<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>staffing levels and patient outcomes; appropriating money.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
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<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>    Section 1. <b>STAFFING PLAN DISCLOSURE ACT.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Definitions.</b> (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms <br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>have the meanings given.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>(b) "Core staffing plan" means the projected number of full-time equivalent <br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>nonmanagerial care staff that will be assigned in a 24-hour period to an inpatient care unit.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>(c) "Nonmanagerial care staff" means registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>and other health care workers, which may include but is not limited to nursing assistants, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>nursing aides, patient care technicians, and patient care assistants, who perform <br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>nonmanagerial direct patient care functions for more than 50 percent of their scheduled <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>hours on a given patient care unit.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>(d) "Inpatient care unit" means a designated inpatient area for assigning patients and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>staff for which a distinct staffing plan exists and that operates 24 hours per day, seven days <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>per week in a hospital setting. Inpatient care unit does not include any hospital-based <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>clinic, long-term care facility, or outpatient hospital department.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>(e) "Staffing hours per patient day" means the number of full-time equivalent <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>nonmanagerial care staff who will ordinarily be assigned to provide direct patient care <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>divided by the expected average number of patients upon which such assignments are based.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>(f) "Patient acuity tool" means a system for measuring an individual patient's need <br/>
<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>for nursing care. This includes utilizing a professional registered nursing assessment of <br/>
<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>patient condition to assess staffing need.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>    Subd. 2. <b>Hospital staffing report.</b> (a) The chief nursing executive or nursing <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>designee of every reporting hospital in Minnesota under Minnesota Statutes, section <br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>144.50, will develop a core staffing plan for each patient care unit.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>(b) Core staffing plans shall specify the full-time equivalent for each patient care <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>unit for each 24-hour period.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>(c) Prior to submitting the core staffing plan, as required in subdivision 3, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>hospitals shall consult with representatives of the hospital medical staff, managerial and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>nonmanagerial care staff, and other relevant hospital personnel about the core staffing plan <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>and the expected average number of patients upon which the staffing plan is based.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>    Subd. 3. <b>Standard electronic reporting developed.</b> (a) Hospitals must submit <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>the core staffing plans to the Minnesota Hospital Association by January 1, 2014. The <br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>Minnesota Hospital Association shall include each reporting hospital's core staffing plan on <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>the Minnesota Hospital Association's Minnesota Hospital Quality Report Web site by April <br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>1, 2014. Any substantial changes to the core staffing plan shall be updated within 30 days.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>(b) The Minnesota Hospital Association shall include on its Web site for each <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>reporting hospital on a quarterly basis the actual direct patient care hours per patient and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>per unit. Hospitals must submit the direct patient care report to the Minnesota Hospital <br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>Association by July 1, 2014, and quarterly thereafter.<br/>
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<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>    Sec. 2. <b>STUDY.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>The Department of Health shall convene a work group to consult with the department <br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>as they study the correlation between nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes. This report <br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>shall be presented to the chairs and ranking minority members of the health and human <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>services committees in the house of representatives and the senate by January 15, 2015.<br/>
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<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>    Sec. 3. <b>APPROPRIATIONS; NURSING STAFFING.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>$187,000 in fiscal year 2014 and $65,000 in fiscal year 2015 are appropriated from <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>the general fund to the commissioner of health for the completion of the study in section 2. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>This is a onetime appropriation.<br/>