Nursing bill passed with controversial measures eliminated

Eight-hour shift limit amendment by Maureen Walsh removed in reconciliation; exemption of critical access hospitals also removed but compliance deferred

By Emma Epperly Washington Newspaper Publishers Association • April 24, 2019 1:30 am
Gov. Jay Inslee (at podium) speaks Wednesday, April 24, on the Capitol steps in Olympia to protesting nurses. Inslee spoke on how important these breaks are for both workers and patient care. Inslee indicated he would sign it into law if it passes both chambers. – (Emma Epperly | Washington Newspaper Publishers Association)
Gov. Jay Inslee (at podium) speaks Wednesday, April 24, on the Capitol steps in Olympia to protesting nurses. Inslee spoke on how important these breaks are for both workers and patient care. Inslee indicated he would sign it into law if it passes both chambers. – (Emma Epperly | Washington Newspaper Publishers Association)

By Emma Epperly

Washington Newspaper Publishers Association

OLYMPIA — The Legislature passed an amended version of a bill mandating meal and rest breaks for certain health care employees on Wednesday afternoon, April 24. The Senate passed the bill in a 63-34 vote, and the House passed it 70-24.

Controversial amendments to the bill were removed in a confirmation committee Tuesday evening.

Sen. Maureen Walsh (R-College Place) proposed an amendment which passed that would limit shifts to 8 hours. In a floor speech last week, Walsh said, “Those nurses probably do get breaks, they probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day.”

Walsh’s remarks enraged nurses across the country, who have sent her more than 1,700 decks of playing cards, before Wednesday’s mail was delivered. While Walsh has apologized for her remarks, it encouraged nurses from across the state to come to the Capitol and protest Wednesday. They encouraged the Legislature to pass the underlying bill that mandates meal and rest breaks and makes it so employees cannot be required to work overtime.

The House did not concur on the Senate amendments and therefore went in to a conference committee with representatives from both chambers to reconcile the two versions of the bill.

The committee removed both of Walsh’s amendment and another amendment that exempted critical access hospitals from being required to give meal and rest breaks. Instead, there will be a two-year deferment for many small hospitals in having to comply with this new regulation.

The bill then went back to the Senate for a final vote. Walsh spoke against acception of the stripped down bill.

“I would like to point out the fact that once again it’s one of these typical situations of urban versus rural. I got a little critical access hospital, it has maybe five patients and we’re going to subscribe how they staff their hospital?” Walsh said.

She said she is “very disappointed” at the outcome of this bill and that it is overreach on the Legislature’s part.

Sen. Rebecca Saldana (D-Seattle) noted in her speech that the bill does not detail how a hospital covers these breaks with their staff but does ensure consistent breaks across the state, which she said ultimately helps patient care.

Gov. Jay Inslee spoke to the protestors Wednesday morning and is expected to sign the legislation into law. The Legislative session is scheduled to end Sunday, April 28.

HB 1155: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1155&Year=2019&Initiative=false

Walsh Speech TVW: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2019041186