TCORN is closely aligned with the Texas Nurses Association through NLAC (Nursing Legislative Coalition Agenda), representing nursing specialty organizations, the Texas Board of Nursing (BON), the Texas Hospital Association, and other groups impacted by nursing legislation.
NLAC meets at least twice a year, and more often in preparation for the legislative session. Jim Willmann, TNA's lobbyist and legal counsel, chairs the group and apprises the group and explains all proposed legislation that patient care, nursing practice, and funding for nursing. Each specialty group presents any legislative issue that impacts the specialty so the entire group is prepared to support their position.
What is NLAC?
Leading up to each legislative session, The Texas Nurses Association (TNA) hosts a series of meetings with other nursing organizations to identify significant nursing and health care related issues that the Texas Legislature needs to address. These nursing organizations make up the Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition (NLAC). Once NLAC has identified the legislative issues on which nursing should focus, it works to achieve a consensus of opinion on what the coalition's position will be on each issue. What results is the Nursing Legislative Agenda and during the session, coalition members endorse and work to enact the agenda.
NLAC also serves as a body for building a unified nursing position on other legislation important to nurses and their patients.
Who makes up NLAC?
- Texas Nurses Association
- Texas Emergency Nurses Association
- Texas Organization for Associate Degree Nursing
- Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics & Neonatal Nurses
- Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses
- Texas Nurse Practitioners
- Texas Association of Deans and Directors of Professional Nursing Programs
- Texas Organization of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Education
- Texas RN First Assistant Network
- Association of periOperative Registered Nurses of Greater Houston
- Texas Organization of Nurse Executives
- Licensed Vocational Nurses Association of Texas
- Texas Nursing Students’ Association
- Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists
- Texas Council of periOperative Registered Nurses
- Houston Organization of Nurse Executives
- Houston Chapter Oncology Nursing Society
- Texas School Nurses Organization
Among current, unresolved legislative issues are prescriptive authority for advanced practice nursing, comparable whistle blowing protection for nurses working for government entities, and self-directed semi-independent status for the Board of Nursing
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