Level 2 CNA?

Hi all! I recently attended a Student Advisory meeting at my school. I was elected student advocate for my class and we have these meetings once a semester to discuss issues students are having and get a report on the school, and also learn about new policies, etc that affect nursing.

Our Dean told us yesterday that the Department of Public Health in Illinois, which oversees CNA training and licensure, is pushing to add a new area of practice for CNA's: a Level 2 postion that would allow them to pass meds, d/c IV's and Foley's, change sterile dressings, etc. I am still researching the subject and the projected scope of practice, and the Dean said that currently the Illinois Nurse Association is fighting this because 1). the training would only be an additional 120 hours; 2). the RN would ultimately be assuming responsiblilty for the Level 2 CNA (and while RN's have responsiblilty over LPN's and CNA's anyway, I believe the issue that many of the RN's who attended the meeting had was that they felt 120 hours was not nearly enough to encompass the knowledge they felt someone should have before performing sterile procedures [dressing changes] and passing medications); and 3). they felt this position was encroaching on an LPN's duties and could ultimately cut out this level of nursing.

Obviously this is something that could save healthcare facilities some money; I believe the pay rate for a CNA 2 would still be lower than an LPN. Is this why some facilities are wanting to hire a CNA instead of an LPN? Have any of you worked with level 2 CNA's, or are currently working as one?