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).

Former national security adviser John Bolton says he's another victim of President Trump's weaponization of the Justice Department. Bolton, who held the national security adviser role during Trump's first term before becoming a vocal critic, was indicted Thursday. A grand jury indicted him on eight counts of transmitting and ten counts of unlawfully retaining national security information.        President Trump hosts Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House today. It's part of Trump's ongoing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. On Thursday, Trump said he had a "very productive" phone call with Putin, adding he thought his relationship with the Russian leader would have already led to peace by now.        The suspect accused of starting Southern Califorina's deadly Palisades Fire faces decades in prison. Jonathan Rinderknecht [[ RIN-der-neckt ]] was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday and had more felonies added to his case. The 29-year-old is accused of maliciously starting a fire on New Year's Day.        The possibility of federal troops in San Francisco is causing a rift in Silicon Valley. President Trump floated the idea earlier this week, and it was quickly denounced by San Francisco Democrats. Democratic ally Marc Benioff, who's the CEO of Salesforce, said however that he was "all for" using troops to fight crime in the city. Following his remarks, top Democratic donor Ron Conway resigned from the board of the Salesforce Foundation, and said he was "shocked and disappointed" by Benioff's comments.        Three people are dead after their plane went down in Michigan. Authorities say the small jet went down in Clinton County Thursday evening. All three of those killed were passengers onboard the plane. The cause of the crash is under investigation.        The Bengals beat the Steelers 33-31 on Thursday Night Football to kick off Week Seven. Meanwhile, the Sunday slate starts with the last London game of the season when the Jaguars and Rams battle from Wembley Stadium.       

Old News Archives