The Ohio House voted 95-0 Tuesday to approve State Rep. Kirk Schuring’s bill which would modifies licensing and education requirements for nurses and other medical professionals, sending the bill to the Ohio Senate. Schuring, R-Jackson Township, who  introduced the bill in July, that the bill is the “most comprehensive revision of the Nurse Practice Act” since 1988.

If it becomes law, Schuring says the bill among several things would:

• Make it easier for out-of-state nurses, who move to Ohio, to be licensed here.

• Exempt medical professionals whose licenses lapsed due to military service from the $100 reinstatement fee

• Standardize background check requirements for nurses, dialysis technicians, medication aides and community health workers.

• Allow the state Nursing Board to issue nonrenewable, temporary nursing permits.

• Require licensed practical nurses to finish a course in pharmacology.

• Eliminate some restrictions on LPNs to administer IV therapy to adults.

• Requires those applying to be dialysis technician interns to finish a dialysis training program approved by the Nursing Board.

• Prohibits interns from providing dialysis in a patient’s home.

Separately, Schuring said the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday unanimously approved his bill that would allow taxpayers on their state tax returns to give part of their tax refunds to the Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer Project. He expects a House floor vote next week.

And on Tuesday, the House voted 96-0 to approve a bill that included a provision sponsored by Schuring to establish a “Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club” license plate, with a share of fees paid for the plates being turned over the booster club to support Washington High School’s football team.

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