OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
SB-1067
AN ACT CONCERNING ADEQUATE AND SAFE HEALTH CARE
STAFFING.
AMENDMENT
LCO No.: 8623
File Copy No.: 465
Senate Calendar No.: 270
Primary Analyst: ES 5/25/23
Contributing Analyst(s): (FN)
OFA Fiscal Note
See Fiscal Note Details
The amendment strikes the language in the underlying bill and the
associated fiscal impact.
The amendment results in a cost to the state associated with staffing
committee requirements as well as potential costs related to restrictions
on mandatory overtime. The amendment could also result in a revenue
gain, or cost savings in certain circumstances, related to the imposition
of civil penalties.
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 Managers ($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). 2023SB-01067-R00LCO08623-FNA.docx Page 2 of 3
The costs to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
(DMHAS) include a Quality Assurance Manager and Administrative
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 cost up to $680
per person per day.
Section 1, which is effective 10/1/23, expands DPH oversight over
hospital nurse staffing, resulting in a cost to the agency of
approximately $261,571 in FY 24 and $355,397 in FY 25 for two Nurse
Consultants (approximately $157,779 in FY 24 and $215,631 in FY 25), a
Health Program Associate (approximately $62,513 in FY 24 and $83,351
in FY 25), and a half-time Staff Attorney II (approximately $41,279 in FY
24 and $56,414 in FY 25). The associated expense to the Office of the State
Comptroller – Fringe Benefits is estimated at $112,005 in FY 24 and
$152,181 in FY 25. There may be a potential minimal revenue gain to the
General Fund from the issuance of civil penalties.
Section 1 expands the annual nurse staffing plans that DPH must
evaluate. It requires DPH to investigate complaints from a hospital staff
member or such staff member’s collective bargaining representative of
a violation of any provision of a hospital’s staffing plan. Investigations
will include reviewing policy and procedures, interviews with staff,
including leadership, observations of care, and interviews with patients.
The scope and severity of the issue must be analyzed (i.e., did other
patients experience a negative outcome) to determine if the issue is
isolated or pervasive. Hospitals that do not comply with the provisions
of the amendment must submit corrective plans of action to DPH and
the agency must impose civil penalties of not less than $3,500 for the first
violation and $5,000 for each subsequent violation. This could result in
a revenue gain to the state for any civil penalties applied.
These provisions could also result in an equivalent cost savings to the
extent hospitals do not pay the penalties or expenses due and the
Department of Social Services (DSS) is instead required to withhold 2023SB-01067-R00LCO08623-FNA.docx Page 3 of 3
medical assistance payments in the amount of such penalties and audit
expenses.
While there is a potential cost to the UConn Health Center and
Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Children
and Families if required to pay for audit expenses or civil penalties,
there is no net impact to the state after accounting for the offsetting
revenue gain.
Section 2 of the amendment is not anticipated to result in a fiscal
impact to the state in FY 24 and FY 25 as the provisions related to
mandatory overtime for the relevant state employees do not apply to
collective bargaining agreements that address mandatory overtime and
are in effect prior to June 1, 2027. To the extent the provisions apply in
the out years, the state could incur increased staffing costs related to the
prohibition of mandatory overtime as a regular practice.
The preceding Fiscal Impact statement is prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely
for the purposes of information, summarization and explanation and does not represent the intent of the General
Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of
informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is
consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any
specific department.