Membership of hospital-wide nursing care committees

Specifies that at least 50% of the membership of a hospital-wide nursing care committee, which the House-passed version of the bill requires to be convened by each hospital, must consist of registered nurses who provide direct patient care in the hospital.

Copies and public notice of hospital nursing services staffing plans

Includes, as part of the House-passed requirement that a hospital provide copies of its nursing services staffing plan, both of the following stipulations: (1) each member of the hospital's nursing staff must be given a copy free of charge and (2) the fee that may be charged to other persons who request a copy cannot exceed actual copying costs.

Adds a provision requiring a hospital to post in a conspicuous location a notice informing the public of (1) the availability of the staffing plan and (2) the appropriate person, office, or department to contact to review or obtain a copy of the plan.

H0346-127.doc/ss 05/22/08