The bill amends the General Laws in Chapter 23-17.7.1 entitled "Licensing of Nursing Service Agencies" to introduce several changes. It removes the fixed annual licensure fee of $500 and allows the director to establish reasonable fees for licensure application, renewal, and administrative actions. The bill also mandates the Department of Health (DOH) to develop 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. Additionally, the bill sets a cap on the rates nursing service agencies can charge for services provided to nursing facilities and assisted living residences, not to exceed 200% of the regional hourly wage for certain positions, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for confidentiality of health inspections, investigations, and medical records, including COVID-19 testing results and other vaccinations. It requires nursing service agencies to maintain insurance coverage for workers' compensation and to keep records of violations of the public health code by agency staff as public records. The bill also introduces employment prohibitions, preventing agencies from recruiting employees from clients they serve and from requiring compensation if an employee is hired permanently by a client facility. Lastly, the bill outlines annual reporting requirements for agencies, including salary data, employee numbers, terminations, and charges by employment agencies to healthcare provider employers. The act would take effect upon passage.