Bill > S2695

This bill establishes specific limits on the maximum number of patients that can be assigned to a registered nurse (RN) in various units within licensed health care facilities, which include general acute care hospitals and acute psychiatric hospitals, but exclude rehabilitation or long-term care facilities. These limits vary depending on the patient's condition and the unit type, with stricter ratios for critically ill patients (often one patient per RN) and more lenient ratios for stable or less acute patients. The bill also mandates that facilities develop a "patient acuity system" to assess patient needs and potentially lower these maximum assignments if a patient's condition requires more intensive care. This system must consider factors like specialized equipment, the complexity of nursing interventions, the overall skill mix of the healthcare workforce, and patient/family communication needs. Furthermore, the bill requires this acuity system to be certified by the department of health before implementation and allows the department to issue regulations. It also outlines a similar acuity system requirement for respiratory therapists and diagnostic imaging technologists. Enforcement of these limits will be handled by the attorney general, with potential for injunctive relief and civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day for violations, though these requirements are suspended during declared public health emergencies. Importantly, the bill clarifies that facilities and labor unions can agree to even fewer patients per RN in collective bargaining agreements, and that these new patient assignment standards should not lead to understaffing or reductions in the overall healthcare workforce.