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SR 2258

JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY SAFE STAFFING RATIOS IN HOSPITALS

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Appollonio and 9 co-sponsors

A special commission will study hospital safe staffing ratios, assess current staffing and patient safety, and recommend whether changes are needed.

06/24/2026 Effective without Governor's signature
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Bill Summary · SR 2258

Summary: SR 2258 — Joint Resolution Creating a Special Legislative Commission to Study Safe Staffing Ratios in Hospitals

Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes a special legislative commission to study and evaluate safe staffing ratios in hospitals in Rhode Island.
  • The Commission is intended to examine current nurse staffing levels, patient safety outcomes, and related policy options to inform future legislative action.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Creation of a Special Legislative Commission:
    • Acknowledge need for a formal, temporary body to study hospital staffing issues in depth.
    • Commission membership (details such as number of members, appointment process, and chair role are typical in such resolutions, though exact composition is not provided in the summary—assess the full text for precise makeup).
  • Scope of Study:
    • Review existing staffing ratios or staffing standards across Rhode Island hospitals.
    • Analyze the relationship between staffing levels and patient safety, quality of care, and hospital operations.
    • Consider feasibility, cost, and potential economic impact of any proposed staffing requirements.
    • Evaluate best practices and models from other states or federal guidance.
  • Recommendations:
    • Develop findings and recommendations regarding whether legislative or regulatory changes are warranted to improve safe staffing ratios.
    • Propose a framework for implementation, timelines, and oversight mechanisms if changes are recommended.
  • Reporting:
    • Require the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly within a specified timeframe.
    • Potential for accompanying fiscal impact statements or regulatory considerations.

Affected Parties

  • Hospitals and health care facilities operating in Rhode Island.
  • Registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and other frontline clinical staff.
  • Hospital administrators and health care policy stakeholders.
  • Patients and patient safety advocates interested in care quality and staffing standards.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Referral:
    • Introduced January 23, 2026; referred to Senate Health and Human Services.
  • Committee Action:
    • April 24, 2026: Scheduled for hearing/consideration.
    • April 28, 2026: Committee recommended the measure be held for further study (i.e., not advanced to a floor vote at this time; the bill remains as a vehicle for ongoing study).
  • Legislative Path:
    • As a joint resolution, SR 2258 would not become law by itself but would establish a permanent or temporary Commission with findings to guide future legislative action.
    • The Commission’s duration is typically set in the resolution; outcomes depend on the Commission’s report and subsequent legislative decisions.

Potential Impact

  • Informing policy: Provides a structured, expert-led evaluation of safe staffing ratios to guide future decisions.
  • Stakeholder engagement: Brings together lawmakers, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to study staffing issues comprehensively.
  • Policy options: May result in recommendations for new statutes, regulatory changes, funding considerations, or pilots to improve staffing safety.
  • timeline guidance: Sets a defined period for study and reporting, potentially accelerating or delaying any concrete legislative changes depending on findings.

If you’d like, I can fetch the full text to pull precise details on Commission composition, reporting deadlines, and any specific study methodologies or cost analyses contemplated in SR 2258.

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

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