Bill > A382

This bill establishes minimum ratios for the number of certified nurse aides (CNAs) to the number of residents in nursing homes. The key provisions are: 1. Nursing homes must maintain the following minimum direct care staff-to-resident ratios: (1) one direct care staff member for every 6.5 residents on the day shift; (2) one direct care staff member for every 10 residents on the evening shift; and (3) one direct care staff member for every 15 residents on the night shift. 2. Nursing homes that experience an increase in resident census are exempt from increasing the number of direct care staff for nine consecutive shifts. 3. The bill sets forth a methodology for computing the appropriate ratios and provides that ratios will be rounded up when the resulting ratio is 0.51 or higher. 4. The bill does not affect any other minimum staffing requirements for nursing home staff other than direct care staff, and does not prohibit nursing homes from establishing staffing levels above the minimums. 5. The bill establishes a "Special Task Force on Direct Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment" to evaluate current staffing levels, examine policies and procedures, and develop recommendations to ensure an adequate direct care workforce. 6. The Commissioner of Health is required to adopt rules and regulations to implement the minimum staffing ratio requirements.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services