SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1256        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 279

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Mark C. Montigny

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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.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1256        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 279

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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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.