I am continuing to spotlight important bills that were brought forth in this year’s session. This week, I am highlighting bills that affect nurses.

HB1640 Health carriers; services provided by nurse practitioners. (Ransone-R-99) Requires health insurers and health services plan providers whose policies or contracts cover services that may be legally performed by licensed nurse practitioners to provide equal coverage for such services when rendered by a licensed nurse practitioner. The bill contains an enactment that exempts the measure from the requirement that the Health Insurance Reform Commission review any legislative measure containing a mandated health insurance benefit or provider. The bill has a delayed effective date of Oct. 1. Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Approved by the Governor-Chapter 332. Effective Oct. 1.

HB1998 HIV or hepatitis B or C viruses; exposure to bodily fluids, infection, expedited testing. (Price-D-95) Requires a general district court to hold a hearing within 48 hours of a petition being filed seeking to compel collection of a blood specimen for testing for human immunodeficiency virus or the hepatitis B or C viruses when exposure to bodily fluids occurs between a person and any health care provider, person employed by or under the direction and control of a health care provider, law-enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical services personnel, person employed by a public safety agency, or school board employee and the person whose blood specimen is sought refuses to consent to providing such specimen.

If the court is closed within the 48-hour time period, the petition shall be heard on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or day on which the court is lawfully closed. The bill allows a testing order to be issued based on a finding that there is probable cause to believe that exposure has occurred. Any person who is the subject of such order may appeal to the circuit court of the same jurisdiction within 10 business days. The bill directs the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to publish a petition form for such filing. The bill specifies that no specimen obtained as a result of a testing order shall be tested for any purpose other than for the purpose provided for in the bill, nor shall the specimen or the results of such testing be used for any purpose in any criminal matter or investigation. Any violation shall constitute reversible error in any criminal case in which the specimen or results were used. Status: Passed the House 97-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate with amendments 40-Y, 0-N. Approved by Governor-Chapter 27, effective July 1.

HB2129 Nursing, Board of; application for license or certification by military spouse, expedited review. (Guzman-D-31) Provides that the Board of Nursing shall process applications and, if an applicant meets the criteria for licensure or certification, issue such license or certification within 30 days in cases in which an applicant for licensure or certification is licensed or certified in another state and is relocated to the Commonwealth pursuant to a spouse’s official military orders. Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Approved by the Governor-Chapter 287. Effective July 1.

HB2318 Naloxone; possession and administration by school nurses and local health department employees. (McGuire-R-56) Possession and administration of naloxone; school nurses; local health department employees. Adds school nurses, local health department employees that are assigned to a public school pursuant to an agreement between the local health department and school board, and other school board employees or individuals contracted by a school board to provide school health services, to the list of individuals who may possess and administer naloxone or other opioid antagonist, provided that they have completed a training program. Status: Passed the House 95-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Approved by the Governor-Chapter 212. Effective July 1.

HB2493 Topical drugs; administration by dental hygienists, physician assistants and nurses. (Tran-D-42) Authorizes a dental hygienist practicing under remote supervision to administer topical oral anesthetics, topical and directly applied antimicrobial agents for treatment of periodontal pocket lesions, and any other Schedule VI topical drug approved by the Board of Dentistry. Under current law, a dental hygienist must be practicing under general supervision to do so. Additionally, the bill authorizes a physician assistant, nurse, or dental hygienist to possess and administer topical fluoride varnish pursuant to an oral or written order or a standing protocol. Under current law, such possession and administration is limited to administration to children aged six months to three years and is required to conform to standards adopted by the Department of Health. Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Approved by Governor-Chapter 431. Effective July 1.

It is a privilege to represent you in the Virginia House of Delegates.

DEL. C. MATTHEW FARISS represents Buckingham in the Virginia House of Delegates. His email address is DelMFariss@house.virginia. gov.