Nurses get a break under package of bills introduced in state Legislature

May 21--LANSING -- Hospitals would be required to maintain open records of nurse-to-patient ratios, develop staffing plans and prohibit mandatory overtime for nurses under a package of bills introduced in the state House of Representatives and Senate last week.

The bills are geared at trying to reduce preventable errors in hospitals because of understaffing, said state Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, one of the sponsors of the bills. According to a 2013 study in the Journal of Patient Safety, 400,000 hospital deaths across the nation each year are because of medical errors.

"We've been trying to raise attention to the safer hospitals campaign and calling out the fact that there is a significant number of preventable deaths that are happening because of key errors," he said.

By ensuring an adequate number of nurses on duty in hospitals, as well as making sure they're not exhausted from working mandatory overtime, "this will provide reasonable limits."

Based on baby boomer nurse retirements and the increasing need to care for an aging population, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there will be an estimated 1 million job openings for nurses by 2022.

Other bills introduced in the Legislature last week:

HB 4612-4613: Extend the sunset date to October 2020 on a law that spells out permissible costs that can be charged in a criminal sentencing and create a trial court funding commission. Sponsor: Rep. Rob VerHeulen, R-Walker.

HB 4614: Repeal the option that a provisional teacher can renew a lapsed education certificate. Sponsor: Rep. Aaron Miller, R-Sturgis.

HB 4615: Provide for a $2-million supplemental appropriation for the Michigan Department of Transportation to improve traffic flow at M-53 and 23 Mile road in Macomb County. Sponsor: Rep. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Township.

HB 4616: Allow residents to sue their communities if they enact ordinances restricting gun sales or ownership. Sponsor: Rep. Gary Howell, R-North Branch.

HB 4617: Prohibit insurance companies from setting rates based on credit history, education, occupation or residency. Sponsor: Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, D-Dearborn.

HB 4618: Spell out the income tax collection and payments procedures that must be taken by the state and a business when a Detroit business is sold. Sponsor: Rep. Wendell Byrd, D-Detroit.

HB 4619: Require state agencies to create and implement a language access plan for individuals with limited English proficiency. Sponsor: Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit.

HB 4620: Remove the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to injuries that are a result of an abortion. Sponsor: Rep. Klint Kesto, R-Commerce Township.

HB 4621: Repeal the school aid earmark on the earned income tax credit. Sponsor: Rep. James Lower, R-Cedar Lake.

HB 4622-4623: Create the vehicle insurance verification act for no-fault auto insurance. Sponsor: Rep. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Township.

HB 4624-4627: Enact requirements for submitting no-fault auto insurance claims. Sponsors: Reps. Hank Vaupel, R-Handy Township, Mary Whiteford, R-Casco Township, Bronna Kahle, R-Adrian, Curtis VanderWall, R-Ludington.

HB 4628: Rename a portion of M-66 in Lake City and Kalkaska as the Veterans Highway. Sponsor: Rep. Daire Rendon, R-Lake City.

HB 4629-4631 and SB 387-389: Require hospitals to develop a staffing plan for nurses, prohibit mandatory overtime for nurses and maintain nurse-to-patient ratios for each unit and each shift. Sponsors: Reps. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, Aaron Miller, R-Sturgis, Sens. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, Joe Hune, R-Whitmore Lake.

HB 4632: Revise the interstate compact for the placement of children. Sponsor: Rep. Martin Howrylak, R-Troy.

Senate bills

SB 378: Amend the definition of a home for the aged and create an exemption from licensing. Sponsor: Sen. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy.

SB 379: Require the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in public accommodations. Sponsor: Sen. Steven Bieda, D-Warren.

SB 380: Modify the dates that local community stabilization funds are distributed to local communities. Sponsor: Sen. David Hildenbrand, R-Lowell.

SB 381: Modify the service of notices for surety bail bonds. Sponsor: Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge.

SB 382: Provide for third-party facilitator licenses for horse racing. Sponsor: Sen. David Robertson, R-Grand Blanc.

SB 383: Modify the procedure for fingerprinting and photographing a child with special needs that will be submitted to the automated fingerprint identification system upon the request of a parent or guardian. Sponsor: Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge.

SB 384: Expand the permissible use of education sinking funds to include the purchase of school buses. Sponsor: Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Ida.

SB 385: Allow the engagement of staff attorneys by licensed debt collection agencies. Sponsor: Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland.

SB 386: Modify the grounds to invalidate a foreclosure for delinquent taxes. Sponsor: Sen. Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan.

SB 390: Modify the distribution of funds from the collection of a tax on low-grade iron ore. Sponsor: Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba.

SB 391-392: Enact the crime and impose penalties for performing a dismemberment abortion. Sponsor: Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba.

SB 393: Provide for consolidating tax increment finance authorities into a single act. Sponsor: Sen. Kenneth Horn, R-Frankenmuth.

For more information on legislation, go www.legislature.mi.gov

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.

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