HB 4630 Summary

• Prohibits hospitals from requiring registered professional nurses to work more than their regularly scheduled hours according to their predetermined work schedule, with limited exceptions for unforeseen emergencies, ongoing patient-care procedures, and voluntary acceptance.

• Requires hospitals to provide registered professional nurses who work 12 or more consecutive hours with 8 consecutive hours of off-duty time immediately following their shift.

• Prohibits hospitals from discharging, disciplining, threatening, or discriminating against nurses regarding compensation, terms, conditions, or employment privileges because they refuse overtime assignments beyond their scheduled hours.

• Establishes administrative penalties of $1,000 per violation for hospital non-compliance and requires hospitals to post notice in conspicuous locations and on intranet sites informing nurses of these protections and complaint procedures.

• Protects nurses from disciplinary action under professional licensing standards for refusing to work beyond scheduled hours and exempts existing collective bargaining agreements that conflict with these requirements until their expiration.