Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3620 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4077 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3620
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michael S. Day, (BY REQUEST)
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to encourage, and improve the level of availability of nursing staff.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Vincent L. Dixon60 Lake St. Unit N Winchester
16	16	Massachusetts 01890
17	17	1/20/2023 1 of 3
18	18	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4077 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
19	19	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3620
20	20	By Representative Day of Stoneham (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
21	21	3620) of Vincent L. Dixon relative to nursing and health care worker staffing levels. Public
22	22	Health.
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act to encourage, and improve the level of availability of nursing staff.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the
32	32	2 following new chapter:
33	33	3 PURPOSE – A variety of circumstances, having developed in recent years, have led to
34	34	4the serious erosion of staffing levels, among nursing, and health care workers. These
35	35	5circumstances have included the migration of many such workers, into other fields; the
36	36	6retirement of many, and other factors including pressure on work loads, and challenged
37	37	7compensation levels; leading to what, in effect, is a health care system emergency, and crisis.
38	38	8 Recent events, particularly the COVID-19 Pandemic, and other factors, have led to the
39	39	9death of many nurses, and other health care workers, further adding to the significant shortage of
40	40	10such staff. 2 of 3
41	41	11 In addition, profound changes in medical treatment modalities, significant lengthening of
42	42	12life spans, of many; and newer recognized diseases, and conditions, have meant that there are
43	43	13some increases in the need for nurses, and related health care workers.
44	44	14 Significantly, Massachusetts has become a world leader in medicine, and health care, and
45	45	15attracts substantial numbers of patients, from across The United States and the World.
46	46	16 Thus, it has become clear that a shortage of nurses, and related health care workers, is
47	47	17worsening, and is likely to worsen further; adding to crisis type risks, and actual crisis
48	48	18circumstances, in the health care system of our Commonwealth; over a span of some years,
49	49	19going forward. This statute has as its purpose, to address, and help to remedy, these shortages;
50	50	20and provide additional mechanisms, by which individuals, and institutions, can recruit, train,
51	51	21employ, and otherwise stabilize, and seek to improve the nursing, and health care work force.
52	52	22 SECTION 2 – This legislation authorizes the Executive Office of Health and Human
53	53	23Services, and under it, the Department of Public Health, to create a Nursing Scholarship
54	54	24Program.
55	55	25 2a.) This Nursing Scholarship Program (NSP), shall provide a mechanism for all
56	56	26qualified students, who wish to enroll in an accredited Nursing Program, operated within The
57	57	27Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to receive specific assistance in obtaining grant, and/or
58	58	28scholarship aid, to compensate their educational, and related costs, as long as they meet certain
59	59	29specified standards.
60	60	30 2b.) Those students receiving assistance through the Nursing Scholarship Program (NSP),
61	61	31shall attend at least half-time, and preferably full-time, during their academic, and clinical
62	62	32training. 3 of 3
63	63	33 2c.) Such eligible students, shall, upon graduation, commit to no less than two (2) years
64	64	34of full-time service, in a qualified medical institution, and/or health care facility, within the
65	65	35boundaries of Massachusetts, as may be further defined.
66	66	36 SECTION 3 – All such eligible Nursing Scholarship Program (NSP) students, shall
67	67	37receive up to four (4) years of complete tuition compensation, during their studies in an
68	68	38accredited Bachelor of Science, Nursing Degree Program.
69	69	39 3a.) The Department of Public Health, is authorized to develop such program, and may,
70	70	40as needed, intersect with other agencies of the Commonwealth, to develop additional related
71	71	41standards.
72	72	42 3b.) Detailed records, for students in the program, shall be kept, processed, analyzed, and
73	73	43further reported, together with useful recommendations, for the refinement of the program. This
74	74	44public report, shall be done on a yearly basis.