The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1279, aims to establish minimum staffing ratios for nursing homes in Connecticut, effective July 1, 2026. The bill repeals and replaces Section 19a-563h, mandating that nursing homes provide at least three and six-tenths hours of direct care per resident per day, which includes specific allocations for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse's aides. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Public Health to modify staffing level requirements for social work and recreational staff, ensuring that there is one full-time social worker for every sixty residents and increasing the requirements for recreational staff compared to previous standards.

Furthermore, the bill introduces stricter penalties for nursing homes that fail to comply with these staffing requirements, classifying such violations as class B violations. The Commissioner of Public Health is granted the authority to take disciplinary actions and issue citations for non-compliance. The legislation also mandates the adoption of regulations to implement these provisions, with a phased approach to increasing staffing levels by January 1, 2028, to a minimum of four and one-tenth hours of direct care per resident per day. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the quality of care in nursing homes by ensuring adequate staffing levels and imposing penalties for violations.

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