HB 1397 Summary: Florida Hospital Patient Protection Act

• Establishes mandatory minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for health care facilities, varying by unit type (1:1 in operating rooms/trauma units, 1:2 in critical care, 1:3-1:4 in medical-surgical units, etc.)

• Prohibits mandatory overtime, averaging of ratios across shifts, and layoffs of support staff to meet staffing requirements; requires transparent acuity-based patient classification systems submitted to the Agency for Health Care Administration

• Protects direct care registered nurses' right to refuse unsafe assignments or tasks without retaliation, and establishes patient advocacy duties including the right to refuse orders not in patients' best interests

• Prohibits facilities from interfering with nurse organizing and collective bargaining, requires posting of staffing information and a toll-free hotline for reporting violations

• Authorizes civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation for facilities (or more for patterns of violation) and $20,000 for individuals; effective July 1, 2013