Illinois Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Act Requires Illinois Hospitals to Implement Written Staffing Plans

On August 24, 2007, Governor Rod Blagojevich signed into law Senate Bill 867, the Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Act (“Act”), which takes effect January 1, 2008. The Act amends the Illinois Hospital Licensing Act to require each licensed Illinois hospital to implement a “written staffing plan” that aligns patient care needs with registered nursing expertise. The Act was sponsored by Democratic Senators Carol Ronen, Emil Jones Jr. and James T. Meeks, and strongly supported by both the Illinois Nurses Association and the Illinois Hospital Association. It passed both the Illinois House and Senate this past May by unanimous vote.

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