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

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

“When patients face a crisis that lands them in the hospital, time can make a life-saving difference. When hospitals short-staff nurses, they leave one nurse covering two or three times their safe number of patients and unable to respond as quickly in a crisis, or another overstretched nurse working multiple double shifts each week operating out of exhaustion. Nurses pride ourselves on providing the best possible care for patients, and that’s why we fought for and passed nation-leading hospital staffing laws. SB 596 gives more teeth to the state’s ability to enforce those laws and ensure patients receive the top quality care we are proud to provide. We thank Assemblymembers for sending the bill to the Governor’s Desk and call on Governor Newsom to continue strengthening California’s nurse/patient ratio enforcement.”

The bill now goes back to the Senate for concurrence before heading to the Governor’s desk.

Background:

SB 596 strengthens 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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SEIU Local 121RN represents more than 11,000 registered nurses and other healthcare professionals in California. This member-led organization is committed to supporting optimum working conditions that allow nurses to provide quality patient care and safety.