S. 1788 (111th): Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009

Introduced:
Oct 15, 2009 (111th Congress, 2009–2010)
Sponsor:
Sen. Alan “Al” Franken [D-MN]
Status:
Died (Referred to Committee)

The bill’s title was written by the bill’s sponsor. S. stands for Senate bill.

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Status

This bill was introduced on October 15, 2009, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted.

Progress
Introduced Oct 15, 2009
Referred to Committee Oct 15, 2009
Cosponsors
3 cosponsors (3D) (show)
Committees

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

The committee chair determines whether a bill will move past the committee stage.

Full Title

A bill to direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an occupational safety and health standard to reduce injuries to patients, direct-care registered nurses, and all other health care workers by establishing a safe patient handling and injury prevention standard, and for other purposes.

Summary

No summaries available.

Text

Read Bill Text »

Last updated Oct 15, 2009.
15 pages

Primary Source

View on THOMAS (The Library of Congress)

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GovTrack’s Bill Summary

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Library of Congress Summary

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.

10/15/2009--Introduced.
Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Labor to propose a standard on safe patient handling and injury prevention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and all other health care workers that requires the use of engineering controls to lift patients and the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except where patient care may be compromised.
Requires health care employers to:
(1) develop and implement a safe patient handling and injury prevention plan;
(2) provide their workers with training on safe patient handling and injury prevention; and
(3) post a uniform notice that explains the standard and the procedures to report patient handling-related injuries.
Requires the Secretary to conduct unscheduled inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Allows health care workers to:
(1) refuse to accept an assignment in a health care facility that violates safety standards or for which such worker has not received required training; and
(2) file complaints against employers who violate this Act. Prohibits employers from taking adverse actions against any health care worker who in good faith reports a violation, participates in an investigation or proceeding, or discusses violations.
Authorizes health care workers who have been discharged, discriminated, or retaliated against in violation of this Act to bring legal action for reinstatement, reimbursement of lost compensation, attorneys' fees, court costs, and other damages.
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a grant program for purchasing safe patient handling and injury prevention equipment for health care facilities.

House Republican Conference Summary

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No summary available.

House Democratic Caucus Summary

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The bill contains the following citations to other parts of U.S. law:

United States Code

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