OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
May 17, 2023
ADDENDUM
To Fiscal Note on LCO No. 7571
SB-1067, File No. 465
AN ACT CONCERNING ADEQUATE AND SAFE HEALTH CARE
STAFFING.
Primary Analyst: ES 5/17/23
Contributing Analyst(s): SB, RDP
The underlying fiscal note on the amendment indicated the state
could incur additional costs related to the staffing committee
requirements established in section one. Such costs include the
following and are described below.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) does not currently
operate Hospital Staffing Committees at the Albert J. Solnit Children’s
Center Hospital, or the Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center Psychiatric
Residential Treatment Facilities. The anticipated total cost to the State for
DCF to establish and operate two Hospital Staffing Committees, and
comply with data and reporting requirements, is estimated at $441,488 in
FY 24 and $432,025 in FY 25. These totals reflect salaries for two Quality
Assurance Mangers ($173,712 in FY 24 and $178,055 in FY 25), salaries for
two Administrative Assistants ($121,406 in FY 24 and $124,441 in FY 25),
associated fringe benefits ($126,370 in FY 24 and $129,529 in FY 25), and a
one-time cost for pamphlets and fliers to notify staff of committees ($20,000
in FY 24).
The costs to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
(DMHAS) include a Quality Assurance Manager and Administrative 2023SB-01067-R00LCO07571-ADD.DOCX Page 2 of 2
Assistant totaling approximately $147,600 in FY 24 and $151,300 in FY 25
(with associated fringe costs of $63,200 and $64,800, respectively), to
support the additional requirements related to the staffing committees.
Committee staffing and coverage costs are anticipated to include up to
$7,480 per occurrence if a nurse from each of Whiting’s 11 units attends.
To the extent that agency staffing plans go to arbitration, the state would
experience related costs.
Section 1 of the amendment also allows an RN to object or refuse to
participate in any activity, policy, practice, or task the hospital assigns,
in certain circumstances. These provisions are effective October 1, 2023.
This could also increase the cost to the state to the extent the hospital
incurs increased liability costs.