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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 85 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1467
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bruce E. Tarr
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing a commission on quality patient outcomes and nurse staffing.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 85 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1467
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1467) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation
to establish a commission on quality patient outcomes and nurse staffing. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1345 OF 2019-2020.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act establishing a commission on quality patient outcomes and nurse staffing.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
2section:-
3 Section 220.(a) There shall be a commission on nurse staffing in hospitals located within,
4but not subject to the control of the executive office of health and human services. The
5commission shall work to develop safe staffing standards for all hospital units.
6 (b) (1) The commission shall consist of 15 members, as follows: the secretary of health
7and human services or a designee, who shall serve as the chair; the attorney general or a
8designee; the executive director of the health policy commission or a designee; the house chair of
9the joint committee on public health; the senate chair of the joint committee on public health; one
10person appointed by the speaker of the house; one person appointed by the senate president; one 2 of 3
11person appointed by the minority leader of the house; one person appointed by the minority
12leader of the senate; and one representative from each of the following 8 organizations:
13American Nurses Association Massachusetts, Inc.; Massachusetts Emergency Nurse Association
14of; Massachusetts Nurses Association; Organization of Nurse Leaders; the Massachusetts
15Hospital Association; Service Employees United International; Massachusetts Health Council;
16and Health Law Advocates.
17 (2) Members of the commission shall serve for a term of 4 years, without compensation.
18Any member shall be eligible for reappointment. Vacancies shall be filled in accordance with
19paragraph (1) for the remainder of the unexpired term. Any member who is appointed by the
20governor may be removed by the governor for cause.
21 (c) The commission may establish advisory committees to assist its work.
22 (d) The commission shall: examine evidence based, tested and validated research on
23patient care quality outcomes relative to nurse staffing levels; examine evidence based, tested
24and validated research on optimal staffing levels for all units within a hospital; examine
25approaches undertaken by other states by statute or regulation to address the issue of patient
26safety relative to nurse staffing; examine any barriers to reasonable and efficient enforcement of
27staffing standards adopted in other jurisdictions; develop strategies for collaborative practice
28amongst registered nurses and other members of the health care team; hold public hearings and
29meetings to accept comment from the general public and to seek advice from experts; submit an
30annual report to the legislature as provided in subsection (e) on the state of hospital staffing in
31the Commonwealth. 3 of 3
32 (e) The commission shall file an annual report, on or before March 1, with the joint
33committee on public health on its activities and any statutory or regulatory recommendations.
34The commission shall monitor the implementation of its recommendations and update
35recommendations to reflect current science and evidence based practice.