The Michigan Senate has passed two bills that would ban mandatory overtime for nurses, MLive reported April 15.
Senate Bill 296 would amend the state’s public health code to prohibit hospitals from requiring registered nurses to work more than their regularly scheduled or on-call hours. The bill would allow hospitals to require nurses to work an additional two to four hours if they could not be relieved due to unexpected circumstances. The ban would not apply to emergency situations, such as a declared state of emergency. The bill also would require hospitals to provide eight consecutive hours of off-duty time following a 12-hour shift, though four hours of that time can be waived by the nurse in a 72-hour period.
Senate Bill 297 would fine hospitals for violating the overtime rule, starting at $1,000 for the first violation and rising to $10,000 for a fourth or subsequent violations.
The bills would take effect June 1, 2027. They will next be considered by the state House, Michigan Advance reported.
The original version of these bills was opposed by the state’s hospital association, saying it could negatively impact healthcare access and hinder hospital decision-making. However, the Michigan Nursing Association and Michigan Health and Hospital Association worked closely with legislators to incorporate changes to the bills that make them “as feasible and reasonable as possible.”
MHA Chief Nursing Officer Amy Brown, MSN, RN, told MLive the organization “appreciates the Michigan Senate’s willingness to listen to the concerns of hospital leaders and implement changes that recognize the importance of preserving nurse decision-making at the local hospital level, particularly during unpredictable events.”
Several chambers of commerce and business groups in the state have opposed the bills, MLive reported.
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