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SF2775 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Hospitals providing registered nurse staffing at levels consistent with nationally accepted standards requirement provision, staffing levels report requirement, retaliation prohibition provision, and appropriation

Related bill: HF2289

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to improve patient care in Minnesota hospitals by setting minimum staffing levels for registered nurses, ensuring these staffing levels are consistent with nationally accepted standards. It includes reporting requirements for staffing levels, prohibits retaliation against nurses, and imposes civil penalties for non-compliance.

Main Provisions

  • Staffing Levels: Hospitals must maintain enough registered nursing staff to meet nationally recognized care standards. This includes setting maximum patient assignments for direct-care registered nurses based on patient acuity and care needs.
  • Staffing Plans: Hospitals are required to create staffing plans in collaboration with direct-care registered nurses, specifying patient-to-nurse ratios for various hospital units. These plans must allow for flexibility to ensure patient safety.
  • Reporting and Monitoring: Hospitals must report staffing levels and comply with existing core staffing plan reports. A new standardized electronic reporting system will be developed for transparency.
  • Safe Patient Assignment Committee: Establishes a committee at each hospital to oversee staffing levels and ensure nurse-to-patient ratios are maintained, with nurses forming the majority of the committee.
  • Prohibited Actions: Hospitals cannot use mandatory overtime, inadequately trained personnel, or non-nurses to meet staffing requirements.
  • Retaliation Prohibition: Protects nurses from retaliation for refusing assignments they deem unsafe or for reporting unsafe staffing levels.
  • Technology Use: Restricts use of technology such as video monitoring or artificial intelligence as a replacement for direct nurse care and judgment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Implements stricter nurse-to-patient ratios to ensure adequate care, significantly affecting how hospitals staff their units.
  • Introduces penalties for non-compliance with staffing requirements and for failing to report staffing levels accurately.
  • Enhances protections for nurses who raise concerns about staffing or patient care, ensuring they cannot be disciplined for doing so.
  • Establishes enforcement mechanisms, including civil penalties for breaches, with reports of non-compliance made public.
  • Creates infrastructure for enforcing comprehensive staffing plans and committees to implement the new standards effectively.

Relevant Terms

  • Registered nurse staffing
  • Nationally accepted standards
  • Retaliation
  • Civil penalties
  • Patient acuity
  • Direct-care registered nurse
  • Staffing plans
  • Nurse-to-patient ratios
  • Non-compliance

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 19, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 19, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toLabor
March 31, 2025SenateFloorActionComm report: To pass and re-referred toHuman Services

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Requires hospitals to submit staffing grids to the commissioner.",
        "Establishes a civil penalty for failure to comply with staffing grid submissions."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends section 144.7055 involving hospital staffing plan reports.",
      "modified": [
        "Enhances the enforcement mechanism for staffing grid compliance."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "144.7055",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarifications on immunity from civil liability or criminal prosecution for reporting violations."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amendments in section 148.264 reinforce protections for health care workers reporting unsafe conditions.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjustment in language regarding the reporting process to maintain compliance with professional judgment."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.264",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "These sections relate to the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "148.171 to 148.285",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Provisions referring to compliance with licensing standards under sections 144.50 to 144.56.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "144.50 to 144.56",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Provisions regarding direct-care registered nurse staffing standards and compliance mechanisms."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The range of sections 144.592 to 144.596 establishes the Quality Patient Care Act.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "144.592 to 144.596",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Sponsors