HB 1378 Summary

• Establishes minimum staff-to-patient ratios for hospitals, care homes, and dialysis facilities, with specific ratios varying by unit type (e.g., one registered nurse to two patients in intensive care, one to five in medical-surgical units).

• Requires all hospitals to establish staffing committees by September 1, 2023, with at least 50% nursing and direct care personnel membership, to develop and oversee annual patient care unit staffing plans based on patient needs and minimum standards.

• Prohibits mandatory overtime for health care employees except in cases of unforeseeable emergencies, chronic staffing shortages, or patient care procedures already in progress; employees may not be penalized for refusing overtime.

• Mandates uninterrupted meal and rest breaks for health care workers, with exceptions only for unforeseeable emergencies or clinical circumstances that could harm patients; facilities must track missed breaks.

• Authorizes the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to investigate violations, issue citations with civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per violation, and allows variances from minimum staffing standards for good cause with department approval.