HB3585 - Hospital Patient Protection Act

• Establishes minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and ambulatory surgical treatment centers, with specific ratios ranging from 1:1 (critical trauma patients) to 1:6 (postpartum units).

• Prohibits hospitals from using mandatory overtime, unlicensed personnel to perform nursing functions, medical assistants in emergency departments, or video monitoring as substitutes for direct nurse observation and care.

• Grants registered professional nurses rights to refuse unsafe patient assignments, act as patient advocates, and object to policies violating the Act without facing retaliation, discrimination, or adverse employment action.

• Imposes civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation plus $10,000 per shift for each affected clinical unit until compliance is achieved, with enforcement authority granted to the Department of Public Health and Attorney General.

• Requires hospitals to post staffing ratios and actual staffing levels daily in visible areas and provide patients with a toll-free Department of Public Health number to report inadequate staffing; takes effect January 1, 2020.