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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY SAFE STAFFING

RATIOS IN HOSPITALS

     Introduced By: Representatives Fellela, Messier, Hull, Hopkins, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: January 09, 2026

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of sixteen (16) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by

the Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island Senate, not

more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

two (2) of whom shall be representatives of hospital direct care staff, one of which shall be from a

specialty hospital (such as psychiatric, rehabilitation, of birthing), with one to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House, and one of whom to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of

whom shall be a representative from the Organization of Nurse Leaders, to be appointed by the

President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a representative from the Hospital Association of

Rhode Island, to be appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate;

one of whom shall be a representative with expertise in nursing workforce development or

nursing education, such as a representative of a Rhode Island-based nursing education program,

to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode

Island Department of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Attorney

General, or designee; one of whom shall be a representative from a patient advocacy

organization, to be appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate;

and two (2) of whom shall be representatives of labor unions representing hospital workers, one

of whom to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and one of whom to be appointed by the

President of the Senate.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide

recommendations to the General Assembly regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, including,

but not limited to:

     • The impact of staffing levels on patient outcomes and safety;

     • The effect of staffing ratios on workforce recruitment and retention;

     • The financial and operational implications for hospitals and the state;

     • A review of best practices and models from other states; and

     • An evaluation of how Rhode Island hospitals are implementing new national

staffing standards, including the Joint Commission’s 2026 National Performance Goal on nurse

staffing, and whether additional state-level policies or oversight mechanisms are needed to ensure

compliance, patient safety, and workforce stability.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, and organize and shall select

a chairperson and vice-chairperson, one of whom shall be a member of the House and one of

whom shall be a member of the Senate.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services or

reimbursement for expenses.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters, staff and clerical support for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its progress quarterly to the General

Assembly beginning on September 1, 2026, and shall submit a final report with findings and

recommendations to the General Assembly no later than September 1, 2027, and said commission

shall expire on January 30, 2028.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY SAFE STAFFING

RATIOS IN HOSPITALS

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     This resolution would create a fifteen (15) member special joint legislative study

commission whose purpose would be to make a comprehensive study and provide

recommendations to the General Assembly regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, and who

would report back to the General Assembly on or before September 1, 2027, and whose life

would expire on January 30, 2028.

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