Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara announced that he helped pass two bills that would improve patients’ quality of care and promote safer working conditions by setting staffing standards in hospitals and nursing homes across the state (A.108-B, A.7119).

“New York wouldn’t be where it is today without the bravery, compassion and resilience our nurses showed when we were at the height of this pandemic,” Santabarbara said. “These men and women comforted and cared for our loved ones when we couldn’t be with them and served as the heroes we desperately needed. They deserve more than just our gratitude – they need real action and better protections in place so they can do their jobs and provide patients with the quality of care they need. The measures passed today are long overdue and mark a step in the right direction toward making our communities a safer place for our families and essential workers.”

Santabarbara helped pass the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act, which would require every hospital to form a clinical staffing committee consisting of a variety of staff members who would work together to develop and oversee a safe staffing plan. These plans would set nurse-to-patient ratios as well as set guidelines for the number of support staff in each unit. The Department of Health (DOH) would be responsible for approving these plans and holding facilities accountable if they fail to comply. Further, the bill would create an independent advisory commission to help further improve working conditions and quality of care in hospitals.

In addition, Santabarbara passed legislation directing the DOH commissioner to establish minimum nurse staffing levels for nursing homes in order to promote the highest standards of resident health and well-being. The DOH would also oversee compliance of these standards and create penalties for facilities that fail to meet them. Under this bill, staffing standards must include a minimum of 3.5 hours of nursing care per resident per day, including at least 2.2 hours by nursing assistants and at least 1.1 hours by licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs).

Santabarbara has long been committed to supporting nurses and other direct care workers so they can look out for the health of our families. Earlier this year, he worked to include $64 million in the State 2021-2022 budget to support safe staffing in nursing homes. These nurses define what it means to be a hero, and ensuring they have a safe work environment will help improve their well-being and protect vulnerable residents, Santabarbara noted.