WI Legislative Floor Period Concluded

Legislative Floor Period Concluded -
from our Assemblyman, Dan Meyer

Each two year legislative session is comprised of committee work periods during which bills are vetted in legislative committees, and floor periods during which bills may be debated and voted on in either the full Assembly or Senate.

April 22, 2010 marked the date of the last regular floor period.  This means bills that have not passed both the Assembly & Senate by this date can no longer be signed into law.  Many will be re-introduced when the next legislative session begins in January, 2011.

The final session days on Tuesday and Thursday of this week ended with two 19-hour marathon sessions that included the debate of 82 bills on Tuesday and 66 bills on Wednesday.

The fate of three of the most publicized bills scheduled for consideration this week, such as AB 649 (global warming), AB 895(elections overhaul), and AB 282 (regional transit authorities) is that although scheduled for a vote, they were not passed by the end of session.

To monitor the outcome of other legislation important to you, the "Searchable Infobase" on the Wisconsin State Legislature Homepage tracks legislative action taken on bills and will soon be updated to reflect recent actions taken.

Meyer Legislation Heads to Governor's Desk

Legislation written by Representative Dan Meyer recently passed both legislative houses and is on its way to the Governor's desk.  The bill will improve informed consent laws for patients with dementia residing in nursing homes.

The bill is modeled on laws already on the books that require individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities (or their legal guardians) to be presented with written informed consent before being administered antipsychotic medication.

The bill expands the current law requirement by requiring written informed consent in cases when an antipsychotic, for which the FDA has issued a "black box warning," is prescribed for a patient with dementia in a nursing home.

The purpose of this bill is to make sure patients with dementia (or their legal guardians) have accurate and up-to-date information about antipsychotic medication that the FDA has determined may carry increased risks for these individuals.

A second, vital component to the bill specifies that informed consent forms include a description, using the most recently issued information from the FDA, of the side effects or risks of side effects of the medication and any warnings about the medication.  The bill would require the Department of Health Services (DHS) to keep abreast of information that is issued from the FDA.

Requiring that a form be presented to a nursing home resident (or their guardian) under these circumstances will help them be properly informed about the medication and just as importantly, bring a measure of accountability for the information that appears on the form.

While the use of medication is a decision to be made between the patient and health care providers, it is imperative the patient or their legal guardians have accurate and up-to-date information to make informed decisions.

The bill that passed, Senate Bill 609, was co-authored by Senator Holperin and passed both the Assembly & Senate unanimously.  It will next be advanced to the Governor for his consideration.

State Representative Dan Meyer
State Capitol - Room 308 North - Post Office Box 8953 - Madison, Wisconsin 53708
(608) 266-7141 - Fax (608) 282-3634 - Toll Free: (888) 534-0034
Email: Rep.Meyer@legis.wi.gov 

Republican Women of the North, Northern WI, rwotnorth@gmail.com