Bill > H2247

This bill aims to improve patient and worker safety in certain health care facilities by requiring the implementation of safe patient handling and mobility programs. Key provisions include: 1. Defining terms such as "health care facility," "direct caregiver," and "safe patient handling and mobility policy." 2. Mandating the establishment of a safe patient handling and mobility committee in each health care facility, comprising at least 50% non-managerial employees who provide direct patient care. 3. Requiring health care facilities to conduct risk assessments, develop safe patient handling and mobility policies, provide appropriate equipment and technology, and offer specialized training to direct caregivers. 4. Allowing direct caregivers to refuse to perform patient handling tasks that they believe will expose a patient or themselves to unacceptable risk of injury. 5. Requiring annual reporting on injury data and patient outcomes related to the safe patient handling and mobility program. 6. Setting a deadline of December 30, 2024, for health care facilities to acquire the necessary safe patient handling equipment, including at least one lift per unit. The overall goal is to minimize manual lifting and transferring of patients in order to protect both patients and health care workers from injury.