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SB 118

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NURSING HOME WORKFORCE STANDARDS BOARD ACT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Appollonio and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island bill establishes nursing home workforce standards board to develop staffing and working condition guidelines for long-term care facilities.

06/07/2025 Meeting postponed (06/10/2025)
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Bill Summary · SB 118

Legislative bill overview

SB 118 would establish a Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board in Rhode Island to develop and recommend standards for nursing home staffing levels, working conditions, and workforce development. The board would include representatives from nursing homes, healthcare workers, unions, and the public to create evidence-based guidelines for the industry.

Why is this important

Nursing home staffing levels directly affect resident care quality, safety outcomes, and employee burnout rates. Rhode Island, like many states, has faced chronic staffing shortages in long-term care facilities post-pandemic. Establishing workforce standards could improve both resident outcomes and worker retention while addressing a critical healthcare delivery challenge.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Implementing higher staffing standards may increase operational costs for nursing homes, potentially raising resident fees or reducing facility profitability
  • Regulatory burden: The board's recommendations could become mandates that some facilities argue are inflexible or don't account for regional variations in labor markets
  • Implementation timeline: Standards development and compliance timelines may create transitional challenges for facilities already struggling with recruitment

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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