HF 1654 Summary

• Hospitals must maintain staffing levels of qualified registered nurses consistent with nationally accepted evidence-based standards established by professional nursing organizations and the commissioner, as a condition of licensure.

• Commissioner must establish a 12-member working group by September 1, 2015, to develop minimum staffing standards by March 1, 2016, with at least 7 members from Minnesota Nurses Association and representation from hospitals, public, and nurses from different regions and hospital sizes.

• Hospitals must establish Safe Patient Assignment Committees by October 1, 2015, with at least 60 percent direct-care registered nurse membership to conduct annual staffing assessments and implement safe staffing standards.

• Direct-care registered nurses cannot be retaliated against or disciplined for refusing unsafe assignments or reporting concerns about safe staffing levels.

• Commissioner shall impose civil penalties of not less than $25,000 per hospital for noncompliance and publicly report incidents quarterly on its website starting September 1, 2015.