The legislative session is half over.  Committees have reported out the bills heard before them, and the MNA is taking stock in its presence on Beacon Hill.  Below is a partial list of those bills testified to by MNA.  There is also a brief narrative, MNA’s position and reference to the bill’s status in the legislative process to date.

H. 1947/S. 531 An Act Relating to the Establishment of a Massachusetts Health Care Trust – Single payer health care system. 
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: Health Care with Extension until 9/30/99

H. 8 An Act Relating to Payrolls of State Employees – would create a paperless payment system for all state employees and voluntary for all municipal employees.  
MNA’s Position: Opposed 
Bill Status: “died” after our lobbying effort with other unions

H. 276/ S. 644 An Act Related to Insurance Parity for the Treatment and Care of Persons Needing Mental Health Benefits – “Mental Health Parity” 
MNA’s Position: Support
Bill Status: Insurance with Extension until October 1999.  Passed for state employees only

H. 942 An Act Prohibiting the Use of Certain Latex Products by Persons Handling Food – prohibits use of latex gloves in food distribution or preparation. 
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: Study Order.  Goal accomplished through regulation changes with DPH

H. 1546 An Relating to Indoor Air Quality – designates an agency for indoor air quality information and data collection
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: House Ways and Means

H. 1738 An Act Related to Medical Privacy – Creates confidential systems in the production of medical record information 
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: Health Care

H. 1764 An Act Relating to the Apportionment of Damages in Certain Medical Malpractice Actions – places increased liability on nurses. 
MNA’s Position: Oppose 
Bill Status: Study order

H. 2121 An Act Prohibiting the Unlicensed Distribution of Medications – prohibits MAP for children 
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: Study Order

H. 2499 An Act Relating to the Evaluation and Professional Development of Teachers and the Improvement of Teacher Quality in the Commonwealth – removes bargaining and negotiating over certain work place issues.  Negatively effects school nurses 
MNA’s Position: Oppose 
Bill Status: Education Arts and Humanities

H. 2516 An Act Requiring Nursing Home Corporations to Maintain Staffing Levels – ratio of nurses to patients. 
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: Study Order

H. 2874 – An Act Relative to Death Certificates – penalizes RNs who pronounce death in nursing homes if physician does not sign death certificate 
MNA’s Position: Oppose 
Bill Status: Study Order

H. 3070 An Act Relating to the Distribution of Controlled Substances by Home Health Aids – would allow home health aids in home care to administer medications. 
MNA’s Position: Oppose 
Bill Status: Ought Not to Pass

H. 3017 An Act Relative to End of Life – Established the BORMedicine to establish standards for terminal patient treatment – ignores role of nursing 
MNA’s Position: Oppose 
Bill Status: Study Order

H. 3445 An Act Relating to Certain Proceeds of the Tobacco Settlement be Used for School Nursing Services – Funds school nursing through the tobacco settlement funds 
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: Study Order

S. 169 An Act Relating to Criminalizing Assault and Battery on Emergency Room Personnel – makes assault on ER personnel a felony 
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: Senate Calendar

S. 394  An Act Relating to Consumer Protection and Boards of Registration – gives new authority to boards of registration 
MNA’s Position: Oppose 
Bill Status: Senate Ways and Means

S. 458 An Act Relative to Competency in the Nursing profession – would require periodic testing of all licensed and registered nurses by the BORN 
MNA’s Position: Oppose 
Bill Status: Ought Not to Pass

S. 462 An Act Related to a Home Health Visiting Program – establishes a pilot home health program for those being eliminated form Medicare coverage 
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: accompanied by H. 782 – House Ways and Means

S. 499 An Act Requiring Nursing Home Corporations Operating within the Commonwealth to Maintain Safe Staffing Levels – requires ratios of patients to nurses, aids and other disciplines
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: Study Order

S. 1746 An Act Relating to Consumer Protection for Managed Health Care Plans in the Commonwealth – HMO reform with consumer protections 
MNA’s Position: Support 
Bill Status: Engrossed by Senate

December 1999