The bill amends several sections of the Revised Code to revise the regulations governing hospital-wide nursing care committees and nursing services staffing plans. Key changes include the introduction of new definitions, such as "hospital administrator," "inpatient care unit," and "unit-specific minimum staffing level," which clarify the roles and responsibilities within hospital staffing. The bill mandates that each hospital must convene a nursing care committee within ninety days of the effective date, ensuring that at least fifty-one percent of the committee's members are registered nurses providing direct patient care. Additionally, the bill stipulates that hospitals must develop and implement a nursing services staffing plan every two years, which must be approved by the committee.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a new section that encourages hospitals to adhere to their staffing plans by offering premium rate discounts through the workers' compensation program. It outlines the conditions under which hospitals can adjust their staffing plans, particularly during public health emergencies, and requires hospitals to submit compliance reports to the Department of Health. The bill also emphasizes transparency by requiring hospitals to provide copies of their staffing plans to nursing staff and the public, ensuring accountability in meeting staffing standards. Existing sections related to these topics are repealed to streamline the regulations.

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