|
|
2/6/2025
|
Rep. Slater reintroduces Nursing Home Workforce Standards Advisory Board bill
|
STATE HOUSE – Rep. Scott A. Slater has reintroduced legislation (2025-H 5257) that would establish a 13-member advisory board to keep state leaders informed on current market conditions, wages, benefits and working conditions in Rhode Island’s nursing home industry.
The legislation creating the Rhode Island Nursing Home Workforce Standards Advisory Board will help state leaders understand the challenges facing nursing home staff, and craft solutions that ensure safety for them and patients alike. The legislation was approved by the House and Senate last session, but was vetoed by Gov. Daniel McKee.
“Nursing homes and their employees are an integral part of our state’s health care system, but their ability to deliver the quality care that our residents need and deserve is at risk. This bill will help ensure that our nursing home workers have the resources that they need in order to properly care for and support our loved ones while also being able to provide for themselves and their families,” said Representative Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence).
The advisory board will consist of three members representing nursing home employers, three representing nursing home workers, two representing community organizations that work with the Medicaid population, one member representing a joint labor-management multi-employer nonprofit training fund, and representatives of the Health and Human Services secretary, the Department of Labor and Training, the Department of Health and the Long-Term Care State Ombudsman.
The board will advise the General Assembly and the Department of Labor and Training on market conditions, wages, benefits and working conditions in the nursing home industry; recommend minimum statewide compensation and working standards for nursing home workers; propose minimum standards for nursing home training programs and assist in ensuring compliance by employers with the recommended standards.
The legislation has been referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee.
Sen. Bridget G. Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown) has introduced the bill (2025-S 0118) in the Senate.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
|
|