2020 Legislative Session week 2

In this week’s update:

• Week 2 Recap
• Sexual Assault Bills Move Forward
• Astria Regional (Yakima): Advocacy for Nurses and Community
• AAPPN Lobby Day
• Upcoming Events

Week 2 Recap
It was a busy week of hearings in Olympia, with WSNA weighing in on many bills. We continued meeting with legislators about our priority issues, including funding for the School Nurse Corps. This week we are highlighting movement on our policy priority related to the need for a more uniform, but also community-based, response system for sexual assaults and making sure that the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners we represent are included in conversations that affect their work.

We also had members in Olympia for AAPPN’s lobby day and WSNA Cabinet Chair Julia Barcott was in Olympia on Thursday talking to legislators and the Governor’s staff about the impact of the recent Astria Regional closure on nurses and the community. And we can’t wait for WSNA’s Advocacy Camp on Monday – when nearly 450 nurses and nursing students will be in Olympia learning out to expand their patient advocacy to the legislative arena!

For more on WSNA’s 2020 Legislative Priorities click here.

Sexual Assault Bills Move Forward
On Monday, WSNA testified in support of SB 6158, which would require the development of sexual assault protocols for hospitals and clinics. The bill establishes the Sexual Assault Coordinated Community Response Task Force within the Office of the Attorney General. The purpose of the task force is to develop model protocols ensuring that adult or minor sexual assault victims receive a coordinated community response when presenting for care at any hospital or clinic following a sexual assault. The substitute bill was voted out of the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee on Thursday and is now in the Senate Rules Committee.

WSNA is also supportive of SB 6162, which requires the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA) to consult with specified interest groups to develop best practices and strategies for forensic nurse examiner access and training. This bill also moved out of Committee this week. It includes WSNA as one of the named parties OCVA must consult with in developing best practices/training. This bill now goes to the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Astria Regional (Yakima): Advocacy for Nurses and Community

WSNA Cabinet Chair Julia Barcott was in Olympia on Thursday and met with Rep. Gina Mosbrucker (R-Yakima) who had reached out to WSNA to see how she can help the Astria Regional nurses that lost their jobs when the hospital closed on January 13. Julia also had the opportunity to share stories from nurses and patients whose lives have been significantly impacted by the closure with the Governor’s staff.

AAPPN Lobby Day

A small but mighty group of Advance Practice Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners were in Olympia for their Association lobby day on Wednesday. Behavioral health is again a primary focus for the legislature and AAPPN’s day on the hill was very timely.

AAPPN members met with their legislators and attended Health Care Committee hearings in the House and Senate. To learn more about the Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses, please visit its website.

Upcoming Events
Advocacy Camp is Monday! Look for photos and a recap in next week’s update.
And there’s still time to register for Lobby Day! Join us in Olympia on February 6 to meet with lawmakers and earn 2.75 CNE.

January 27 WSNA Advocacy Camp
More information and registration links are here.

February 6 WSNA Nurse Lobby Day
We are happy to offer 2.75 CNE contact hours this year! More information and registration links are here.

Please look for regular email updates on legislative action as the legislative session gets underway – we look forward to your participation in the process!