OH HB535

Requires hospitals to convene hospital-wide nursing care committees within 90 days, with at least 51% of members being direct patient care registered nurses and hospital administrators limited to 30% of membership

Mandates committees develop two-year nursing services staffing plans establishing unit-specific minimum staffing levels expressed as fixed nurse-to-patient ratios or ratio ranges based on evidence-based standards

Requires hospitals to adhere to staffing plans at least 80% of the time per unit each quarter (60% during public health emergencies not exceeding 90 days), with quarterly compliance reports filed with the Ohio Department of Health

Authorizes the Department of Health to audit hospitals falling below compliance thresholds or receiving three or more credible complaints, and to assess fines equal to five times the average hourly wage for each hour of understaffing

Creates a workers' compensation premium discount program through the Bureau of Workers' Compensation for hospitals that meet the 80%/60% staffing plan adherence requirements