Bill Sponsor
Colorado House Bill 1401
Session 2022A
Hospital Nurse Staffing Standards
Became Law
Became Law
Signed by Governor on May 18, 2022
Sponsors
Democrat
Kyle Mullica
Democrat
Dominick Moreno
First Action
Apr 26, 2022
Latest Action
May 18, 2022
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1401
State
Colorado
Session
2022A
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Summary
The act requires every hospital to establish, by September 1, 2022, a nurse staffing committee pursuant to rules promulgated by the state board of health, either by creating a new committee or assigning the nurse staffing functions to an existing hospital staffing committee. The nurse staffing committee must have at least 60% or greater participation by clinical staff nurses. The nurse staffing committee is required to: Annually develop and oversee a master nurse staffing plan; Submit a recommended staffing plan to the hospital's senior nurse executive and governing body; and Receive, track, and resolve complaints and receive feedback from direct-care nurses and other staff. The act requires a hospital to: Submit the nurse staffing plan to the department of public health and environment (department) on an annual basis; Post the nurse staffing plan on the hospital's website; Evaluate the nurse staffing plan on a quarterly basis and, based on complaints and recommendations of patients and staff, revise the nurse staffing plan accordingly; and Prepare an annual report containing the details of the evaluation. The act prohibits a hospital from assigning direct-care providers to a nursing unit or clinical area of a hospital unless the providers are properly trained in the unit or area assigned. On or before September 1, 2022, in a form and manner determined by rules promulgated by the state board of health, each hospital is required to report: The baseline number of beds the hospital is able to staff; and The hospital's current bed capacity. If the hospital's ability to meet staffed-bed capacity falls below 80% of the required baseline in a specified period, the hospital is required to notify the department and submit a plan to meet that requirement. The act requires the department to notify a hospital if the hospital's number of staffed beds exceeds 80% of a hospital's total licensed beds and fine the hospital if the hospital does not take corrective action. Each hospital is required to update its emergency plan at least annually and as often as necessary, as circumstances warrant. The act authorizes the department to fine a hospital up to $10,000 per day for the hospital's failure to: Meet the required staffed-bed capacity; Include the amount of necessary vaccines for administration in its annual emergency plan and, to the extent they are available, have the vaccines available at each of its facilities; and Include the necessary testing capabilities, to the extent they are available at each of its facilities. The act grants rule-making authority to the department and to the state board of health. The act requires the department to report certain data to its committee of reference as part of its presentation at the hearing held pursuant to the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act". The act requires the office of saving people money on health care in the office of the lieutenant governor (office) to study: The level of preparedness of health facilities to respond to post-viral illness resulting from the COVID-19 virus; The effects of post-viral illness resulting from the COVID-19 virus on the mental, behavioral, and physical health and the financial security of the people of Colorado; and The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cost of health care in Colorado and on the resiliency of Colorado's public health system. The act requires the office to annually report its findings to the governor and to coordinate, monitor, and support efforts to improve affordability of health care, health outcomes, and public health readiness in state programs and departments. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Actions (16)
05/18/2022
Office of the Governor
Governor Signed
05/17/2022
Office of the Governor
Sent to the Governor
05/17/2022
Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
05/17/2022
House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/11/2022
Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
05/10/2022
Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
05/09/2022
Senate
Senate Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
05/09/2022
Senate
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
05/06/2022
Senate
Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations
05/06/2022
Senate
Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Finance
05/05/2022
Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
05/05/2022
House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
05/04/2022
House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
05/04/2022
House
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
05/02/2022
House
House Committee on Health & Insurance Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/26/2022
House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Insurance
Sources
Record Created
Apr 27, 2022 1:03:13 AM
Record Updated
Sep 16, 2022 8:49:46 AM