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 in 105 CMR 150.001. Working with 1199SEIU and other appropriate stakeholders, the department shall develop amendments to the existing nursing services regulations contained in 105 CMR 150.007 that ensure these facilities employ an adequate number of nurses, certified nurse assistants, and other staff to both meet all resident needs and ensure that sufficient nursing staff with the appropriate competencies is working at any given time to assure resident safety and attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident, as determined by resident assessments and individual plans of care. Said amended regulations shall include specific standards, including but not limited to, a minimum 4.1 hours of care per patient per day as well as direct-care staff-to-resident 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.