against bills that are important to the membership of WVNA.

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WVNA 2021 Legislative Updates

Bills our Health Policy and Legislative Committee are working / tracking

HB2672 – Relating to posting of safety information in hospitals.

Sponsor: Delegate Tully

Sponsors: Majority Leader Summers

The purpose of this bill is to require a hospital to post the contact information to the Office for Health Facility Licensure and Certification to notify individuals on how to file a complaint.

Pending: House Health Committee

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HB2796 – Supplemental Appropriations Bill

Sponsor: Majority Leader Summers

Sponsors: Tully, Householder, Criss, Reynolds, Rohrbach

Supplemental appropriation bill is to expire funds to the surplus balance of General Revenue and to supplement and increase an item of appropriation in the aforesaid account for the designated spending unit for expenditure during the fiscal year 2021.

The purpose of this bill is to provide relief for nurses who become ill from COVID-19 while caring for patients using excess surplus funds paid from nursing licensure fees. Fifteen states have enacted legislation or executive orders to provide compensation for nurses who become ill from COVID-19 in the workplace. These states include Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Several states have pending legislation.

Pending: House Finance Committee

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HB2707 – APRN: Relating to prescriptive authority for advanced practice registered nurses. Legislate Executive Orders.

Sponsor: Delegate Tully

Sponsors: Majority Leader Summers

Pending: House Health Committee

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HB 2674 – CRNA: Relating to the administration of anesthetics. Legislative Executive Orders.

Sponsor: Delegate Tully

Sponsors: Summers, Bates

Passed: House of Delegates

Pending: Senate Health Committee

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HB2368 – Mylissa Smith’s Law, creating patient visitation privileges.

Sponsor: Delegate Jeffries, D

Sponsors: Summers, Tully, Pack, J., Rohrbach, Ellington, Steele, Espinose, Linville, Howelle, Pack, L.

Passed: House Health Committing

Pending: House Judiciary Committee

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HB2363 - Relating to “Best Interests of the Child Protection Act of 2021”.

Sponsor: Delegate Foster

Sponsors: Summers, Storch, Phillips, Steele, Sypolt, Pinson, McGeehan, Jeffries, J., Jeffries, D., Rowan

Passed: House of Delegates

Pending: Senate Judiciary Committee

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SB277 – COVID-19 Jobs Protection Act.

Sponsor: Senator Blair

Sponsors: Senator Baldwin

WVNA and AARP were vocal to encourage removing the immunity for willful misconduct, reckless or intentional infliction of harm. Added amendments to make it safer 3/9/21. Completed legislation waiting on Governor Justice’s signature.

Passed: WV Legislature

Pending: Governor’s Signature/Approval

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SB 334 – Establishing license application process for needle exchange programs

Sponsor: Senator Tarr

Sponsors: Senator Grady

Passed: Senate

Pending: House Health Committee

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HB 2344 – Vet Tech – Modify statute relating to Registered Veterinary Technicians.

Title Nurse

Sponsor: Delegate Pack, J.

Pending: House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

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HB2869 – Limitations on requirement to wear face masks.

Sponsor: Delegate Jeffries, J.

Sponsors: Longanacre, Kimes, Graves, Jennings, Burkhammer, McGeehan, Horst, Martin, Pack, J., Householder

Pending: House Judiciary Committee

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HB2869 – Limitations on requirement to wear face masks.

Sponsor: Delegate Jeffries, J.

Sponsors: Longanacre, Kimes, Graves, Jennings, Burkhammer, McGeehan, Horst, Martin, Pack, J., Householder

Pending: House Judiciary Committee

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SB 568 – Eliminate Mask Mandate

Sponsor: Senator Azinger

Sponsors: Senator Karr

Pending: Senate Government Organization Committee