The proposed bill amends several sections of Wisconsin statutes to update terminology and grant allocations related to public health services. Notably, it changes the recipient of a $50,000 annual grant from HealthNet of Janesville, Inc. to HealthNet of Rock County, Inc. Additionally, the bill modifies the terminology from "advanced practice nurse prescriber" to "advanced practice registered nurse" (APRN) in various contexts, including the supervision of immunization programs and the designation of state agents for the Department of Health Services (DHS). This change aligns with the new licensure system established by 2025 Wisconsin Act 17, which transitions from APNP certification to APRN licensure.

The bill also clarifies the responsibilities of local health departments in employing public health professionals, ensuring consistency in the language used across statutes. For instance, it updates references to "general public health nursing programs" to "generalized public health nursing programs." The amendments are intended to streamline the legal framework governing public health services and reflect recent changes in nursing licensure, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of public health initiatives in Wisconsin. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2026, coinciding with the implementation of the new APRN licensure system.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 250.15(2)(c), 250.15, 251.04(8), 251.04