Bill

Bill > SB1558


OR SB1558

OR SB1558
Relating to hospital staffing.


summary

Introduced
02/02/2026
In Committee
02/02/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2026 Legislative Measures

Bill Summary

The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards. Digest: Makes changes to the laws regarding hospital nurse staffing plans. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.3). Requires a vote to adopt a nurse staffing plan by a hospital nurse staffing committee to be documented in the staffing plan. Directs a hospital to implement a hospital-wide nurse staffing plan that has been developed and adopted by the hospital nurse staffing committee or, if the committee has not adopted a plan, a hospital-wide nurse staffing plan that meets the statutory requirements. Directs that the statutory direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios constitute the nurse staffing plan for a unit if the hospital nurse staffing committee has not adopted a nurse staffing plan for the unit. Changes from four to five the number of patients that a direct care registered nurse may be assigned for a medical-surgical unit under the statutory staffing ratios. Allows a type C hospital to vary from the statutory direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. Requires a unit manager to notify the cochairs of the hospital nurse staffing committee after each deviation from a nurse staffing plan. Establishes a maximum amount in civil penalties that may be imposed for violations of the hospital staffing requirements. Directs that all civil penalties collected shall be distributed to the local public health authorities. Prohibits the impositions of civil penalties for violations that occur before July 1, 2027. Modifies what constitutes a single violation for purposes of failure to comply with certain staffing ratios.

AI Summary

This bill modifies laws concerning hospital nurse staffing plans, requiring that votes to adopt such plans by a hospital nurse staffing committee be documented within the plan itself. Hospitals must implement a plan developed and adopted by their nurse staffing committee, or if no plan is adopted, a plan that meets statutory requirements. If a committee hasn't adopted a plan for a specific unit, the statutory direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios will serve as the plan for that unit. The bill increases the maximum number of patients a direct care registered nurse can be assigned in a medical-surgical unit from four to five. It also allows Type C hospitals, in addition to Type A and B hospitals, to deviate from statutory nurse-to-patient staffing ratios with committee approval. Unit managers are now required to notify the cochairs of the hospital nurse staffing committee after any deviation from a staffing plan. The bill also establishes a maximum amount for civil penalties for staffing violations, mandates that all collected civil penalties be distributed to local public health authorities, and prohibits the imposition of civil penalties for violations occurring before July 1, 2027, while also modifying how a single violation is defined for certain staffing ratio failures.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Senate Health Care Public Hearing and Possible Work Session (15:00:00 2/16/2026 HR D) (on 02/16/2026)

bill text


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