The bill amends the General Laws in Chapter 23-17.7.1 entitled "Licensing of Nursing Service Agencies" to introduce several changes. It allows the director to establish reasonable fees for licensure application, renewal, and administrative actions, removing the fixed annual licensure fee of $500. The Department of Health (DOH) is tasked with developing a system by October 1, 2023, for the annual registration of temporary nursing services agencies, with the possibility of assessing an annual licensure fee of $1,000 per licensee starting January 1, 2024. The bill also mandates that no temporary nursing services agency can provide services in the state without registration. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the confidentiality of health inspections, investigations, medical records, including COVID-19 testing results, vaccinations, employee personnel files, and records of violations of public health code by agency staff. It also requires the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council (LTCC) to develop standards for nurse staff agencies and a ranking formula for public accountability.

Furthermore, the bill outlines regulations for training and competency evaluation programs for nursing assistants, including ongoing in-service educational programs. It prohibits nursing service agencies from recruiting or hiring potential employees from a client they serve and from requiring employees to pay damages or fees if hired permanently by a client facility. The bill also introduces annual reporting requirements for agencies, including salary statistics, employee numbers, terminations, and reports of abuse or neglect. Agencies must report the amounts charged and paid for each person placed with a healthcare provider employer, as well as the retained payments. These reports are due within 30 days after the end of the calendar year. The bill is designed to establish a cap on rates charged by nursing service agencies, protect clients from losing staff to these agencies, and update training, reporting, and administrative procedures. It will take effect upon passage.