HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2010        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1967

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Moran

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to establish safe staffing levels at skilled nursing facilities.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Michael J. Moran

18th Suffolk

1/20/2011

Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera

10th Hampden

1/28/2011

Tackey Chan

2nd Norfolk

2/3/2011

Martin J. Walsh

13th Suffolk

2/3/2011

Sonia Chang-Diaz

 

2/3/2011

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

2/3/2011

Carlos Henriquez

5th Suffolk

2/4/2011

James J. O'Day

14th Worcester

2/4/2011

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

2/4/2011

Marcos A. Devers

16th Essex

2/4/2011

Stephen Stat Smith

28th Middlesex

2/4/2011


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2010        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1967

By Mr. Moran of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1967) of Michael J. Moran and others for legislation to establish safe staffing levels at skilled nursing facilities.  Elder Affairs.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

_______________

 

An Act to establish safe staffing levels at skilled nursing facilities.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  The Department of Public Health shall establish minimum staffing requirements at Skilled Nursing Care Facilities and for all level I, II and III long-term care facilities (as defined at 105 CMR 150.001).  Working with 1199SEIU and other appropriate stakeholders, the Department shall develop amendments to the existing Nursing Services regulations (105 CMR 150.007) that ensure these facilities employ an adequate number of nurses, certified nurse assistants, and other staff to both meet all patient needs and ensure that sufficient staff is working at any given time to safely meet those needs.  Said amended regulations shall include specific standards and direct-care staff-to-patient ratios to ensure consistent delivery of quality care in a safe and sanitary facility.  The Department shall issue public recommendations on these issues no later than six months following final passage of this Act.