S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 217 2011-2012 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E (PREFILED) January 5, 2011 ___________ Introduced by Sen. MAZIARZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health AN ACT to amend the public health law and the education law, in relation to a safe patient handling policy for health care facilities THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Article 29-D of the public health law is amended by adding 2 a new title 4 to read as follows: 3 TITLE 4 4 SAFE PATIENT HANDLING POLICY 5 SECTION 2999-G. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. 6 2999-H. DEFINITIONS. 7 2999-I. NEW YORK STATE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING TASK FORCE. 8 2999-J. STATEWIDE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING POLICY. 9 2999-K. HEALTH CARE FACILITY SAFE PATIENT HANDLING COMMITTEES. 10 2999-L. ENFORCEMENT. 11 S 2999-G. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. THE LEGISLATURE HEREBY FINDS AND 12 DECLARES THAT IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO ENACT A STATEWIDE SAFE 13 PATIENT HANDLING POLICY FOR HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN NEW YORK STATE. 14 WITHOUT SAFE PATIENT HANDLING LEGISLATION, IT IS PREDICTED THAT THE 15 DEMAND FOR NURSING SERVICES WILL EXCEED THE SUPPLY BY NEARLY THIRTY 16 PERCENT BY THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY THUS DECREASING THE QUALITY OF 17 HEALTH CARE IN NEW YORK STATE. THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS THAT CAN BE 18 DERIVED FROM SAFE PATIENT HANDLING PROGRAMS. PATIENTS BENEFIT THROUGH 19 IMPROVED QUALITY OF CARE AND QUALITY OF LIFE BY REDUCING THE RISK OF 20 FALLS, BEING DROPPED, FRICTION BURNS, SKIN TEARS AND BRUISES. CAREGIVERS 21 BENEFIT FROM THE REDUCED RISK OF CAREER ENDING AND DEBILITATING INJURIES 22 LEADING TO INCREASED MORALE, IMPROVED JOB SATISFACTION AND LONGEVITY IN 23 THE PROFESSION. HEALTH CARE FACILITIES REALIZE A QUICK RETURN ON THEIR 24 INVESTMENT THROUGH REDUCED WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL AND INDEMNITY EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01677-01-1 S. 217 2 1 COSTS, REDUCED LOST WORKDAYS AND IMPROVED RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF 2 CAREGIVERS. ALL OF THIS WILL LEAD TO FISCAL IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH CARE 3 IN NEW YORK STATE. 4 S 2999-H. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE: 5 1. "HEALTH CARE FACILITY" SHALL MEAN ANY INDIVIDUAL, PARTNERSHIP, 6 ASSOCIATION, CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OR ANY PERSON OR 7 GROUP OF PERSONS ACTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ON BEHALF OF OR IN THE 8 INTEREST OF THE EMPLOYER, WHICH PROVIDES HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN A 9 FACILITY LICENSED OR OPERATED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT, TWENTY- 10 EIGHT-A OR THIRTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER, OR THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW, THE 11 EDUCATION LAW OR THE CORRECTION LAW, INCLUDING ANY FACILITY OPERATED BY 12 THE STATE, A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OR A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION AS 13 DEFINED BY SECTION SIXTY-SIX OF THE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION LAW. 14 2. "NURSE" SHALL MEAN A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE OR A LICENSED 15 PRACTICAL NURSE AS DEFINED BY ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE OF THE 16 EDUCATION LAW. 17 3. "DIRECT CARE WORKER" SHALL MEAN ANY EMPLOYEE OF A HEALTH CARE 18 FACILITY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PATIENT HANDLING OR PATIENT ASSESSMENT 19 AS A REGULAR OR INCIDENTAL PART OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING ANY 20 LICENSED OR UNLICENSED HEALTH CARE WORKER. 21 4. "EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE" SHALL MEAN THE RECOGNIZED OR CERTIFIED 22 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGENT FOR NURSES OR DIRECT CARE WORKERS OF A 23 HEALTHCARE FACILITY. 24 5. "SAFE PATIENT HANDLING" SHALL MEAN THE USE OF ENGINEERING CONTROLS, 25 LIFTING AND TRANSFER AIDS, OR ASSISTIVE DEVICES, BY NURSES OR DIRECT 26 CARE WORKERS, INSTEAD OF MANUAL LIFTING TO PERFORM THE ACTS OF LIFTING, 27 TRANSFERRING AND REPOSITIONING OF HEALTH CARE PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS. 28 6. "SAFE PATIENT HANDLING PROGRAM" SHALL INCLUDE: 29 (A) A WRITTEN POLICY STATEMENT; AND 30 (B) MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT AND EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT; AND 31 (C) COMMITTEES; AND 32 (D) RISK ASSESSMENTS; AND 33 (E) INCIDENT INVESTIGATION; AND 34 (F) PROCUREMENT OF ENGINEERING CONTROLS, LIFTING AND TRANSFER AIDS OR 35 ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO ENSURE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING; AND 36 (G) EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND EDUCATION ON SAFE PATIENT HANDLING; AND 37 (H) PROGRAM EVALUATION AND MODIFICATION. 