Grassroots Advocacy

The 135th General Assembly (GA) began in January 2023. There are many new (also called “freshman”) state legislators this GA. Meet the new lawmakers of the 135th Ohio General Assembly: House Directory and Senate Directory. For health policy advocates, ongoing education of new legislators about our role and scope of practice is the key to the successful passage of a bill. The 134th Ohio General Assembly introduced over 1,100 bills, but only a small number were signed into law.

A bill dies at the end of a 2-year General Assembly unless it is passed by both chambers (Ohio House of Representatives and Senate) and signed by the Governor before being enacted into law. The bills that do not pass the last General Assembly have the potential for reintroduction in the next General Assembly.

Proposed Legislation, Regulations, and Other Policies

135th Ohio General Assembly (2023-2024)

• Senate Bill 196 | APRN Global Signature Authority
• House Bill 676  | Establishes Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) Centers in Ohio
• Sub. House Bill 5 | Modernize the Adoption Process

Legislative & Policy Updates

Ohio Senate Bill 81

Effective September 20, 2024

Ohio Senate Bill 81 passed the 135th Ohio General Assembly and was signed by the Governor. While the effective date of the new law is September 20, 2024, nursing rules are expected to be promulgated in Spring of 2025. The new law 

• Authorizes physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists,
  and certified nurse midwives to sign documents related to the admission, treatment,
  and discharge of psychiatric inpatients, if certain conditions are met.
• Replaces the Board of Nursing’s Substance Use Disorder Monitoring Program with the
  Safe Haven Program, a program to be conducted by an organization under contract with
  the Board to monitor applicant and practitioner impairment resulting from substance
  use or mental or physical disability.
• Authorizes an insurance navigator to receive compensation from a health insurer
  offering insurance through an exchange operating in Ohio so long as the compensation
  is not in connection with enrollment in a qualified health benefit plan.

Safe Haven Program

Coming in Spring 2025!

In Spring 2025, the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) or nursing rules that support the operation of the Safe Haven Program are expected to be become effective. The Ohio Board of Nursing and Ohio Professionals Health Program (OhioPHP) will officially launch the Safe Haven Program and provide educational opportunities about the new program to all licensees of the Board.

What services are offered through the Safe Haven Program? Community resource referrals, screening, and confidential monitoring.

Who is eligible for the Safe Haven Program? All licensees, certificate holders, or applicants of the Ohio Board of Nursing.

Who administers the Board of Nursing’s Safe Haven Program? Ohio Professionals Health Program or OhioPHP (https://www.ohiophp.org/) is the designated monitoring organization for the Board of Nursing. OhioPHP protects the confidentiality of program participants and referral sources to the fullest extent allowed by law.