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).

A SpaceX rocket is on the way to the International Space Station with four new crewmembers. The rocket is scheduled to dock at the ISS around 11:30 PM Saturday, clearing the way for NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to return to Earth. Weather permitting, Williams, Wilmore and two Russian cosmonauts will depart the space station on Wednesday.        Russian President Vladimir Putin is laying out some conditions before he'll agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine. A U.S.-negotiated 30-day cessation of hostilities is on the table more than three years since Russia launched a full scale invasion of its neighbor. Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Putin said Russia supports the idea of a ceasefire but he wants Ukrainian troops in the Russian territory of Kursk to surrender.        The Senate has approved a stopgap funding bill to keep the government from shutting down. The final vote was 54 to 46, with two Democrats joining Republicans to pass the bill. The legislation will keep the government funded through September 30th.        A judge is denying temporary relief to people challenging President Trump's efforts to hold migrants at Guantanamo Bay. There are currently two lawsuits against the Trump administration which argue migrants would face irreparable harm if they're transferred to the notorious prison. Lawyers asked a judge to grant temporary injunctive relief, but the judge declined, saying they failed to provide enough evidence to back up their claims.        Another person who participated in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University has been arrested by federal immigration officials. The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that Leqaa Kordia was taken into custody for overstaying her student visa. Her arrest comes almost a week after the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil.        Star receiver Cooper Kupp is reportedly signing with the Seattle Seahawks. Multiple outlets say the former Super Bowl MVP got a three-year deal worth 15-million dollars a year. Kupp was released by the Los Angeles Rams on Monday.        New music is on the way from Morgan Wallen. The singer announced Friday that his upcoming album, "I'm The Problem," is "officially done." Wallen also shared a teaser of a new song and said to expect more news next week.       

Old News Archives