MT SB372

Requires all Montana hospitals licensed by the Department of Public Health and Human Services to develop nurse staffing plans in coordination with hospital staffing committees that must be updated and approved annually by majority vote

Mandates staffing committees be composed of at least 50% registered nurses in nonsupervisory roles who provide direct patient care, with collective bargaining agents selecting nurse members where applicable

Establishes maximum nurse-to-patient ratios by unit type: 1:4 in emergency rooms (1:1 for trauma/critical), 1:2 in ICU, 1:1 for active labor, 1:5 in medical-surgical and oncology units, 1:4 in pediatric and cardiac telemetry units, 1:6 in psychiatric and postpartum units

Requires hospitals to post staffing plans visibly in each care unit and maintain accurate records of nurse-to-patient ratios for each shift, accessible to staff, patients, collective bargaining agents, and the public

Hospitals must annually submit staffing plans to the department with written certification that the plan provides adequate and appropriate health care delivery