There isn't a defined "copy node" method but you could accomplish that through the conventional trigger beans. The template items will not have their IDs change so you can hard-code those into the trigger (unless you retire and replace some, then you need to also update the script).
1) Use the getFieldValue() method in the IssueBean to read data from your template document ID.
2) Use the createSegment() method in the IssueDeltaBean to create the new document, supplying the field data from Step 1.
3) Use the createContent() method in the IssueDeltaBean to create the new nodes, supplying the field data from Step 1 and a parent ID of the new document from Step 2.