Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes minimum direct care staff-to-resident ratios in nursing homes.

Highlights:

• Requires every nursing home to maintain direct care staff-to-resident ratios of (Sec 1):

• One certified nurse aide to every 8 residents for the day shift;

• One direct care staff member to every 10 residents for the evening shift; and

• One direct care staff member to every 14 residents for the night shift.

• Specifies that direct care staff members include any registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, or certified nurse aide acting in accordance with an individuals’ authorized scope of practice (Sec 1).

• Specifies that nursing homes experiencing population growth will be given 9 consecutive shifts to abide by new direct care staffing ratios (Sec 1).

• Specifies that computations of direct care staffing ratios will be (Sec 1):

• Carried to the nearest hundredth place;

• Rounded to the next highest whole number when the resulting ratio is 51-hundredths or higher; and

• Based on the midnight census for the day in which the shift begins.

• Specifies that direct care staffing ratios do not apply to pediatric long-term care facilities (Sec 1).

• Authorizes long-term care facilities to employ certified homemaker-home health aides enrolled in a qualified certified nurse aide program (Sec 2).

• Establishes the Special Task Force on Direct Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment to (Sec 3):

• Evaluate current direct care staffing levels;

• Examine policies and procedures used to track data on direct care staffing;

• Examine the effectiveness of staff retention and recruitment strategies and initiatives;

• Identify any existing shortages or surpluses of direct care staff;

• Develop recommendations for legislation, policies, and strategies for the retention and recruitment of direct care staff; and

• Develop recommendations for a waiver process.

• Requires the task force to consist of 16 members appointed within 120 days of the effective date including (Sec 3):

• The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development;

• The Commissioner of Human Services;

• The Commissioner of Health;

• The Secretary of Higher Education;

• The New Jersey Longer-Term Care Ombudsman;

• 2 appointed members of the Senate from different political parties;

• 2 members of the General Assembly from distinct political parties;

• 2 direct care staff professionals with experience as certified nurse aides in the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors, respectively;

• One representative of the Health Care Association of New Jersey;

• One representative from a Statewide majority labor representative;

• One representative of the New Jersey Hospital Association; 

• One representative of the American Association of Retired Persons; and

• One representative of LeadingAge New Jersey and Delaware.

• Requires the task force to meet and hold hearings as necessary, but they must convene in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the state to meet with long-term care providers and solicit their input and recommendations for retention and recruitment of direct care staff (Sec 3).

• Requires the task force to prepare and submit a report to the governor to identify any findings and recommendations for addressing long-term care issues within one year of the organization meeting (Sec 3).

• Specifies that section 3 expires upon submission of the task force’s required report (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes minimum direct care staff-to-resident ratios in nursing homes.

Highlights:

• Requires every nursing home to maintain direct care staff-to-resident ratios of (Sec 1):

• One certified nurse aide to every 8 residents for the day shift;

• One direct care staff member to every 10 residents for the evening shift; and

• One direct care staff member to every 14 residents for the night shift.

• Specifies that direct care staff members include any registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, or certified nurse aide acting in accordance with an individuals’ authorized scope of practice (Sec 1).

• Specifies that nursing homes experiencing population growth will be given 9 consecutive shifts to abide by new direct care staffing ratios (Sec 1).

• Specifies that computations of direct care staffing ratios will be (Sec 1):

• Carried to the nearest hundredth place;

• Rounded to the next highest whole number when the resulting ratio is 51-hundredths or higher; and

• Based on the midnight census for the day in which the shift begins.

• Specifies that direct care staffing ratios do not apply to pediatric long-term care facilities (Sec 1).

• Authorizes long-term care facilities to employ certified homemaker-home health aides enrolled in a qualified certified nurse aide program (Sec 2).

• Establishes the Special Task Force on Direct Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment to (Sec 3):

• Evaluate current direct care staffing levels;

• Examine policies and procedures used to track data on direct care staffing;

• Examine the effectiveness of staff retention and recruitment strategies and initiatives;

• Identify any existing shortages or surpluses of direct care staff;

• Develop recommendations for legislation, policies, and strategies for the retention and recruitment of direct care staff; and

• Develop recommendations for a waiver process.

• Requires the task force to consist of 16 members appointed within 120 days of the effective date including (Sec 3):

• The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development;

• The Commissioner of Human Services;

• The Commissioner of Health;

• The Secretary of Higher Education;

• The New Jersey Longer-Term Care Ombudsman;

• 2 appointed members of the Senate from different political parties;

• 2 members of the General Assembly from distinct political parties;

• 2 direct care staff professionals with experience as certified nurse aides in the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors, respectively;

• One representative of the Health Care Association of New Jersey;

• One representative from a Statewide majority labor representative;

• One representative of the New Jersey Hospital Association; 

• One representative of the American Association of Retired Persons; and

• One representative of LeadingAge New Jersey and Delaware.

• Requires the task force to meet and hold hearings as necessary, but they must convene in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the state to meet with long-term care providers and solicit their input and recommendations for retention and recruitment of direct care staff (Sec 3).

• Requires the task force to prepare and submit a report to the governor to identify any findings and recommendations for addressing long-term care issues within one year of the organization meeting (Sec 3).

• Specifies that section 3 expires upon submission of the task force’s required report (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text