Safe Patient Handling Legislation
Legislative "Scorecard" - State-by-State Safe Lifting Initiatives:
ANA
Update on summary of States having passed legislation - www.nursingworld.org/mainmenucategories/ANAPoliticalPower/State/StateLegislativeAgenda/SPHM.aspx
WING USA
WING USA Legislative Update on Safe Patient Handling: Nine States Passed, Nine Other States Introduced, National Bill Continues www.wingusa.org
California
Senate Bill 1204 has been vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger for the third time in three years. To review the bill or the specific wording of the veto, visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html, and search for Bill 1204.
Connecticut
House Bill 5740, supported by Connecticut Nurses Association, would require written ergonomic policies and procedures to protect employees. Visit http://ehscenter.bna.com/pic2/ehs.nsf/id/BNAP-6NTF8X?OpenDocument
Florida
House Bill HB 1177 and Senate Bill SB 2244 both died in committee. For details visit http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/ Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=33408&
Hawaii
The Hawaii Legislature has adopted HCR 16 supporting the policies contained in the ANA's Handle with Care® campaign. Visit http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/ sessioncurrent/bills/HCR16_.pdf
Illinois
House Bill 4558 and Senate Bill 2692 are currently under consideration. http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB &DocNum=4558&GAID=8&SessionID=50&LegID=22851 and http://ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp ?DocNum=2692&GAID=8&GA=94 &DocTypeID=SB&LegID=23638&SessionID=50
Iowa
IA - House Bill HF 635, currently under consideration, would establish and implement protocols to minimize manual patient handling by individual nurses. Visit http://nxtsearch.legis.state.ia.us/NXT/gateway.dll? qt=&f=templates&xhitlist_q= safe+patient+handling&fn=default.htm&xhitlist_d=curleg
Massachusetts
House Bill 2662 is currently under consideration. Visit http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht02pdf/ht02662.pdf
Minnesota
The Minnesota OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation is currently working with Long Term Care facilities in a study to identify ergonomic risk factors and reduce associated injuries to healthcare workers. Visit http://www.doli.state.mn.us/pdf/4905sl.pdf
New Jersey
House Bill A3028 and Senate Bill 1758 are currently under consideration. Visit http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillsByNumber.asp and enter the bill number.
New York
House Bill A07641 and Senate Bill S04929 have created a demonstration program to collect data on injuries and best practices. Visit http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg?bn= and enter the bill number.
Ohio
House Bill 67 created an interest-free loan program available to nursing homes to purchase lift equipment or create safe lifting policies. Visit http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/ bills.cfm?ID=126_HB_67_EN
Rhode Island
House Bill 7386 and Senate Bill S 2760 have been passed and signed by the governor. Visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText06/ SenateText06/S2760A.pdf and http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText06/ HouseText06/H7386A.pdf
Texas
Senate Bill SB 1525, signed into law in June, 2005, was the first in the nation to require safe patient handling programs in hospitals and nursing homes. Visit http://www.texasnurses.org/ wkplaceadv/1525_legislation.doc
Washington
House Bill 1672 was signed into law in March, 2006. It mandates that hospitals provide lift equipment as part of their policy for safe patient handling. Visit http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1672&year=2006