An Act to establish safe staffing levels at skilled nursing facilities

This bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to create minimum staffing rules for skilled nursing and long-term care facilities. Working with labor unions and other stakeholders, the department must update regulations to ensure enough nurses and certified nurse assistants are present to meet resident needs and maintain safety. The new rules would specifically require at least 4.1 hours of care per patient per day and set direct-care staff-to-resident ratios. The department must publish these recommendations within six months of the bill's passage.