SF4444 Summary

• Requires the Commissioner of Health to continue publishing an annual adverse health event report indefinitely, exempting this mandate from the automatic expiration provisions that apply to other reporting requirements.

• Prohibits health care facilities from discharging, disciplining, retaliating, or discriminating against patient care staff who request to decline additional patient assignments or who decline assignments after following a specified process if they reasonably determine accepting the assignment may create unnecessary danger to patient safety.

• Establishes a formal process for patient care staff to decline additional assignments: written notification to charge nurse or supervisor with explanation, supervisor assessment of resources and chain of command options, and permission to decline if the issue cannot be resolved.

• Allows patient care staff covered by collective bargaining agreements to have a labor representative present during process meetings and requires facilities to maintain accessible chain of command policies on all units.

• Authorizes the commissioner to enforce violations through compliance orders and assess fines up to $5,000 per violation, with exceptions for emergencies and emergency medical conditions requiring additional patient assignments.