WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND BOARDS (WALHDAB)

Joint WPHA-WALHDAB Public Affairs Committee Conference Call Minutes

Thursday, January 26, 2006 – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Present: Sarah Beversdorf, Kathy Blair, Melody Bockenfeld, Kathy Farnsworth, Lowell Haugen, Dale Hippensteel, Kathy Munsey, Eric Ostermann, Jim Ryder, Barb Theis, and Liz Zelazek

Staff: Tim Hoven, Michael Welsh and Heather Westgor

Call started at 11:00 a.m.

Legislation

·         So far so good

·         Assembly passed unanimously on 1/24/06, 98/0 vote

·         Our hard work has paid off, but now it’s back to the drawing board to get this bill passed by the Senate.  Will be calling on members to contact legislators.

2.  Grothman Bill on Family Planning Eligibility

·         No bill “#” yet

·         Grothman and others announced legislation which will end the funding of

Wisconsin’s Family Planning Waiver program for 15- to 17-year-olds.

·         Once bill is introduced, OPPOSE.

·         Tim and Michael will keep us updated.

3.  AB617 - Coverage of certain health care costs in cancer clinical trials.

·         This bill is getting a lot of support.

·         Passed out of Assembly Insurance Committee

·         It’s been on the backburner lately – lack of clarity

·         Position?—Make decision at next meeting—Michael will provide additional info.

4.  AB869 - Nursing School Faculties

·         Under current law, the board of nursing is allowed to establish minimum

standards for schools for professional nurses and schools for licensed practical nurses.  This bill prohibits the board from requiring that more than 75 percent of the faculty at such a school hold master’s or doctoral degrees.

·         There is a lack of nurses in the state.

·         The Nursing Association is opposed & Hospital Association is in favor.

·         Need to come to an agreement—want the bill to move forward.  This bill is

relevant for us because it is a workforce issue.

·         We will wait for changes before taking a stance.  We need to be careful and

consider what will affect us down the road.

Other Issues

1.       Tobacco

·         Resolution based on Americans for Non-Smokers Rights (ANR).  Resolution would commit the associations to meet in smoke-free communities.

·         Committee working on second resolution that would provide guidelines to use in reviewing future tobacco legislation.

·         Question raised regarding the ANR resolution whether or not it punishes those who are not in smoke-free communities?

·         This may also be a financial decision for the association since the conference is a significant source of revenue for the associations.  Members may want data how the resolution will impact the associations’ conferences.

·         We need to gain leverage from other organizations to join us, as this will make a bigger impact.  Perhaps divide a list and contact.  Tim and Mike offered to help make contacts.

·         Subcommittee will be meeting again in early February and then will present to the boards.

2.   Public Health Funding

·         Has not met since last meeting, but has done a lot of good work so far.

3.   Discussion on upcoming elections and summer activities during the legislative “downtime.”  Annual budget, candidate surveys (a lot of work with little return), and the long term goal (2-years) of tracking every Senate vote regarding topics relative to WPHA (a scorecard).  It was also brought up having Michael discuss campaigns at our conference—how they work, how to get involved, what’s involved, etc.  Based on previous experience and lack of response, members agreed not to plan a candidate survey.  Will be a standing item on the agenda.

Review Committee Workplan

1. Will continue to modify/develop.
2. Need to keep track of items we want to work on.  Eric will pull out on a month-to-month basis.

Future Meeting Topics

1. February—Subcommittee on Tobacco
2. Big action item for today—“WPHA Legislator of the Year.”  Candidates need to be submitted by the end of February.  Senator Carol Roessler has been suggested by several people as a nominee.  She has not won before.  Eric will work with those who nominated her to complete the nomination form and distribute to the committee for their review.
3. Committee Membership.  Committee membership will be reviewed in April.  The incoming presidents of both organizations will consider committee appointments and chairs after the annual conference in May.

Other Business

1. Next meeting will be on Thursday, February 23^rd, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in Madison.  We will meet in person as long as the weather cooperates.

With no additional business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:16 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

For more information about WALHDAB, call your local health department or a Board member or visit http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/localhealth/index.htm to locate your local health department.
Rev. 03/05