Legislation

2011 Illinois Legislative Proposals Related to Nursing and Workforce Supply

Work Environment & Nursing

• HB 282/SB 1296: Nursing Care and Quality Improvement Act - Sponsored by Rep. Flowers (D-31), Chicago and Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-4), Westchester. Creates new Act mandating hospitals to implement nurse-patient ratios.
• SB 1342/HB 2939: Proposed amendment to Hospital Licensing Act, sponsored by Sen. Lightford (D-4), Westchester/Rep. Gabel (D-18), Evanston. Requires hospitals to provide copy of written staffing plan to public upon request.
• SB 1577/HB 1684: Proposal to amend Safe Patient Handling provisions of the Hospital Licensing Act, sponsored by Sen. Linda Holmes (D-42), Plainfield/Rep. Lang (D-16), Skokie. Adds lifting equipment standards aligned with federal requirements and mandates for trained safe liftings teams.

Licensure

• HB 150: Nurse Licensure Compact  - Introduced by Rep. Sandra Pihos (R-42), Glen Ellyn. Amends the Nurse Practice Act to allow for reciprocity of licensure of licensed practical nurses and registered nurses among the states.
• HB 2940: Creates the Home Birth Safety Act, introduced by Rep. Gabel (D-18), Evanston. Provides for the licensure of lay midwives by IDFPR and establishes Illinois Midwifery Board. Addresses qualifications, grounds for disciplinary procedures and rulemaking.
• HB 3133: Proposed amendment to Nurse Practice Act, introduced by Rep. Feigenholtz (D-12), Cook County, allowing APNs to petition IDFPR for autonomous practice and full prescriptive authority provided APN meets specified criteria: minimum of two years of practice under WCA or credentialing and privileging by hospital or ASTC; holds an unencumbered license; demonstrates proof of individual medical malpractice; agrees for 20 hours of continuing education to be in pharmacology and signs MOU w/IDFPR that APN will collaborate, consult and refer to physician and other health care professionals. 
• SB 140: Interventional Pain Medicine Act - Introduced by Sen. Iris Martinez (D-20). Prohibits non-physicians from providing interventional pain treatment and physicians from delegating authority to other health care professionals to provide such treatment.
• SB 1616/HB 1682: Proposed amendment to Nurse Practice Act, introduced by Sen. Heather Steans (D-7), Chicago/Rep. Gabel (D-18), Evanston. Eliminates written collaborative agreement requirement for APNs and allows full prescriptive authority, including controlled substances, appropriate to an APN's specialty, education and experience.
• SB 1749: Creates the Surgical Technologist Act, introduced by Sen. Crotty (D-19), Oak Forest and Assistant Majority Leader. Provides that a person may not work in a health care facility until successful completion of a national program and holds the Certified Surgical Technologist credential.
• SB 2255/HB 2978: Proposed amendment to Nurse Practice Act, introduced by Sen. William Haine (D-56), Alton/Rep. Bradley (D-117), Marion. Proposal allowing APNs to prescribe the full range of controlled II substances as delegated by a physician through a written collaborative agreement or through a hospital's or ASTC credentialing process and approved by medical staff.

Other

• SB1945: Comprehensive HC Workforce Planning Act, introduced by Sen. William Delgado (D-2), Chicago. Proposal to establish 18 member Council chaired by IDPH Director and including designated state agencies, educational representatives and others from private sector. Council is charged with ongoing assessment and planning for health care workforce statewide with requirements for delivering 5-year plans and annual update to Governor and General Assembly.

Updated 3/2/11