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S 351 109th Congress Senate

Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005

Official title: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be requ… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work in certain providers of services to which payments are made under the Medicare Program.

Introduced: July 18, 2006 See on congress.gov
Health Accreditation (Medical care)Ambulatory careArmed Forces and National SecurityCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
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ClinicsCongressCongressional reporting requirementsDisciplining of employeesDiscrimination in employmentElectronic government informationEmployee rightsFines (Penalties)Government Operations and PoliticsGovernment publicityGovernmental investigationsHome care servicesHospital personnelHours of laborInternet
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 10, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Feb 10, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1279-1280)
Feb 10, 2005
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action February 10, 2005

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to place limitations on mandatory overtime for nurses, protect nurses against retaliation in any manner with respect to any aspect of employment, and provide for civil money penalties for violations of such provisions.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to Congress on standards to establish for the maximum number of hours that a nurse may work without compromising the safety of their patients.

Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to study and report to Congress on the extent to which federally operated medical facilities have in effect practices and policies with respect to overtime requirements for nurses that are inconsistent with the overtime requirements added by this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 791 Identical bill Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Jul 18, 2006
 D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Feb 10, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 351: Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-351/
MLA
"S. 351: Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-351/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 351, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-351/.
Markdown link
[S. 351: Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-351/)
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