Introduced By: Representatives Dennigan, Aiken, Benoit, Shavers and Malik
Date Introduced : January 27, 1999
RESOLVED, That a special house commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of the following members: three (3) of whom shall be from the house of representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party to be appointed by the speaker; two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the president of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island; one (1) of whom shall be the director of the Department of Health, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a registered nurse from each hospital selected by each hospital's administration, except those hospitals where a labor organization represents the hospital's nursing staff, in which case the nursing staff's collective bargaining agent shall select the registered nurse representative; one (1) of whom shall be appointed by the board of directors of the Rhode Island State Nurses' Association; and one (1) of whom shall be the director of State Board of Nursing.
In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a general assembly resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.
The purpose of said commission shall be to study nursing staffing in acute care hospitals and patient care; such study shall include but not be limited to information based upon patient satisfaction regarding pain management, educational information, overall care and nursing care; the mix of RN's, LPN's and nursing assistants (CNA's) certified pursuant to chapter 23-17.9 who provide direct patient care and other unlicensed staff involved in services affecting patient care; pressure ulcers; patient falls; negative incidents, occurrences or outcomes which may have been the result of inadequate staffing and; nursing evaluations concerning patient care as it relates to staffing.
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the speaker of the house and organize and shall select from among the legislators a chairperson. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
The speaker of the house is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the house of representatives on or before April 9, 2000, and said commission shall expire on June 9, 2000.
