IMPORTANT NP Legislation Update

Message from Julianna McConnell, CAPRN lobbyist:

HB 369 Passed the House Regulated Industries Committee and now will be in the House Rules Committee. 

The Legislature will be in session for Legislative Day 26, 27, and 28 on Wednesday, Friday, and Monday (March 8)

The bill must pass the full House by the end of Day 28 on Monday to be considered during the 2021 Session. If it passes the Full House….it then goes to the Senate for approval.

HB 369 (current version) does the following:

• Authorizes APRNs and PAs to prescribe Schedule II drugs in emergency situations for a maximum of 5-day prescription (if included in a protocol agreement for APRNs or job descriptions for PAs).
• It also allows APRNs and PAs to authorize affidavits for disability parking permits. 

This has been a joint effort with Georgia’s PAs and we commend them for their lead on the introduction of HB 369 with Representative Alan Powell as the author.  We now continue to work together with the PAs to try to secure the passage of this bill that impacts APRNs and PAs.  

We thank the APRN leadership team for their coordination efforts and all the APRNs who sent emails to members of the House Regulated Industry Committee asking for their support and to Dr. Michelle Nelson and Dr. Lisa Eichelberger for representing and testifying at the subcommittee meeting on behalf of APRNs.  We also thank GNA for their support in lobbying for this bill and for their representation at these committee meetings.  

We recognize several organizations who have expressed their support for HB 369, including AARP, the Home Health Services Association, Visiting Angels, the Georgia Commission on Women, and others.  Thank them for their support!

We need to continue to work together to lobby for the successful passage of HB 369.  We will be sending information on how you might help advocate to get HB 369 on the House Rules Calendar to be voted on by the FULL HOUSE!

HB 430 which includes the APRN licensure language, home health services authorization and collection of nursing workforce data will be considered by the House Industry Committee tomorrow - with plans by Chair Powell to send the bill to the GORRC for approval.  Additional info on this bill and GORRC will be sent after committee consideration.