SB 972 - This act outlines the minimum staffing requirements for skilled nursing facilities, licensed under Chapter 198, RSMo. A new Section 198.166 is created and requires every skilled nursing facility (SNF) to retain a registered nurse (RN) as Director of Nursing. SNFs with more than 100 licensed beds must also retain a RN as an Assistant Director of Nursing and must have a director of In-Service Education. All SNFs must maintain the following ratio of staff to residents, including RNs and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN):

- 1 staff person to 15 residents during the morning shift; - 1 staff person to 25 residents during the evening shift; - 1 staff person to 35 residents during the night shift.

Every SNF must also maintain the following staff to resident ratio of direct care providers, including RNs and LPNs :

- 1 staff person to 5 residents during the morning shift; - 1 staff person to 10 residents during the evening shift; - 1 staff person to 15 residents during the night shift.

Members of the nursing staff may not provide food, housekeeping, laundry, or maintenance services to residents. Employees hired to provide such services may not provide nursing care and may not be counted in the staff to resident ratios. The Division of Aging is allowed to develop rules to impose penalties on facilities that fail to meet the staffing requirements.

This act is similar to HB 2080 and SB 1081 (2001).
ERIN MOTLEY