Dear SEIU Local 121RN members:
I went up to Sacramento on June 19th to testify before the Assembly Health Committee on our "Stop Repeat Offender Hospitals" bill, SB 1288.
I'm happy to report that the committee voted to send our important patient safety bill to its next step. SB 1288 will put some real teeth into California's nurse-to-patient ratio laws. This was our first stop in the Assembly. Click here to see how legislators voted.
This one was a nail-biter!
After winning strong support on the Senate side of our state legislature, we now have a tough fight ahead of us in the Assembly. Our bill’s challengers—our bosses over at the California Hospital Association—are ramping up their opposition. This victory puts us in a better position to win the support of other Assemblymembers.
Again, YOU did this!
In the days leading up to this important committee's vote, SEIU Local 121RN Nurses called Assembly Health Committee members. We made sure these decision makers heard from nurses like us who actually provide patient care! We made sure they understood why this bill is so important.
SB 1288 can only get to the Governor’s desk if both houses pass it. Make no mistake, our calls and lobby visits really make a difference. This is how important nursing laws get passed…because we make some noise.
What happens next?
We'll continue to push this bill through the Assembly side of our state legislature. We'll have more opportunities to speak out at every important step of the bill's journey**. To learn more about how we'll get this bill signed into law, sign up for our August 8th Lobby & Media Training, this time at our Ontario office.**
Click here to watch this fun video from your childhood to get a refresher course on how a bill becomes a law. Our safe staffing bill is pretty much the same—it started on the Senate side of our state legislature. Now it's making its way through the Assembly side. Stay tuned! |
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What this bill will do...
Our important "Stop Repeat Offender Hospitals" bill will finally put an enforcement mechanism into California's nurse-to-patient ratio regulations. California has groundbreaking rules on minimum staffing levels, but too many hospitals ignore them. SB 1288 will bring unannounced inspections solely focused on staffing and establish escalating (and hefty) fines on hospitals who continue to violate Title 22 ratios.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to add your voice!
In unity, Gayle Batiste, RN, CNOR President, SEIU Local 121RN
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