Latest news with #Bill11
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Who makes decisions for public health is changing in Hamilton
Community members are now at Hamilton's public health decision-making table after long-awaited governance reform got the green light from the province. 'I think it's so vitally important to have those voices there,' Coun. Cameron Kroetsch said in an interview with The Spectator. 'I think, also, it just frankly gives the community more confidence that we have both councillors and health experts who can give a balanced perspective.' Public health policy will no longer be decided by the 16 members of Hamilton's city council after legislative changes passed third reading on June 3 and received royal assent on June 5 as part of Bill 11 , More Convenient Care Act. Instead, six appointed community members , with health expertise or lived experience, will work alongside six city councillors and one education representative to oversee public health. Coun. Cameron Kroetsch says it is 'vitally important' to have community voices on the board of health. The Progressive Conservative government made the required amendments to the City of Hamilton Act at council's request. 'The community pushed really hard for this,' Kroetsch said. 'It's been a long journey.' City council will provide one final approval at its meeting on June 18 but the vote is considered a formality. The new board is expected to meet for the first time on July 7 — over four years after calls for change started in March 2021 when COVID-19 brought inequities, related to social determinants of health, to the forefront as some groups fared better than others during the pandemic. Advocates — including doctors, social workers and academics — argued for a board of health that better reflects Hamilton's diversity, including racialized residents and those with disabilities. 'We didn't have that kind of community voice available to respond to issues of public health in our city and so I think this is going to be great,' Kroetsch said. 'Having these key people around the table, we learned during COVID, would have made things so much better … I just can't say enough about how important I think it is for community voices to be at the table.' The changes bring Hamilton more in line with about two-thirds of the province's public health units that are overseen by autonomous boards. Hamilton's board will be semi-autonomous as decisions related to the budget, the annual service plan and the appointment of medical officers of health will still be approved by city council. Toronto and Ottawa also have semi autonomous boards. However, policy decisions would no longer need any further approval so the board's vote would be binding. 'There's not really a way for council to override the board of health,' Kroetsch said. 'We've given over that autonomy.' The governance reform initially had the unanimous support of council in January 2024. While awaiting the legislative changes, a public health subcommittee was created that will now become the board of health. Up until now, its decisions needed to be approved by city councillors. But opposition to the changes flared up in May after a disagreement over how restrictive the city should be about drinking on municipal property revealed a divide between councillors and the subcommittee. The proposed changes to the municipal alcohol policy were passed with almost no discussion by the subcommittee. In stark contrast, councillors voted 13-1 against it after a charged debate and an in-camera session to get legal advice. It raised questions about what would happen in the future when the semi-autonomous board of health no longer needed councillors' approval for such policy decisions. The subsequent vote went from unanimous to passing 9-5 on the makeup of the future board of health. But Kroetsch, who has been chairing the subcommittee, expects the transition will now be smooth. 'It's just going to be a new day for Hamilton in terms of having that expert advice from the community on the board of health to be able to weigh in on matters that are important,' Kroetsch said. 'We're talking about something that has literally a life and death impact for people. Public health is one of those areas of municipal governance that can impact people's day to day lives.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
15-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
B.C. NDP introduce bill to eliminate mandatory sick notes for short-term work absences
British Columbia's labour minister is moving to eliminate sick note requirements for short-term absences from work in an effort to give doctors and nurses more time with patients. The province said Tuesday that Jennifer Whiteside introduced Bill 11, which would amend the Employment Standards Act to clarify when employers can and cannot request a sick note from workers. In December, Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the Canadian Medical Association, called for reducing mandatory sick notes. Canadian doctors spend an estimated 1.5 million hours writing sick notes every year, according to the association. The B.C. College of Family Physicians made a similar plea in January. Right now, B.C. workers who have been employed with an organization for more than 90 days are entitled to up to five paid and three unpaid days of job-protected illness or injury leave — often referred to as sick leave or sick days — per calendar year. According to the provincial website, employers can request "reasonably sufficient proof" of illness, which can include a doctor's note, a receipt from a drugstore or pharmacy