Political Updates: 

Although co-sponsors continue to be added to the following bills, there has been no movement on our bills. The Legislature went on summer break in June. The Assembly is up for election in November and spent the summer in their district offices fundraising. There is an expectation that meetings and voting on bills will be sporadic until after the November elections.

Legislation Watch:

• Removal of APN/Physician Collaborating Agreement (A944/S1983)
  • Referred to Assembly Health Committee
  • Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
  • 38/80 Assemblypersons and 21/40 Senators are sponsoring bill
  • Conaway major obstacle to movement of bill now in Congress
  • Carol Murphy appointed Assembly Health Committee Chair

• Nurse Staffing Committees (A966)
  • Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee
• Nurse Title Protection (A4202)
  • Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee
• BSN in 10 (A1017/S1050)
  • Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee
  • Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
• Establishes initiatives related to nurses (A1659/S1949)
  • Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee
  • Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
    • Bill amended and broken into 4 parts. New bills introduced:
      • S4266 moving CNA to NJBON
      • S4267 Nurse Practitioner preceptor tax credits
      • S4268 Nursing School Expansion Grant
    • Referred to Senate Commerce and Budget Committee

• Requires issuance of report on certain information and data on processing of applications for professional and occupational licenses and mandates review of training and call intake in Division of Consumer Affairs (A2805/S1761)
  • Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee
  • Referred to Senate Commerce Committee
• Nurse Ratio bill — Sets mandated nurse to patient ratios (A3450/S1941).
  • Referred to Assembly Health Committee
  • Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
• Establishes certain protections for health care professionals who receive behavioral health care and apply for State licensure (A5595/S4286)
  • Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions
  • Referred to Senate Health

Meetings held with NJ Legislators and/or their staff regarding Nursing focused bills:

• Gubernatorial Candidate Mikie Sherrill on supporting nursing issues.

Collaboration with the New Jersey Board of Nursing:

• All NJ Board of Nursing positions have been filled except one LPN and two public members.
• Continuing to facilitate resolution to problems that NJSNA members and non-members are experiencing. The NJSNA Executive Board met with leadership in the Division of Consumer Affairs last year to discuss issues that our members were having when contacting the board of nursing. This dialogue will remain open until resolutions are obtained.
• NJSNA continues to assist its members with any issues regarding licensure.
• NJBON subcommittee reviewing a proposed rule to add procedures to the APN joint protocols. Nursing Organizations including NJSNA have sent letters opposing this proposal. NJBON sent proposed rule to the Attorney’ General’s (AG) office for legal opinion. Still waiting for a response from AG’s office.

Collaboration with the American Nurses Association (ANA):

• Attended Quarterly Open Business Meeting
• Attended Quarterly CEO session with ANA CEO
• Attended ANA Membership Assembly Virtual Meeting on Bylaws Voting
• Attended ANA Lobbyist Meeting

Collaboration with other organizations:

NJSNA continues to network with and provide valuable input into the following:

• NJ Business and Industry Health Care Policy Committee
• Clinicians for Climate Health.
• Jersey Renews
• Consortium of New Jersey Nurse Educators
• ONL NJ Legislation and Advocacy Committee
• Rutgers University School of Nursing Advisory Committee
• Kean University School of Nursing Advisory Committee
• Felician University School of Nursing Advisory Committee
• Thomas Edison State University Advisory Committee
• New Jersey Collaborating Center
• New Jersey Association of Nurse Anesthetists
• New Jersey State School Nurses
• New Jersey Nursing Students
• Nurses Service Organization (NSO) Insurance Company
• Lorna Breen Caring for Caregivers NJ Executive Committee
• Nursing Coalition Group
• Society of Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses

Meetings attended:

 Spoke at the Capital Health Nurse Resident graduation on Political Action

• APN Strategy meetings.