HB 305 Summary

• Establishes the "Florida Hospital Patient Protection Act" requiring acute care hospitals to maintain minimum direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios ranging from 1:1 in trauma/operating rooms to 1:6 in well-baby nurseries.

• Prohibits mandatory overtime, averaging of staffing ratios across shifts, and using video surveillance as a substitute for direct nurse observation; requires use of acuity-based patient classification systems to determine additional staffing needs.

• Mandates written staffing plans developed by chief nursing officers with at least half the committee members being direct care nurses; requires annual evaluation and public posting of actual staffing levels on each unit.

• Grants direct care registered nurses the right to refuse unsafe assignments or orders without retaliation, establishes patient advocacy duties, and prohibits unlicensed personnel from performing registered nurse functions including patient assessments.

• Authorizes civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation for facilities and $20,000 for individuals; requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to establish a toll-free hotline for reporting violations and post violating facilities on its website.