Tennessee Legislative updates

• Sunset – Board of Nursing – SB 2449/HB 2600 –TNA supported this bill as it extended the existence of the board of nursing. As amended in the House, this bill would have extended the existence of the Board of Nursing for another six years.  The House version also contained a provision that would have prohibited members of the Board from serving more than two consecutive four year terms.  The Senate adopted the House version of the bill and added provisions that:  1) required a registered lobbyist appointed to the Board to terminate all employment and business associations as a lobbyist with any entity whose business endeavors or professional activities are regulated by the board, and 2) prohibited a member of the Board from being employed as a lobbyist by any entity regulated by the board until one year after leaving the Board. The House would not agree to the Senate amendment and the bill died, causing the Board of Nursing to go into “wind-down” mode. This is not an unusual occurrence, and at least 19 other agencies are in the same situation. A new bill will almost certainly be introduced in 2011 that will extend the Board. Though highly unlikely, if such bill did not pass, the Board of Nursing would terminate on, June 30, 2011. TNA will watch for the sunset bill to be introduced during next year’s session and will monitor its progress.