or a medical bracelet from the hospital. The changes in Bill 11 will clarify that employers can't specifically request — and employees are not required to provide — a sick note written by a physician, nurse practitioner or registered nurse as proof that the employee's short-term absence from work was related to illness or injury. A firm set of regulations will be established with input from stakeholders, the province said, and will define what constitutes a short-term absence. Eliminating sick note requirements was a key promise in the B.C. NDP's provincial election campaign last fall. "Requiring a sick patient to leave their home can do more harm than good," Dr. Charlene Lui, the association's president, said in a media release. "It can delay the patient's recovery time, it can put other patients at risk of infection, and can cause sicker patients to wait longer to see the doctor." The province expects the new rules to be in place prior to the fall respiratory illness season.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NM Gov calls out lawmakers for inadequately addressing needs of New Mexico children
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed two bills this week concerning New Mexico children, but called out lawmakers for missed opportunities. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM) Bills requiring the regulation of cell phones in schools and that hospitals have a safe care plan for substance-exposed newborns were signed into law this week, but Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham used the bills to point out lawmakers' missed opportunities. Lujan Grisham signed 22 bills into law on Thursday, including Senate Bill 11, which requires local school districts and charter schools to adopt a wireless communication device policy; and Senate Bill 42, which requires hospitals have a plan of safe care in place when newborns are found to be exposed to controlled substances and requires their parents to participate in the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act program. In a memo explaining her decision to sign SB11, the governor said that while it was a 'first step' toward regulating cell phone use in schools, she was 'profoundly disappointed' that lawmakers chose to amend the bill to make compliance optional for local districts. The amendment loosens the wording around the Public Education Department's minimum requirements for local policies. 'Once again, however, the Legislature squirmed out of taking a meaningful step to improve education under the auspices of local control,' the governor wrote. 'That is all well and good until this same body blames the Public Education Department-and not the local bodies-for poor educational outcomes of New Mexico students. I once again encourage the Legislature to hold local school districts accountable for educational outcomes. Our students deserve it.' Lujan Grisham had a similar response in her veto message about House Bill 65, which would have clarified that local school districts have the authority to determine the number of instructional days in their school calendar. Instead, she voiced her support of a 2024 PED rule – which has not been enforced – requiring local districts to have a minimum of 180 days in their calendars. PED's 180-day school calendar rule back in the courts In another memo this week, Lujan Grisham explained that she chose to sign SB42 because of its requirement that parents of substance-exposed newborns receive treatment through the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act program. However, she called out lawmakers for continuing an 'unwarranted vendetta' against the Children, Youth and Families Department, particularly for including amendments to the bill, which require department employees to backup electronic device data daily, monthly and annually. 'If the Legislature actually wanted to help children and CYFD, it would have fully funded the agency so that it could hire all the staff it needs to succeed,' Lujan Grisham wrote. 'The Legislature seems to be of the opinion that adding ever increasing administrative burdens on an agency that they refuse to fund at required levels will make children safer. They also seem to believe that piling on criticisms for problems that they bare some responsibility for creating will absolve them of their own neglect. They are wrong.' She went on to encourage lawmakers to consider becoming foster parents or apply for a job or volunteer position with CYFD. 'It is far too easy to stand on the sidelines and criticize CYFD. I hope the Legislature will commit not only to fully funding CYFD, but also to do their part on an individual level to help make a difference in children's lives,' Lujan Grisham wrote. The governor voiced similar criticism of lawmakers, as well as Attorney General Raúl Torrez, before the end of the session when she signed House Bill 5 into law, establishing the Office of the Child Advocate. She pointed out lawmakers seem to continuously 'condemn' CYFD and its employees, and 'refuse to fully fund the agency to hire enough staff then criticize [the department's] vacancy rates and unmanageable workloads.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Social media and Indiana's opportunity to lead
