HB 957: Prevent Overworking Nurses

H.B. 957, P.N. 1092 (HASAY) This would create the Prohibition of Excessive Overtime for Nurses Act.
A health care facility would be prohibited from requiring a nurse from work more than 12 hours per workday and from working more than 60 hours per week. Exceptions to this would be the on-call hours would not be considered towards this limit and if additional hours are required due to an unforeseen emergency circumstance where the facility has exhausted reasonable efforts to obtain other nurses. This bill states that this does not preclude a nurse from voluntarily agreeing to work additional hours. It would make it illegal to retaliate, discriminate against, dismiss, or discharge a nurse for refusing to work any hours more than these stated limits.
A nurse required or who volunteers to work more than 12 consecutive hours would be eligible for at least 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time following these work hours. A nurse may waive acceptance of this eligible time off.
A health care facility violating this would be fined at least $100 to $1,000 or less per violation and could face a Labor and Industry Department administrative order to correct a violation.