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S2258Aaa
2026 -- S 2258 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
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LC004295/SUB A/2
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY SAFE STAFFING
RATIOS IN HOSPITALS
Introduced By:
Senators Murray, Ciccone, Tikoian, Dimitri, Thompson, Appollonio,
Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026
Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
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RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created
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consisting of sixteen (16) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island
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House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by
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the Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island Senate, not
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more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;
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two (2) of whom shall be representatives of hospital direct care staff, one of which shall be from a
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specialty hospital (such as psychiatric, rehabilitation, of birthing), with one to be appointed by the
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Speaker of the House, and one of whom to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of
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whom shall be a representative from the Organization of Nurse Leaders to be appointed by the
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President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a representative from the Hospital Association of
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Rhode Island to be appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate;
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one of whom shall be a representative with expertise in nursing workforce development or
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nursing education, such as a representative of a Rhode Island-based nursing education program,
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to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode
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Island Department of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Attorney
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General, or designee; one of whom shall be a representative from a patient advocacy
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organization, to be appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate;
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and two (2) of whom shall be representatives of labor unions representing hospital workers, one
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of whom to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and one of whom to be appointed by the
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President of the Senate.
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The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide
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recommendations to the General Assembly regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, including,
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but not limited to:
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• The impact of staffing levels on patient outcomes and safety;
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• The effect of staffing ratios on workforce recruitment and retention;
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• The financial and operational implications for hospitals and the state;
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• A review of best practices and models from other states; and
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• An evaluation of how Rhode Island hospitals are implementing new national
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staffing standards, including the Joint Commission’s 2026 National Performance Goal on nurse
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staffing, and whether additional state-level policies or oversight mechanisms are needed to ensure
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compliance, patient safety, and workforce stability.
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Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at
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the call of the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, and organize and shall select
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a chairperson and vice-chairperson, one of whom shall be a member of the House and one of
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whom shall be a member of the Senate.
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Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
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The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services or
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reimbursement for expenses.
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All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,
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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or
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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
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The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide
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suitable quarters, staff and clerical support for said commission; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its progress quarterly to the General
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Assembly beginning on September 1, 2026, and shall submit a final report with findings and
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recommendations to the General Assembly no later than September 1, 2027, and said commission
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shall expire on January 30, 2028.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY SAFE STAFFING
RATIOS IN HOSPITALS
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This resolution would create a sixteen (16) member special joint legislative study
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commission whose purpose would be to make a comprehensive study and provide
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recommendations to the General Assembly regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, and who
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would report back to the General Assembly on or before September 1, 2027, and whose life
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would expire on January 30, 2028.
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