38 S 2999-I. NEW YORK STATE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING TASK FORCE. 1. A NEW 39 YORK STATE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING TASK FORCE IS HEREBY CREATED WITHIN THE 40 DEPARTMENT. SUCH TASK FORCE SHALL CONSIST OF A TOTAL OF ELEVEN MEMBERS 41 AND SHALL INCLUDE THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE; THE COMMIS- 42 SIONER OF LABOR OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE; THREE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE 43 GOVERNOR, TWO SUCH MEMBERS SHALL BE REPRESENTATIVES OF HEALTH CARE 44 ORGANIZATIONS, ONE SUCH MEMBER SHALL BE FROM AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION 45 REPRESENTING NURSES AND ONE SUCH MEMBER SHALL BE FROM AN EMPLOYEE ORGAN- 46 IZATION REPRESENTING DIRECT CARE WORKERS; TWO SUCH MEMBERS SHALL BE 47 CERTIFIED ERGONOMIST EVALUATION SPECIALISTS; TWO MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED 48 BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, WHO SHALL HAVE EXPERTISE IN 49 FIELDS OR DISCIPLINE RELATED TO HEALTH CARE OR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND 50 ONE SUCH APPOINTEE MUST BE FROM AN ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING EITHER A 51 NURSE OR DIRECT CARE WORKER; TWO MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER 52 OF THE ASSEMBLY, WHO SHALL HAVE EXPERTISE IN FIELDS OR DISCIPLINE 53 RELATED TO HEALTH CARE OR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ONE SUCH APPOINTEE 54 MUST BE FROM AN ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING EITHER A NURSE OR DIRECT CARE 55 WORKER; ONE MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, 56 WHO SHALL HAVE EXPERTISE IN FIELDS OR DISCIPLINE RELATED TO HEALTH CARE S. 217 3 1 OR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY; AND ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER 2 OF THE ASSEMBLY, WHO SHALL HAVE EXPERTISE IN FIELDS OR DISCIPLINE 3 RELATED TO HEALTH CARE OR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY. 4 2. TASK FORCE MEMBERS SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR 5 SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES 6 INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES. 7 3. THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE APPOINTED NO LATER THAN JULY FIRST, TWO 8 THOUSAND TWELVE AND SHALL SERVE FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS; ANY VACANCIES 9 ON THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE FILLED IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR IN THE 10 INITIAL APPOINTMENT. 11 4. THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS 12 OR HER DESIGNEE. 13 5. THE TASK FORCE SHALL MEET NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES A YEAR. 14 6. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, A MAJORITY OF THE 15 MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE THEN IN OFFICE SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM FOR 16 THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS OR THE EXERCISE OF POWER OR FUNCTION OF THE 17 TASK FORCE. AN ACT, DETERMINATION OR DECISION OF THE MAJORITY OF THE 18 MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE HELD TO BE THE ACT, DETERMINATION OR 19 DECISION OF THE TASK FORCE. 20 7. POWERS AND DUTIES. THE TASK FORCE ACT SHALL: 21 (A) PREPARE A POLICY STATEMENT REQUIRING A COMPREHENSIVE SAFE PATIENT 22 HANDLING PROGRAM TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT ALL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, AS 23 DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE-H 24 OF THIS TITLE. THE POLICY STATEMENT SHALL INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR 25 DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AN EFFECTIVE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING PROGRAM 26 THAT SHALL INCLUDE ALL ELEMENTS SPECIFIED IN SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION 27 TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE-H OF THIS TITLE; 28 (B) REVIEW EXISTING SAFE PATIENT HANDLING PROGRAMS OR POLICIES, 29 INCLUDING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY CHAPTER SEVEN 30 HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND FIVE; 31 (C) CONSULT WITH ANY ORGANIZATION, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, OTHER 32 GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR AGENCY OR PERSON; 33 (D) CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS, AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY; 34 (E) IDENTIFY OR DEVELOP TRAINING MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES WITH REGARD 35 TO THE EQUIPMENT OR TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED BY THE STATEWIDE POLICY; 36 (F) REVIEW RULES AND REGULATIONS PRIOR TO ADOPTION BY THE DEPARTMENT; 37 (G) REVIEW AND UPDATE THE POLICY STATEMENT ON A BI-ANNUAL BASIS; 38 (H) ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS, COMMISSIONS, AGENCIES OR PUBLIC AUTHORITIES 39 SHALL PROVIDE AND ADVISE IN A TIMELY MANNER AND OTHERWISE ASSIST THE 40 TASK FORCE WITH ITS WORK; AND 41 (I) SUBMIT A REPORT IDENTIFYING SAFE PATIENT HANDLING PROGRAM ELEMENTS 42 AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF SAFE PATIENT LIFTING EQUIPMENT, TECHNIQUES OR 43 DEVICES TO THE COMMISSIONER BY JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN. 44 S 2999-J. STATEWIDE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING POLICY. 1. THE COMMISSIONER, 45 IN CONSULTATION WITH THE TASK FORCE, SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGU- 46 LATIONS FOR A STATEWIDE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING POLICY FOR HEALTH CARE 47 FACILITIES COVERED BY THIS TITLE. SUCH POLICY SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO 48 ALL FACILITIES COVERED BY THIS TITLE ON OR BEFORE JANUARY FIRST, TWO 49 THOUSAND FOURTEEN. 50 2. THE STATEWIDE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING POLICY SHALL INCLUDE STANDARDS 51 WITH REGARD TO: 52 (A) THE EQUIPMENT, DEVICES OR TECHNOLOGY TO BE USED BY A NURSE OR 53 DIRECT CARE WORKER WHO IS ENGAGED IN PATIENT HANDLING; 54 (B) THE RATIO OF SUCH EQUIPMENT OR TECHNOLOGY BASED UPON THE TYPE OF 55 FACILITY, THE NUMBER OF BEDS IN A FACILITY, THE NUMBER OF PATIENT-HAN- S. 217 4 1 DLING TASKS, TYPES OF CARE UNITS, PATIENT POPULATIONS, AND PATIENT CARE 2 AREAS; 3 (C) THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF DEVICES TO ENSURE THAT CURRENT ASSESSED 4 HAZARDS ARE ELIMINATED OR MITIGATED; 5 (D) ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR THE SUBMISSION AND REPORTING OF 6 COMPLIANCE BY EACH HEALTH CARE FACILITY COVERED BY THIS TITLE; AND 7 (E) ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR COMPLAINTS OR VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING 8 THE FILING PROCESS, REVIEW, AND EVALUATION AND CORRECTIVE ACTION OF SUCH 9 COMPLAINTS. 10 3. FACILITIES COVERED UNDER THIS TITLE SHALL FILE A PLAN WITH THE 11 DEPARTMENT BY JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN DETAILING THEIR POLICY 12 TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATEWIDE SAFE 13 PATIENT HANDLING POLICY THAT MUST BE ACCEPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT BY JULY 14 FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN. 15 S 2999-K. HEALTH CARE FACILITY SAFE PATIENT HANDLING COMMITTEES. 1. 16 EACH HEALTH CARE FACILITY MUST ESTABLISH A SAFE PATIENT HANDLING COMMIT- 17 TEE EITHER BY CREATING A NEW COMMITTEE OR ASSIGNING THE POWERS AND 18 DUTIES TO AN EXISTING COMMITTEE. AT LEAST ONE-HALF OF THE MEMBERS OF 19 THE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING COMMITTEE SHALL BE FRONTLINE NON-MANAGERIAL 20 NURSES OR DIRECT CARE WORKERS. AT LEAST ONE NON-MANAGERIAL NURSE AND ONE 21 NON-MANAGERIAL DIRECT CARE WORKER MUST BE ON THE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING 22 COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE CO-CHAIRS WITH ONE FROM MANAGEMENT 23 AND ONE FRONTLINE NON-MANAGERIAL NURSE OR DIRECT CARE WORKER. 24 2. THE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING COMMITTEE SHALL: (A) SET CRITERIA FOR 25 EVALUATION OF PATIENTS AND/OR RESIDENTS TO DETERMINE WHICH LIFT AND/OR 26 REPOSITIONING EQUIPMENT, DEVICES OR TECHNOLOGY ARE TO BE USED AND TO 27 PERFORM RISK ASSESSMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, JOB TASKS AND PATIENT 28 NEEDS; 29 (B) ENSURE LIFT AND/OR REPOSITIONING EQUIPMENT IS SET UP, USED AND 30 MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS; 31 (C) PROVIDE INITIAL AND ON-GOING YEARLY TRAINING AND EDUCATION ON SAFE 32 PATIENT HANDLING FOR CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND NEW HIRES. ENSURE RETRAINING 33 FOR THOSE FOUND TO BE DEFICIENT IS SCHEDULED AS NEEDED AND DOES NOT 34 AFFECT CURRENT EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF THE AFFECTED EMPLOYEE OR EMPLOYEES; 35 (D) SET UP AND UTILIZE A PROCESS FOR INCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND AFTER 36 ACTION REVIEW WHICH INCLUDES A PLAN OF CORRECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF 37 CONTROLS; 38 (E) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF EQUIPMENT OR PROCE- 39 DURES BEYOND THE MINIMUM STATE RECOMMENDATIONS; AND 40 (F) PERFORM, AT MINIMUM, AN ANNUAL PROGRAM ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION. 41 S 2999-L. ENFORCEMENT. 