On September 30, 2018, Governor Brown vetoed SB 1288, our "Stop Repeat Offender Hospitals" bill that would have created an enforcement mechanism for California's groundbreaking nurse-to-patient ratio regulations in Title 22.
California led the nation 42 years ago and again a couple decades later with our safe staffing regulations. SB 1288 would have built on California's trailblazing tradition of putting patient safety first.
SB 1288 would have reigned in bad actors that cut corners and put profits before patients. Our bill would have mandated:
- Unannounced inspections specifically looking at Title 22 staffing ratios
- Fine structure for violating Title 22 staffing ratios (regardless of outcome)
The Governor missed this opportunity. To paraphrase another California governor:
We'll DEFINITELY be back.
Make no mistake, we will continue to use every avenue—our contract negotiations, LMC and PCC discussions, follow-up calls to OSHA and CDPH, and new proposed state laws—to protect patients.
Sadly, the California Hospital Association aggressively lobbied against this bill. They told the Governor that there is no staffing problem in our hospitals. On top of that, many of our employers also sent strongly worded opposition letters to the Governor's office.
You elevated this issue like never before.
| Many of us shared our experiences and concerns face-to-face with Legislators. | Even more of us sent postcards to the Governor and CDPH. | And many of us called Legislators & the Governor to urge support for SB 1288. |
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This is great momentum. More of us are involved than ever before in our struggle to improve safe staffing. Nurses like Kathy, Joyce, Alvin and Yolanda continue to speak out about dangerously inadequte staffing.
We also want to thank Senator Leyva and our co-authors for their support with this important legislation.
Stay tuned as we continue to shine light on unsafe staffing in California's hospitals!
In unity, Gayle Batiste, RN, CNOR President, SEIU Local 121RN
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