2017 -- H 6196

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LC002516

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE FACILITIES STAFFING

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Barros, Cunha, Tobon, Blazejewski, and Maldonado

     Date Introduced: May 05, 2017

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-17.20 of the General Laws entitled "Health Care Facilities

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Staffing" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     23-17.20-3.1. Overtime requirement for first-year medical residents.

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     (a) No health care facility as defined in ยง23-17.20-2 shall require a first-year medical

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resident to accept work in excess of an agreed to, predetermined scheduled work shift of twenty-

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four (24) hours except in an unforeseeable emergent circumstance.

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     (b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit voluntary overtime in excess of an

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agreed to, predetermined scheduled work shift of twenty-four (24) hours.

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     (c) The provisions of this section shall not apply in the case of an unforeseeable emergent

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circumstance when:

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     (1) The overtime is required only as a last resort and is not used to fill vacancies resulting

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from chronic short staffing; and

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     (2) The employer has exhausted reasonable efforts to obtain staffing.

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     (d) The requirement that the employer shall exhaust reasonable efforts to obtain staffing

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shall not apply in the event of any declared national, state or municipal emergency or a disaster or

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other catastrophic event which substantially affects or increases the need for health care services.

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE FACILITIES STAFFING

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     This act would prohibit health care facilities from requiring first-year medical residents to

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work a shift in excess of twenty-four (24) hours, except in an unforeseeable emergent

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circumstance or in the event of any declared national, state or municipal emergency, disaster or

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other catastrophic event.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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