February 27, 2001

Mr. President:

Your PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

1. On page 1, line 11, strike "ACUITY-BASED" and insert in lieu thereof "OPTIMAL".

2. On page 1, line 13, strike "INTERMEDIATE CARE" and insert in lieu thereof "SKILLED NURSING".

3. On page 1, line 17, strike "Acuity-Based" and insert in lieu thereof "Optimal".

4. On page 1, line 18, strike "Acuity-Based" and insert in lieu thereof "Optimal".

5. On page 1, strike lines 20 through 25 and on page 2, strike lines 1 through 4 and insert in lieu thereof the following:

"A. "direct care personnel" means nurse aides providing direct, hands-on patient care necessary to meet the daily living needs of function, health and behavior;".

6. Reletter the succeeding subsection accordingly.

7. On page 2, line 6, strike "intermediate care" and insert in lieu thereof "skilled nursing".

8. On page 2, line 7, strike the period and insert a semicolon followed by "or".

9. On page 2, between lines 7 and 8, insert the following:

"C. "optimal staffing" means care provided by direct care personnel in an amount equal to a minimum of the two and nine-tenths hours per patient day necessary to attain quality care of all residents of a nursing facility or skilled nursing facility.".

10. On page 2, line 8, strike "ACUITY-BASED" and insert in lieu thereof "OPTIMAL".

11. On page 2, line 9, strike "2002" and insert in lieu thereof "2001".

12. On page 2, line 10, strike "acuity-based" and insert in lieu thereof "optimal".

13. On page 2, line 12, before "consult" insert "ensure that nursing facility care is based on both national and state experience and federal studies on nursing home staffing needs and shall".

14. On page 2, line 14, strike "acuity-based" and insert in lieu thereof "optimal".

15. On page 2, line 15, strike "number" and insert in lieu thereof "name" and between "of" and "direct" insert "each".

16. On page 2, line 16, after the period, strike the remainder of the line and strike lines 17 through 19 in their entirety and insert in lieu thereof: "Optimal staffing rules shall go into effect no later than July 1, 2002.".

and thence referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Respectfully submitted,

__________________________________

Shannon Robinson, Chairman

Adopted_______________________ Not Adopted_______________________

(Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk)

Date ________________________

The roll call vote was 8 For 0 Against

Yes: 8

No: 0

Excused: Boitano

Absent: None

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