CA AB2144

Requires the State Department of Public Health to adopt regulations by January 1, 2016 establishing minimum licensed nursing staff-to-patient ratios and ancillary staff-to-patient ratios for health facilities operated by the State Department of State Hospitals.

Sets specific minimum staffing ratios: long-term units require one nurse/psychiatric technician per six residents (day/evening) and per 12 residents (overnight); admissions units require one nurse/psychiatric technician per six residents (day/evening) and per 12 residents (overnight); units with severely aggressive or self-injurious patients require one nurse/psychiatric technician per six residents (day/evening) and per 12 residents (overnight).

Establishes ancillary staff ratios (rehabilitation therapists, licensed social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists) at one per 25 residents for long-term units, one per 15 residents for admissions units, and one per 12 residents for units with severely aggressive or self-injurious patients.

Prohibits including administrative, supervisory, and non-unit-based staff in ratio calculations and requires ratios be calculated on a unit-by-unit basis without averaging across units.

Allows the department to grant waivers if they do not jeopardize patient and staff health and safety, and requires the department to review regulations five years after adoption and report to the Legislature.