Social media is leading to anxiety, depression and bullying. (Getty Images) The 2025 General Assembly is arguably the health session. With so much focus being placed on Medicaid, less fiscally impactful issues are struggling to bubble up to the top of committee agendas. One issue that Democrats and Republicans, in both the Senate and the House, seem to agree deserves attention is Hoosier children's access to social media. This session, Senate Bill 11 and House Bill 1321, are both focused on providing families and caregivers much needed support to navigate the murky waters of social media and kids. Just like last year's ban on cellphones in classrooms, this year's child-focused social media legislation is set to bring schools and families one step closer to much needed guardrails. While Hoosiers are not historically fans of regulation, when it comes to children and access to technology, we are big fans. In addition to the cell phone ban in 2024, Indiana was the first state in the country to pass legislation related to nonconsensual AI nudity. Both have been adopted by other states and have been overwhelmingly popular with families and educators alike. This year's legislation focused on social media is set to keep this trend rolling. At Northview Middle School in Indianapolis, the school and the PTO are working together to offer programs like Wait Until 8th and parent nights focused on Healthy Relationships with Technology. According to Principal Thom Hakim, 'The pandemic put technology in kid's hands so much earlier with so little guidance. We really wanted to get our classrooms back. We chose to take cellphones away a year before the law went into place. It took that first year to put some teeth in the rules, but now it's the norm. Kids are interacting with each other again. It's really the impact of social media outside of school that we worry about now. ' According to Dr. Jonathan Haidt, 'social media use is a cause of anxiety, depression, and other aliments, not just a correlate.' He goes on to note that social media is especially damaging to girls due to its reliance on visually oriented platforms that provide girls unrealistic standards of perfection and offer endless ways to damage other girls' relationships and reputations. Girls who are heavy users of social media are three times more likely to be depressed then nonusers. His studies further found that social media harmed the social lives of students who stayed away from it. This national research appears to be playing itself out with Hoosier girls. According to the 2024, Indiana Girls Report, 'Being bullied online puts girls at risk for depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation — and a loss of connection with caregivers and peers. Girls in Indiana share that cyberbullying is relentless — and inescapable.' Additionally, as technology advances, bullying tools are keeping pace — requiring that school policies and federal and state laws evolve quickly to keep up. Danielle Shockey, CEO of Girls Scouts of Indiana shares 'The Indiana Girl Report is an invaluable resource that has shed significant light on the hardships girls are facing in Indiana and is already being used as a tool to shape policy to address those challenges'. The Paramount Health Data Project has also been examining the effects of social media on girls as part of their work for the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction's ALL IN program. According to Dr. Mary Jo Rattermann, chief research officer for the project, teenage girls know the dangers but need our help to navigating a healthy relationship with social media. According to Rattermann, 'Based on our research, teenage girls are sophisticated consumers of social media. They understand how algorithms work. They understand everything is carefully curated, but they still have a deeply emotional response to it.' Recently, a student at Mooresville High School, was stopped from engaging in a mass shooting planned for the cafeteria at lunchtime on Valentine's Day. According to the probable cause affidavit, she had been involved in unmonitored chats on a social media platform displaying her plans. She also shared that she had been bullied and had struggled to receive mental health supports recommended by the school. This proved to be a dangerous mix that put every student and staff member at Mooresville High School in harms' way. The big question now is whether comprehensive legislation specific to social media will make it out of this session. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Today at the Roundhouse, Feb. 19
Feb. 19—The 60-day session is almost at its halfway point, as Thursday marks the final day to introduce bills for this year's session. Here are a few things to watch out for on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Paid family leave: A hotly debated proposal to allow New Mexico employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental or medical leave is scheduled for a key hearing in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee. A similar proposal to this year's House Bill 11 was defeated on the House floor last year by a two-vote margin. Crime bills in the spotlight: A House-approved crime package gets its first — and only — Senate committee hearing. The six-bill package passed the House on a 48-20 vote on Saturday and could face scrutiny in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Behavioral health package hits House: A trio of behavioral health bills approved last week by the Senate are starting their journey through the House of Representatives. One of those measures, Senate Bill 3, is up for debate in the House Health and Human Services Committee, while the other two bills will be discussed by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. Honoring veterans: It's Military and Veterans Day at the Legislature, and representatives from the New Mexico National Guard and the Department of Veterans Services will be at the Roundhouse.
