HB2697: Relating to staffing plans for health care provider entities; and declaring an emergency.

Legislative Summary

Requires hospitals to establish professional and technical staff and service staff staffing committees, meeting specified criteria, to develop staffing plans, in addition to nurse staffing committee. Requires hospitals to establish professional and technical staff and service staff staffing committees, meeting specified criteria, to develop staffing plans, in addition to nurse staffing committee. Prescribes methods for resolving disputes arising in development of staffing plans. Establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for direct care registered nurses and provides exceptions. Imposes penalties for failure to adopt hospital staffing plans or to comply with staffing plans or requirements for development of staffing plans. Requires Oregon Health Authority to post staffing plans to authority's website and to establish method for filing complaints through authority's website regarding hospital's failure to adopt or to comply with staffing plans. Establishes mechanism for employees or exclusive representatives of employees of hospitals to seek enforcement by Bureau of Labor and Industries of rules adopted by bureau regarding meal periods and rest periods. Prescribes complaint process. Adds enforcement tools for authority to enforce nurse staffing requirements. Prohibits imposition of new provisions regarding civil penalties for violations occurring before June 1, 2025. Restricts to specified provisions authority's statutory authorization to adopt rules related to hospital staffing. Declares emergency, effective September 1, 2023.