SEIU California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2025

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California today applauded State Senators for supporting SB 596 (Menjivar), a bill to strengthen hospital care for patients, building on California’s nation-leading nurse-to-patient ratio laws. The bill now goes to the Assembly for referral to a policy committee.

SEIU California released the following statement from Leo Perez, RN, and President of SEIU Local 121rn, following today’s vote on the bill:

“California established nation-leading nurse-to-patient ratios to ensure that the nurses who took an oath to protect and care for patients are actually able to fulfill that promise. Constantly scrambling to cover for unfilled nursing positions leaves nurses exhausted and puts patients at risk and families wondering why no one responds when patients ring the call button. We are grateful the Senate voted in support of SB 596 to give more teeth to these essential patient protection laws and appreciate Senator Menjivar ensuring that California’s nurses get to do the work we trained for and show up to do every day.”

Background:

SB 596 puts more teeth in enforcement of the laws California nurses have championed to protect patients by ensuring there are enough nurses to monitor the patients in their care or respond to emergencies on the hospital floor.

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