SB3636 Summary

• Requires hospitals to implement written nurse staffing plans based on patient acuity, developed by nursing care committees with at least 55% registered nurses, and to submit plans of correction within 60 days if they fail to comply.

• Authorizes the Department of Public Health to impose fines up to $500 per occurrence for staffing plan violations, up to $1,000 per occurrence for repeat violations, with fine revenue deposited into the Hospital Licensure Fund and used for nursing scholarships.

• Increases nursing education scholarship funding from the Hospital Licensure Fund to $500,000 annually for fiscal years 2020-2024, available through the Department of Public Health.

• Creates an income tax credit for nurse educators equal to 2.5% of federal adjusted gross income for taxable years beginning January 1, 2020, allowing unused credits to be carried forward up to 5 years.

• Effective immediately except hospital staffing provisions take effect on the first day of the first full calendar month beginning 6 months after enactment.