2026 -- S 2120

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LC003968

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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: Senator Melissa A. Murray

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

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

consisting of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House, 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 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 staff, one from an acute care hospital and one from a specialty hospital, one to be appointed

by the Speaker of the House, and one to be appointed by the President of the Senate; two (2) of

whom shall be representatives of hospital administrators, one to be appointed by the Speaker of

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

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

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

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

two (2) of whom shall be representatives of a labor organization representing hospital workers,

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

Senate.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing

authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator.

     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 on patient outcomes and safety;

     The effect of staffing rations 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 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House and organize, and shall elect

one legislative member from the House and one legislative member from the Senate, one of

whom shall serve as chairperson and one of whom shall serve as vice-chairperson.

     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 and

no 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 for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall provide quarterly progress reports to the House

of Representatives and the Senate beginning on March 31, 2026, and shall submit a final report of

its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before March 31, 2027, and said

commission shall expire on June 30, 2027.

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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 legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and provide recommendations for safe

staffing ratios in hospitals, who would report back to the General Assembly on or before March

31, 2027, and said commission would expire on June 30, 2027.

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LC003968

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