1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 502 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 485
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Mark C. Montigny
_________________
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 to establish safe staffing levels at skilled nursing facilities.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Mark C. MontignySecond Bristol and Plymouth 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 502 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 485
By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 485) of Mark C. Montigny for
legislation to establish safe staffing levels at skilled nursing facilities. Elder Affairs.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 394 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act to establish safe staffing levels at skilled nursing facilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 The department of public health shall establish minimum staffing requirements at skilled
2nursing care facilities and for all level I, II and III long-term care facilities as defined in 105
3CMR 150.001. Working with 1199SEIU and other appropriate stakeholders, the department shall
4develop amendments to the existing nursing services regulations contained in 105 CMR 150.007
5that ensure these facilities employ an adequate number of nurses, certified nurse assistants, and
6other staff to both meet all resident needs and ensure that sufficient nursing staff with the
7appropriate competencies is working at any given time to assure resident safety and attain or
8maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident,
9as determined by resident assessments and individual plans of care. Said amended regulations
10shall include specific standards, including but not limited to, a minimum 4.1 hours of care per 2 of 2
11patient per day as well as direct-care staff-to-resident ratios to ensure consistent delivery of
12quality care in a safe and sanitary facility.
13 The department shall issue public recommendations on these issues no later than six
14months following final passage of this act.