HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	187
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON BEST PRACTICES FOR NURSE STAFFING IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

WHEREAS, the State is facing a persistent health care staffing shortage, which has been exacerbated by the challenges posed by COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, as a result of this ongoing shortage, the staff-to-patient ratio has greatly increased, leading to working conditions becoming increasingly unpredictable and unsafe and increasing the rate of burn out by health care professionals; and

WHEREAS, research has shown that improved staff-to-patient ratios greatly improve patient safety and outcomes; and

WHEREAS, identifying best practices in labor standards for health care facilities will help inform lawmakers on how to improve working conditions for health care professionals and increase recruitment and retention; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct a study on best practices for nurse staffing in healthcare facilities which shall assess and discuss:

(1) Best Practices, as set forth by entities such as The Joint Commission, on staffing for hospitals and other settings of care;

(2) The effectiveness of different types of staffing standards in ensuring patient and worker safety, and quality of care;

(3) Existing staffing standards and regulations in other states;

(4) Alternative approaches to staffing standards, such as acuity-based staffing models or nurse-driven staffing decisions;

(5) The experiences and perspectives of healthcare professionals, including nurses, administrators, and other stakeholders, regarding staffing standards;

(6) The potential benefits and challenges associated with implementing staffing standards in Hawaii; and

(7) The costs of implementing various staffing standards, including nurse-to-patient ratios; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Report Title:

Nursing Staffing Study; Legislative Reference Bureau