GENERAL GOVERNMENT
HB 943 – Relating to Preemption of Local Government Wage Mandates
On Tuesday, January 26, HB 943 by Representative Joe Harding (R-Ocala) was heard by the House Local Administration and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee and was reported favorable with 10 yeas and 7 nays. AIF’s Legislative Affairs Assistant, BD Jogerst, stood in support of this legislation.
The bill prohibits political subdivisions from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any wage mandates in an amount greater than the state minimum wage rate calculated pursuant to the State Constitution, and provides that any wage mandates in conflict with the state minimum wage are void.
HB 943 will now go to the House Regulatory Reform Subcommittee.
AIF supports legislation that allows Florida businesses to adhere to state or federal wage requirements, thus eliminating onerous regulations set by municipalities.
HEALTH CARE
HB 931 – Relating to Alternate-site Testing
On Tuesday, January 25, HB 931 by Representative Lawrence McClure (R-Plant City) was heard by the House Professions and Public Health Subcommittee and was reported favorable with 18 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Adam Basford, stood in support of this legislation.
Currently, advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed clinical laboratory personnel are permitted to perform testing at alternate-sites (lab testing under control of a hospital but not on-site) which allows for bedside, ER and operating room testing. A freestanding emergency department (FED) is a facility that receives individuals for emergency care and is structurally separate from a hospital. Only licensed clinical laboratory personnel may perform clinical laboratory testing in a FED. The bill exempts individuals who perform alternate-site testing outside of a central laboratory of a hospital or at a hospital-based, off campus emergency department from clinical laboratory personnel licensure requirements. This allows all individuals, not just licensed clinical laboratory personnel, to perform alternate-site testing within a hospital or in a FED.
HB 931 will now go to the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee.
AIF supports permitting registered nurses to perform moderately complex lab tests, outside of a clinical lab, but within a hospital department or an off-site hospital-based emergency department to ensure greater access to quality care.
