The bill revises regulations concerning hospital-wide nursing care committees and nursing services staffing plans within the Revised Code. It clarifies the definitions of "hospital" and "hospital administrator," detailing the responsibilities of hospital administrators in staffing decisions. Hospitals are mandated to establish a nursing care committee within ninety days of the bill's effective date, with at least fifty-one percent of its members being registered nurses who provide direct patient care. Additionally, hospitals must develop and implement a nursing services staffing plan that is subject to review and approval by the nursing care committee. The bill also sets guidelines for adherence to these staffing plans, requiring compliance at least eighty percent of the time, and includes provisions for public health emergencies.

Moreover, the bill introduces a program to incentivize hospitals to comply with their staffing plans, offering discounts on premium rates for those that meet compliance thresholds. Hospitals are required to provide their staffing plans free of charge to nursing staff and for a nominal fee to others, as well as to post public notices about the availability of these plans. The legislation also includes penalties for non-compliance, such as fines based on staffing shortfalls. Notably, several existing sections of the Revised Code are repealed, streamlining the regulatory framework surrounding hospital staffing and enhancing accountability and patient care.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3727.50, 3727.51, 3727.52, 3727.54, 3727.55, 3727.56, 3727.53