SB 204 Summary: Florida Hospital Patient Protection Act

• Creates mandatory minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in hospitals, ranging from 1:1 in trauma/operating rooms to 1:6 in well-baby nurseries, with specific ratios for different unit types (ICU, labor/delivery, surgical, psychiatric, etc.)

• Prohibits mandatory overtime for direct care registered nurses and requires only registered nurses to relieve other nurses during breaks; prevents facilities from laying off support staff to meet nurse staffing requirements.

• Establishes professional practice protections allowing nurses to refuse unsafe assignments or tasks without retaliation, and prohibits facilities from discharging, discriminating against, or filing complaints against nurses for such refusals.

• Requires health care facilities to develop written staffing plans based on acuity-based patient classification systems, with annual evaluations and updates; mandates posting of actual vs. required staffing levels in each unit for public view.

• Imposes civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation against facilities and up to $20,000 against individuals for violations; establishes a state hotline for reporting inadequate staffing or care violations.