Assembly Bill No. 349–Assemblymen Ohrenschall, Claborn and Buckley

 

March 17, 2003

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Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

 

SUMMARY—Makes various changes concerning older Nevadans. (BDR 38‑973)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                           Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to older persons; requiring the Board of Medical Examiners and the State Board of Nursing to encourage licensees who treat or care for persons who are more than 60 years of age to receive continuing education in geriatrics and gerontology; removing the limitation on the number of hearings that the Nevada Silver Haired Legislative Forum may hold; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1. NRS 427A.380 is hereby amended to read as

1-2  follows:

1-3  427A.380  1.  The Nevada Silver Haired Legislative Forum

1-4  may, within the limits of legislative appropriations and any gifts,

1-5  grants or donations received by the Forum:

1-6  [1.] (a) During the period in which the Legislature is not in a

1-7  regular session, hold three public hearings in three different areas of

1-8  this state and may hold [an additional public hearing] additional

1-9  public hearings in any area of this state . [to prepare the report

1-10  authorized by NRS 427A.390.

1-11      2.  Comply]

2-1  (b) During the period in which the Legislature is in a regular

2-2  session, meet as often as necessary to conduct the business of the

2-3  Forum.

2-4  (c) Form committees, which may meet as often as necessary to

2-5  conduct the business of the Forum.

2-6  2.  The Nevada Silver Haired Legislative Forum and its

2-7  committees shall comply with the provisions of chapter 241 of

2-8  NRS.

2-9  Sec. 2.  NRS 630.253 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-10      630.253  1. The Board shall, as a prerequisite for the:

2-11      [1.] (a) Renewal of a license as a physician assistant; or

2-12      [2.] (b) Biennial registration of the holder of a license to

2-13  practice medicine,

2-14  require each holder to comply with the requirements for continuing

2-15  education adopted by the Board. These requirements may provide

2-16  for the completion of one or more courses of instruction relating to

2-17  risk management in the performance of medical services.

2-18      2.  The Board shall encourage each holder of a license who

2-19  treats or cares for persons who are more than 60 years of age to

2-20  receive, as a portion of their continuing education, education in

2-21  geriatrics and gerontology, including such topics as:

2-22      (a) The skills and knowledge that the licensee needs to address

2-23  aging issues;

2-24      (b) Approaches to providing health care to older persons,

2-25  including both didactic and clinical approaches;

2-26      (c) The biological, behavioral, social and emotional aspects of

2-27  the aging process; and

2-28      (d) The importance of maintenance of function and

2-29  independence for older persons.

2-30      Sec. 3.  NRS 632.343 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-31      632.343  1.  The Board shall not renew any license issued

2-32  under this chapter until the licensee has submitted proof satisfactory

2-33  to the Board of completion, during the 2-year period before renewal

2-34  of the license, of 30 hours in a program of continuing education

2-35  approved by the Board. The licensee is exempt from this provision

2-36  for the first biennial period after graduation from:

2-37      (a) An accredited school of professional nursing;

2-38      (b) An accredited school of practical nursing;

2-39      (c) An approved school of professional nursing in the process of

2-40  obtaining accreditation; or

2-41      (d) An approved school of practical nursing in the process of

2-42  obtaining accreditation.

2-43      2.  The Board shall review all courses offered to nurses for the

2-44  completion of the requirement set forthin subsection 1. The Board

2-45  may approve nursing and other courses which are directly related to

3-1  the practice of nursing as well as others which bear a reasonable

3-2  relationship to current developments in the field of nursing or any

3-3  special area of practice in which a licensee engages. These may

3-4  include academic studies, workshops, extension studies, home study

3-5  and other courses.

3-6  3.  The Board shall encourage each licensee who treats or

3-7  cares for persons who are more than 60 years of age to receive, as

3-8  a portion of their continuing education, education in geriatrics

3-9  and gerontology, including such topics as:

3-10      (a) The skills and knowledge that the licensee needs to address

3-11  aging issues;

3-12      (b) Approaches to providing health care to older persons,

3-13  including both didactic and clinical approaches;

3-14      (c) The biological, behavioral, social and emotional aspects of

3-15  the aging process; and

3-16      (d) The importance of maintenance of function and

3-17  independence for older persons.

3-18      Sec. 4.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

3-19  H