Woonsocket Radio News Room

Sen. Valverde re-introduces legislation to create
Nursing Home Workforce Standards Advisory Board

 

STATE HOUSE – Sen. Bridget Valverde has reintroduced legislation to create a 13-member advisory board to keep state leaders informed on current market conditions, wages, benefits and working conditions in Rhode Island’s nursing home industry.

The legislation (2025-S 0118) creating the Rhode Island Nursing Home Workforce Standards Advisory Board is intended to help state leaders understand the challenges facing nursing home staff, and craft solutions that ensure safety for them and patients alike. Senator Valverde sponsored similar legislation last year, which was approved by the General Assembly but vetoed by Gov. Daniel McKee.

“The Rhode Islanders who work in nursing homes do a very critical job, often under high pressure and without as many resources or the level of pay that they really deserve. Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our family members in nursing homes means providing proper support and training to the people who care for them. This new board will give state leaders insight into the conditions and challenges in our state’s nursing homes so we can work to effectively address them,” said Senator Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown).

The advisory board will consist of three members representing nursing home employers, three representing nursing home workers, two representing community organizations that work with the Medicaid population, one member representing a joint labor-management multi-employer nonprofit training fund, and representatives of the Health and Human Services secretary, the Department of Labor and Training, the Department of Health and the Long-Term Care State Ombudsman.

The board will advise the General Assembly and the Department of Labor and Training on market conditions, wages, benefits and working conditions in the nursing home industry; recommend minimum statewide compensation and working standards for nursing home workers; propose minimum standards for nursing home training programs and assist in ensuring compliance by employers with the recommended standards.

The legislation is strongly supported by SEIU Local 1199NE, which represents many staff members at Rhode Island nursing homes.

Rep. Scott A. Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence), who sponsored the 2024 bill in the House, has also reintroduced it (2025-H 5257).

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