The proposed bill mandates the Health Care Authority to establish and enforce minimum licensed nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in licensed hospitals across New Mexico. It introduces a new "statewide staffing advisory committee" composed of various stakeholders, including nursing directors and non-managerial nursing staff, to provide guidance on nurse staffing matters. The bill outlines the definitions of key terms related to hospital staffing, such as "critical access hospital" and "hospital staffing committee," and requires hospitals to develop policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the established staffing ratios. Additionally, hospitals must report their staffing plans and efforts to meet these ratios to the advisory committee.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that hospitals must notify the authority and the advisory committee of any deviations from the staffing ratios and provides a framework for investigating and remedying violations. It establishes a system of administrative penalties for non-compliance, including fines for repeated violations. The authority is also empowered to grant waivers for rural or critical access hospitals under certain circumstances. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance patient care by ensuring adequate nursing staff in hospitals while providing a structured approach to monitoring and enforcing staffing standards.