Bill > HB1244

This bill establishes comprehensive minimum staffing standards for registered nurses in Hawaii hospitals, aimed at improving patient care and nurse working conditions. The legislation requires hospitals to create registered nurse staffing committees by September 1, 2025, with a majority of members being direct patient care nurses. Beginning July 1, 2026, hospitals must implement detailed staffing plans that specify maximum patient-to-nurse ratios for different hospital units, such as one nurse to two patients in intensive care units, one nurse to four patients in medical-surgical units, and one nurse to three patients in pediatric units. The staffing committees will be responsible for developing annual staffing plans based on factors like patient census, acuity, and unit-specific needs. The bill mandates that these plans be posted publicly and made available to patients, and establishes a complaint and investigation process enforced by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Hospitals that fail to comply may face daily fines ranging from $100 to $5,000, depending on the hospital's size and type. The legislation also prohibits retaliation against nurses who report staffing concerns and aims to protect nurses from burnout by ensuring reasonable patient-to-nurse ratios across different hospital departments.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1244&year=2025