1. ANY NURSE OR DIRECT CARE WORKER OR EMPLOYEE 42 REPRESENTATIVE WHO BELIEVES THE FACILITY HAS NOT MET THE STANDARDS SET 43 FORTH IN THIS TITLE SHALL BRING THE MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF A SUPER- 44 VISOR IN THE FORM OF A WRITTEN NOTICE AND SHALL AFFORD THE HEALTH CARE 45 FACILITY A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT SUCH DEFICIENCIES. 46 2. SUCH COMPLAINT SHALL NOT APPLY WHERE IMMINENT DANGER OR THREAT 47 EXISTS TO THE SAFETY OF A SPECIFIC NURSE OR DIRECT CARE WORKER OR TO THE 48 GENERAL HEALTH OF A SPECIFIC PATIENT AND WHEN THE NURSE OR DIRECT CARE 49 WORKER OR EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE BELIEVES IN GOOD FAITH THAT REPORTING 50 WILL NOT RESULT IN CORRECTIVE ACTION. 51 3. IN THE EVENT THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY DOES NOT TAKE CORRECTIVE 52 ACTION WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OR IN THE EVENT SUCH NURSE OR DIRECT CARE WORK- 53 ER BELIEVES THAT AN IMMEDIATE DANGER OR THREAT EXISTS TO SUCH EMPLOYEE 54 OR TO THE GENERAL HEALTH OF A SPECIFIC PATIENT, SUCH EMPLOYEE SHALL HAVE 55 THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO ENGAGE IN PATIENT HANDLING UNTIL THE HEALTH CARE 56 FACILITY HAS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED THE SPECIFIC IMMEDIATE DANGER OR S. 217 5 1 THREAT TO SUCH EMPLOYEE OR PATIENT. UPON REFUSAL, THE NURSE, DIRECT CARE 2 WORKER OR EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE SHALL FILE A COMPLAINT TO THE DEPART- 3 MENT IN THE MANNER SET FORTH IN THE STATEWIDE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING 4 POLICY. 5 4. NO EMPLOYER SHALL TAKE RETALIATORY ACTION AGAINST ANY NURSE OR 6 DIRECT CARE WORKER FOR RAISING CONCERNS OR ISSUES REGARDING SAFE PATIENT 7 HANDLING, FILING A COMPLAINT OR REFUSING TO ENGAGE IN PATIENT HANDLING. 8 5. NURSES AND DIRECT CARE WORKERS, AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWENTY-NINE 9 HUNDRED NINETY-NINE-H OF THIS TITLE SHALL BE CONSIDERED EMPLOYEES FOR 10 THE PURPOSES OF SECTION SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-ONE OF THE LABOR LAW. 11 6. THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SHALL PUBLISH AND MAKE 12 PUBLIC WHICH HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATEWIDE 13 SAFE PATIENT HANDLING POLICY. 14 S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6510-f to 15 read as follows: 16 S 6510-F. STATE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING POLICY. 1. THE REFUSAL OF A 17 LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE OR A REGISTERED NURSE TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE 18 SAFE PATIENT HANDLING POLICY OR A FACILITY'S SAFE PATIENT HANDLING POLI- 19 CY SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT. THE REFUSAL OF A 20 LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE OR A REGISTERED NURSE TO ENGAGE IN PATIENT 21 HANDLING SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE PATIENT ABANDONMENT OR NEGLECT IF SUCH 22 NURSE, HAS IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMUL- 23 GATED BY TITLE FOUR OF ARTICLE TWENTY-NINE-D OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, 24 REFUSED A PATIENT HANDLING ASSIGNMENT AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE 25 DEPARTMENT. 26 2. THE REFUSAL OF A LICENSED OR UNLICENSED HEALTH CARE WORKER TO 27 ENGAGE IN PATIENT HANDLING NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE STATE SAFE PATIENT 28 HANDLING POLICY OR A FACILITY'S SAFE PATIENT HANDLING POLICY SHALL NOT 29 BE CONSIDERED PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT. THE REFUSAL OF A LICENSED OR 30 UNLICENSED HEALTH CARE WORKER TO ENGAGE IN PATIENT HANDLING SHALL NOT 31 CONSTITUTE PATIENT ABANDONMENT OR NEGLECT IF SUCH WORKER, HAS IN A 32 MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY TITLE 33 FOUR OF ARTICLE TWENTY-NINE-D OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, REFUSED A 34 PATIENT HANDLING ASSIGNMENT AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPARTMENT. 35 S 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 36 have become a law.