Bill to address health care staffing signed into law

OLYMPIA — A bill to help address the healthcare staffing shortage by mitigating unmanageable patient loads and worker burnout was signed into law Thursday.

“By creating an enforcement mechanism with real penalties, we can ensure safe-staffing standards are followed rather than ignored, allowing workers to do their jobs safely and provide our loved ones the quality care they deserve,” said Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, sponsor of the bill.

Senate Bill 5236, according to a release by Washington State Senate Democrats, requires hospitals to submit staffing plans to the state Department of Health and the expected staff-to-patient staffing standards would be developed by a hospital’s designated staffing committee, composed equally of frontline staff and hospital administration.

The release also states if a hospital is less than 80% compliant with its committee’s approved plan, DOH and the state Department of Labor and Industries can investigate and require a corrective action plan, along with possible penalties. The legislation also helps ensure existing break and overtime laws for health care workers are followed, so they receive the legally required meal and rest breaks.

The bill passed the Senate 35-13 and the House 92-6.

“Washington should be a place health care workers want to come and have long, successful careers — this is a necessary, meaningful step toward that goal,” Robinson said.