Report Title:

Nurses; Mandatory Overtime Prohibited

Description:

Prohibits both public and private hospitals from forcing nurses to work overtime, except in cases of a federal, state, or county declared emergency. Excludes nurse midwives and nurse anesthetist from mandatory overtime requirements.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

790

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to mandatory overtime for nurses.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that many nurses across the State are forced to work an extra eight to ten hour shift when they are already exhausted. Not only does this impair their thinking and skill level, but this also compromises patient safety. A large number of hospitals use mandatory overtime to cover routine personnel shortages and threaten nurses who question this practice with the possibility of losing their jobs or their license under the pretext of patient abandonment.

Both nurses and hospitals are licensed and accountable to the public for providing quality health care to consumers. In keeping with the mandate to protect the public, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit all private and public hospitals from forcing nurses to work overtime, except in cases of a publicly declared emergency.

SECTION 2. Section 387-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new definition to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

""Health care facility" means a health care facility licensed by the State or authorized to provide care within the State.

"Overtime" means the hours worked in excess of eight hours per day or forty hours per week, or in excess of the daily or weekly hours provided in an alternative work schedule.

"Nurse" means a person who is licensed as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse under chapter 457 and who is involved in direct patient care or clinical services."

SECTION 3. Chapter 387, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be approximately designated and to read as follows:

"§387- Nurses; mandatory overtime prohibited. (a) A nurse who is employed in the practice of nursing and who:

(1) Is working under an alternative workweek schedule; or

(2) Is not working under an alternative workweek schedule and who is scheduled to work eight hours in a workday;

shall not be required to perform any work in excess of the work hours scheduled in the nurse's alternative workweek schedule, eight hours if the nurse is not working on an alternative workweek schedule. Under no circumstance, other than that provided under subsection (c), shall an employer require a nurse employed in the practice of nursing to work in excess of forty hours per week, regardless of whether the nurse is working under an alternative workweek schedule.

(b) This section shall apply to a nurse who works for a private or public employer.

(c) This section shall not apply when a federal, state, or county declaration of a state of emergency is in effect; provided that the state of emergency did not result from a labor dispute in the health care industry.

(d) An employer may require a nurse to work overtime under subsection (c) only after the employer has made reasonable efforts to fill its staffing needs through alternate means, including:

(1) Requesting off-duty nurses to voluntarily report to work:

(2) Requesting on-duty nurses to voluntarily work overtime; and

(3) Recruiting per diem nurses to report to work.

(e) This section shall not apply to a nurse who is exempt from overtime as an executive or administrative employee.

(f) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a nurse from voluntarily working overtime.

(g) The refusal of any nurse to accept overtime work shall not be grounds for discrimination, dismissal, discharge, or any other penalty or employment decision adverse to the nurse. An employer shall not coerce a nurse into surrendering the nurse's rights under this section.

(h) Any requirement contained in a contract, agreement or understanding executed after July 1, 2003, that a nurse of a healthcare facility perform overtime work, except in the case of a federal, state, or county declaration of emergency, shall be void.

§387- Exceptions. The restrictions on overtime in section 387- shall not apply to the following categories of advanced practice registered nurses:

(1) A certified nurse midwife under chapter 457, who is primarily engaged in performing the duties of a nurse-midwife; and

(2) A certified registered nurse anesthetist under chapter 457, who is primarily engaged in performing the duties of a nurse anesthetist."

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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