HB 50 Summary: Limitations on Mandatory Overtime for Nurses

• Prohibits health care facilities from requiring registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to work beyond predetermined shifts or accept overtime assignments if the nurse believes it would jeopardize patient or employee safety.

• Mandates at least 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time immediately following completion of a regularly scheduled shift.

• Establishes exceptions for medical procedures in progress, unforeseen emergencies (terrorism, disease outbreak, natural disasters), extreme weather conditions, and rural community staffing emergencies; also allows voluntary overtime up to 14 consecutive hours and special 16-hour shifts at psychiatric facilities treating only children.

• Requires health care facilities to declare temporary nurse staffing emergencies in writing (not exceeding 30 days) and report to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and Alaska Legislative Council when declarations exceed 2 occurrences per 6-month period or 3 per year.

• Establishes enforcement by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development with escalating penalties: reprimand for first violation; $500 fine for second violation within 12 months; $2,500-$5,000 for third violation; and $5,000-$25,000 for subsequent violations; prohibits retaliation against nurses exercising rights under this law.