HB 695 -- Staffing and Quality Care for Veterans Homes and Mental
Health Facilities

Co-Sponsors:  Walsh, Yaeger, Jones, Lowe, Bland, Moore, Muckler,
Vogt, Johnson (61)

This bill requires veterans homes and mental health facilities to
adopt minimum staffing ratios to ensure the safety of residents
and staff.  The bill outlines minimum staffing requirements and a
resident-staff ratio that must be adopted by the Missouri
Veterans Commission and the Department of Mental Health.  The
bill also outlines restrictions on staffing assignments and
mandatory overtime of staffing.  Veterans home management and
mental health facilities are responsible for any harm to
residents from insufficient staffing.  Veterans home management
and mental health facilities must submit a monthly report on
staffing to the commission and department.

Direct care staff who object to assignments due to noncompliance
must document noncompliance on provided forms.  The forms must be
distributed to supervisors, the commission, or the department and
are open to public inspection.  Complaints may also be submitted
by residents or their guardians.  The commission or department
must investigate all complaints.  If the commission or department
finds evidence of a violation of this law, it must issue a plan
to correct the violation within two business days.  Failure to
implement the plan may result in a warning; the suspension of the
home or facility superintendent without pay; or, after two
suspensions, the termination of the home or facility
superintendent.  Retaliation by home or facility management is
unlawful and will result in termination of the management
position.

Persons who sustain personal injuries as a result from violations
of this law have a cause of action for damages.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:12 am