HB 875 Summary: Florida Hospital Patient Protection Act

• Establishes mandatory minimum direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for different hospital units, ranging from 1:1 in trauma/operating rooms to 1:6 in well-baby nurseries.

• Prohibits mandatory overtime to meet staffing requirements and requires health care facilities to develop written staffing plans based on patient acuity assessments, updated annually.

• Protects nurses' right to refuse unsafe assignments and prohibits retaliation, discharge, or discrimination based on refusal; provides private right of action with remedies including reinstatement and lost wages.

• Requires facilities to post staffing information publicly on a shift-by-shift basis and maintain accurate staffing records for at least 2 years, made available to the agency and public.

• Authorizes the Agency for Health Care Administration to impose civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation against facilities and up to $20,000 per violation against individuals; establishes toll-free hotline for reporting violations.