Efforts continue in this years legislative sessions. ANA is monitoring 51 bills in 25, legislation was passed in 6 states. The HI Senate adopted a resolution that urges HNA and the Health Care Association of HI to find solutions to patient safety and nurse shortage issues. Legislation passed in California provides a one year extension for the adoption of regulations to adopt last years ratio bill. Colorado legislation establishes tax credits for health care professionals practicing in healthcare professional shortage areas.
Delaware legislation requires the assessment of shift differential payments.
Maryland legislation creates a statewide commission on the crisis in nursing to look at the implications of a growing nursing shortage. Rhode Island legislation creates a House commission to study nurse staffing in acute care hospitals. CA, MA, NJ, NY, OH, RI, and TN are still considering sufficient staffing legislation. The majority of these bills also require public reporting of data and the development of staffing data on the skills and credentials of nurses providing care and patient acuity. Similar legislation in AZ, HI and WV did not pass this year.