FROM STAFF REPORTS

State Rep. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, was recently named Outstanding Alabama Legislator of the Year for 2011 by The Alabama State Nurses Association.

The Alabama State Nurses Association is the professional association for registered nurses in Alabama. The ASNA Legislator of the Year Award is given annually to state legislator who has been an active proponent of healthcare issues in Alabama and has supported nurses and nursing issues during the legislative session.

Weaver received the award recently at the ASNA annual awards banquet at the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center, the highlight event at ASNA’s annual statewide convention.

In her freshman year as a State Representative, Weaver was an active participant in a special session that passed a package of ethics reform bills. She was the sponsor of one of the “Handshake with Alabama” bills signed in to law this year providing tax credits to small businesses that provide health insurance for their employees.

She also pursued a nursing scholarship bill and scholarship funding during the regular legislative session. Weaver was a primary speaker at the ASNA “Nurses at the Capitol” rally in April 2011 on the steps of the Alabama State House.

“Although new to public office, Rep. Weaver has already had a positive impact in the Legislature,” ASNA Executive Director, Joe Decker said. “ASNA is very pleased to have an Alabama nurse and business woman in the legislature as both a role model and friend.”

Weaver has a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Alabama, is a licensed registered nurse and has also completed a master’s in business administration. She has worked in healthcare management for more than 16 years and is currently the director of business development at Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster.