Below you will find a timeline of some of the events that have taken place in an effort for the Wisconsin Director of Nursing Council to bring awareness to the CNA staffing crisis. In 2016 the WDONC embarked on an effort to fix one piece of the complex puzzle that has put Wisconsin in a severe CNA staffing crisis. Currently, we are working with a second legislative body to try an bring the regulation for hours of instructional training in line with the federal standard of 75-hours. Thank you to WHCA and LeadingAgeWI for spearheading this effort. Also, thank you to Rep. Petryk from District 93 who has worked with his assembly and senate colleagues to bring this bill to life. It would not be where it is without their leadership on this issue.
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January 15, 2020
AB-76 was brought to the Assembly floor for a vote to override the veto of Governor Evers on the CNA Training Hours Bill.
Last year, the bill had bipartisan support in the Assembly and passed the Senate unanimously.
We would like to thank Rep. Warren Petryk – District 93 for his work since 2016 in bringing this bill to life and his continued belief that our providers need action that moves the needle.
You can listen to the archived press conference were Rep. Petryk discusses the override. HERE
Nov. 20, 2019
Governor Evers vetos AB 76. View the joint provider Press Release on the Veto of AB76 that would have helped address the CNA Workforce Shortage
Oct. 9th, 2019
AB-76 passed on a 3-2 party-line vote in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee:
— GOP-Testin, Kooyenga, and Jacques voting yes;
— Dem-Erpenbach and Carpenter voting no.
The bill now moves on to the full Senate for passage. The next opportunity for this bill to come to the Senate floor date may be in November. There is no reason not to believe this bill won’t pass the Senate with bipartisan support. In the end, basically the whole ballgame is with Gov. Tony Evers.
After the bill is messaged over to the Governor, he has a period of within six days (Sundays excepted) of having received the bill to sign it. If the Governor did not sign or veto the bill within the allotted time, the bill would become law without the Governor’s signature. While this rarely happens, I think this probably is our most likely path given some of the Governor’s public pronouncements about “dumbing down standards.”
The most important take-a-way is to call and write letters to Gov. Tony Evers and DHS Secretary-Designee Andrea Palm.
Please call or email Governor Evers (608-266-1212, [email protected])
— update by John Vander Meer (revised)
March 26, 2019
Mindy Meehean BSN, RN, DNS-CT, Board President of the WDONC and Joey Pettis BSN, RN, WCC, DWC, DNS-CT, Executive Director of WDONC testify in support of AB76.
“I don’t think that we can continue to say, and put this back on a facility, and say, ‘You haven’t quite done enough yet.’ We are at the point now; it is enough, we’ve done enough. We have to take every step we can. This is a very simple step that will make a difference.” Joey Pettis, Executive Director.
March 2019
A bill related to the Hours of Instructional Program for Nurse Aides is brought to the Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care as AB76 and SB103
May 2018
The senate committee does not bring the bill up for a vote in the senate.
10/29/2017
The State Assembly pass AB432 related to the Hours of Instructional Program for Nurse Aides. 62-32.
8/22/17
SAVE THE DATE: SEPT. 5th, 2018 at 1pm
State Capitol Building, Room 300 Northeast, 1pm start time (be there earlier)
The Wisconsin State Assembly has scheduled a committee hearing with for AB432 (an act to amend 146.4 (3) of the statutes: relating to: hours of instructional program for nurse aids.)
It will be with the Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care. It will start at 1pm in room Northeast 300 at 1pm start time. You schedule plan to arrive early to sign in. Give yourself plenty of time to find a parking spot, walk to the building and sign in. Yes, you’ll be hearing there to wait, but it will be worth your investment of your time.
7/5/2017
The Wisconsin Director of Nursing Council’s “Do One Thing Campaign” is moving forward. AB432 has reached the Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care. This is very exciting but it is a CRITICAL time to continue to contact your State Senator and Representative and explain to them the seriousness of the staffing crisis you are facing.
We have provided an example email below to help get you started. However, it’s important you modify the email to your specific situation.
To read Bill AB432, and see who is currently signed on in support as co-authors, click here
http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/proposals/REG/AB432
The bill does have some bipartisan support.
Please keep calling! Emailing! Invite your legislators to tour your building. I’d be glad to help you in anyway I can or answer your questions. Please call me at 877-366-1144 x 2
Here is an example email you can send to your legislatures. It should be customized to your situation.
6/12/17
Contact your State Senator and Representative.
TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS: PLEASE SIGN ON TO LRB-3719, INTRODUCED BY SENATOR HARSDORF AND REPRESENTATIVE PETRYK, WHICH ALIGNS WISCONSIN’S CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING REQUIREMENTS WITH FEDERAL LAW – A STANDARD USED IN MINNESOTA, MICHIGAN, AND IOWA.
Find your legislators HERE.
April 2017
Joey Pettis, Executive Director, interviewed by WEAU Channel 13 regarding the Cargiver Career Program and the CNA workforce crisis.
https://www.weau.com/content/news/New-state-program-to-tackle-nursing-assistant-shortage-418022343.html
February 2016
The CNA Staffing Shortage has reached crisis level in Wisconsin and around the country. It’s been at crisis level for some time now.
Share with us what you and your facility have done to address the CNA staffing crisis with our Do One Thing Campaign. Have you developed creative hiring or staffing practices, met with legislative representatives, collaborated with educational institutions?
The Wisconsin Director of Nursing Council will continue to advocate and educate our legislatures, regulators, and other stake holders on the staffing crisis many of those who serve the long-term care continuum find their facility facing.
You can download and share the Wisconsin Director of Nursing Council’s Position Statement.
Contact your legislature to give them information on the Workforce Crisis and how it is effecting your residents, staff and ability to provide quality care. Workforce Alliance Legislature Form. This is along with our position statement.
Below, is a video update regarding our efforts with stakeholders from around Wisconsin.
Become a member to continue to hear additional information and updates as we meet with committees, stakeholders and legislative representatives. JOIN HERE
