summary
Introduced
01/27/2025
01/27/2025
In Committee
02/03/2025
02/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to patient protection; providing a short title; creating s. 395.1013, F.S.; providing legislative findings; defining terms; requiring health care facilities to implement staffing plans that comply with specified minimum staffing levels for direct care registered nurses; providing construction; prohibiting health care facilities from taking specified actions; requiring such facilities to ensure that certain staffing is maintained; specifying minimum staffing levels for direct care registered nurses based on the hospital or clinical unit setting; requiring that patients be cared for only in hospital or clinical units that meet the specified minimum staffing levels; prohibiting health care facilities from using video cameras or monitors as a substitute for direct observation and assessment by a direct care registered nurse; exempting health care facilities from the minimum staffing level requirements during a declared state of emergency under certain circumstances; providing requirements for any acuity based patient classification system adopted by a health care facility; providing whistle-blower protections; creating a cause of action; providing remedies; providing for complaints to and administrative actions by the Agency for Health Care Administration; prohibiting health care facilities from discriminating or retaliating against persons who, in good faith, initiate, file, or cooperate in an administrative or civil action against the facility; providing construction; providing civil penalties; requiring the agency to post specified information on its website; providing construction with respect to collective bargaining agreements; prohibiting employers from taking specified actions with respect to employment for certain unionized staff; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill establishes comprehensive patient protection standards for health care facilities in Florida, focusing primarily on mandating minimum staffing levels for direct care registered nurses. The legislation creates detailed requirements for nurse-to-patient ratios across various hospital and clinical units, such as requiring one nurse to two patients in critical care units, one nurse to four patients in emergency rooms and medical-surgical units, and one nurse to one patient during conscious sedation. The bill includes extensive legislative findings that emphasize the importance of maintaining adequate nursing staff to ensure patient safety and quality care. It provides robust whistle-blower protections for nurses who refuse unsafe work assignments, prohibits retaliation against healthcare workers who report concerns, and allows nurses to file lawsuits if they experience discrimination. The bill also requires health care facilities to implement transparent patient classification systems, prohibits using video monitoring as a substitute for direct nurse observation, and establishes potential civil penalties up to $25,000 for facilities that violate the staffing requirements. The legislation will take effect on January 1, 2026, and applies to various healthcare settings including acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and psychiatric facilities.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration (on 05/03/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/332 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/332/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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